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Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning team will arrive in Kuala Lumpur today (Friday) for a series of events marking the 30th anniversary of their triumph that stunned the cricketing world. The tour, organised by Tourism Malaysia, Cricket Malaysia and the Royal Selangor Club, will feature several events spread across four days.
The highlight of the visit will be a T20 game involving the World Cup-winning side on Saturday, starting at 11:30 a.m. Sri Lanka time. The match will be telecast live on Dialog TV.
A gala dinner, coaching clinics for underprivileged children conducted by the former world champions and several fan engagement activities are also part of the programme.
Sri Lanka’s dependable number three from the 1996 campaign, Asanka Gurusinha and team physiotherapist Alex Kountouri, both based in Melbourne, had already arrived in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the event, while the rest of the squad were due to leave Colombo on Thursday night.
“I am really excited and looking forward to the event. It’s always fun to get together with the boys and relive the good old days. It’s going to be a cracking few days,” Gurusinha told The Island.
“Without us even realising it, 30 years have gone by since we became world champions. All the boys are still close to each other just like we were back then and as I said, it’s going to be an exciting few days,” he added.
The organisers have secured several sponsors for the occasion and hope the presence of Sri Lanka’s celebrated side will help generate greater interest in cricket in Malaysia.
Malaysia became an associate member of the International Cricket Council in 1967 and remains an active member of the Asian Cricket Council. Earlier this year, they appointed former Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore as Director of Cricket.
The country has previously hosted ICC events, including the Under-19 World Cup, but the national side has struggled to keep pace with emerging Asian teams such as Nepal, Oman, UAE and Hong Kong.
Badminton remains Malaysia’s most popular sport, accounting for ten of the country’s 15 Olympic medals. Football too enjoys a passionate following, leaving cricket fighting an uphill battle for wider appeal.
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Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Under bright sunshine at the Pindi Stadium, Kusal Mendis, captaining Sri Lanka in Test cricket for the first time, said there was enough green on the pitch to indicate the quicker bowlers could exploit the first session.
“It looks like a fast-bowling wicket and the first session will be very important,” he said. Sri Lanka have opted against fielding spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, going with four fast bowlers instead: Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Milan Rathnayaka. Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis will be their only spin options.
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain, accepted the first morning would be tough.
Pakistan fielded a new-look side for the second Test in a row, with four debutants for the Test. Batters Tayyab Ariff and Mohammad Taha made their debuts, as did spin-bowling allrounder Arafat Minhas and quick bowler Saqib Khan.
Pakistan remain rooted to the bottom of the table in the current WTC standings. while Sri Lanka are placed seventh.
Pakistan : Azan Awais, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Babar Azam (capt), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Arafat Minhas, Razaullah, Mohammad Abbas, Saqib Khan
Sri Lanka : Kusal Mendis (capt), Lahiru Udara (wk), Passindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
For years, Sri Lanka could at least count on Test cricket to keep them afloat in the relative safety of the middle of the ICC rankings. This year, even that comfort has deserted them. A shock series defeat to West Indies, followed by a home loss to India, has left them seventh, with a bruised reputation to repair.
The upcoming series in Pakistan offers a chance to regain some ground. A 2-0 sweep would lift Sri Lanka one place, providing a welcome boost for a side whose opportunities in the longest format are becoming increasingly scarce. When Test appearances come in such small doses, expecting consistency is a tall order.
On the other hand, a 2-0 loss would see them slip down to ninth rank in the world, their worst ever ranking in Test cricket.
Pakistan, too, have blown hot and cold in recent years. Turmoil within their cricket has added to the pressure on a team still searching for its footing. There is an opening here for Sri Lanka, but their batters must show the appetite to seize it.
Too often, the top order has left the lower order to clear up the mess. Those batting at number six and below have performed rescue acts with admirable regularity, but even the most dependable fire brigade cannot be expected to answer every alarm. The specialist batters need to start earning their keep.
Sri Lanka are expected to field a seam heavy attack on surfaces likely to offer pace and carry, with Eshan Malinga in line for his Test debut. Keshara Nuwantha is tipped to take the lone spinner’s place ahead of Prabath Jayasuriya, although Pakistan’s difficulties against left-arm spin make a strong case for retaining the experienced campaigner.
Pakistan have also freshened up their squad, recalling pace bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal and bringing in several uncapped players.
The hosts appear convinced that short pitched bowling is Sri Lanka’s Achilles heel and are said to have prepared green surfaces accordingly. That tactic, however, could cut both ways. The tourists have enough pace ammunition of their own to make life uncomfortable for Pakistan’s batters.
Bangladesh tried a similar ploy in 2024, only to watch Sri Lanka walk away with a 2-0 series win.
Continue Reading Sports Manamperi, Fernando clinch SLTA YETI Hard Courts titles Published
Janali Manamperi and St. Peter’s College player Ganuka Fernando emerged champions in the women’s and men’s singles events respectively at the SLTA YETI Hard Courts National 2026, held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
Ganuka Fernando (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
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