Former Sri Lanka U-19 captain Dhammika Niroshana was shot and killed in his home in Galle on Wednesday, July 17.

Dhammika Niroshana, who captained Sri Lanka’s U-19 cricket team was shot outside his house in Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka. He was 41 years old. The authorities are investigating to find the person responsible.

Niroshana leaves behind his wife and two children. He had a bright cricket career as a fast bowler and occasional batsman, starting with the U-19 team in 2000 and becoming its captain in 2002. He retired from cricket in 2004.

Future stars who played alongside Niroshana

Though he never played for the senior national team, Niroshana competed with future stars like Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, and Farveez Maharoof. He played for domestic teams such as Chilaw Marians CC and Galle CC.

Police spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa said that the shooting seems to be linked to gang rivalry, and investigations are ongoing to catch the suspect.

Niroshana’s legacy in Sri Lankan youth cricket

Niroshana’s Cricket Journey Niroshana, known for his fast bowling and batting, made his U-19 debut for Sri Lanka in 2000 and led the team in the 2002 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand. His leadership helped Sri Lanka reach the second Super League stage despite winning only one match.

His team included future international stars like Farveez Maharoof, Jeevan Mendis, Dhammika Prasad, and Upul Tharanga. Niroshana took seven wickets in five matches, with his best performance being 3-38.

In the ongoing first T20I between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam emerged as the center of attention. The competition between the two teams has intensified, with Shoriful Islam seizing every opportunity to playfully needle the opposition. Following his dismissal of Avishka Fernando, Shoriful Islam couldn’t resist taunting Sri Lanka with a cheeky imitation of the timed-out celebration.

Sparking Controversy: The Timed-Out Dismissal Incident

The moment occurred during the second ball of the innings when Shoriful Islam delivered a fuller-length ball outside off stump. Avishka Fernando, attempting a forceful drive, only managed to edge the ball, resulting in an easy catch for wicketkeeper Litton Das. While the dismissal itself was routine, Shoriful Islam’s post-wicket antics drew widespread attention. His mocking gesture, reminiscent of Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews’ dismissal during the ICC World Cup 2023 game against Bangladesh, added an extra layer of amusement to the match.

In that game, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan had famously appealed for a timed-out dismissal against Mathews, who faced delays due to a broken helmet strap, sparking controversy and banter alike.

However, the Bangladesh skipper’s request for a timed-out dismissal didn’t sit well with everyone, as the decision was made to give the batter out. Angelo Mathews was visibly angered by this turn of events, sparking a high-intensity battle between the two teams. Since then, both sides have spared no effort in exchanging verbal volleys and competitive jibes, adding fuel to their ongoing rivalry.

Shoriful Islam leaks 47 runs in his 4 overs as Sri Lanka amass a colossal total of 206 runs

In the ongoing match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the island nation made an explosive start with the bat, posting an imposing total on the scoreboard. Led by Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka opted to bat first, capitalizing on favorable batting conditions.

Following Avishka Fernando’s departure, Kusal Mendis anchored the innings, crafting a splendid half-century with 59 runs off 36 deliveries. Kamindu Mendis provided valuable support with a contribution of 19 runs, consolidating the middle order.

However, the real onslaught came from Sadeera Samarawickrama (61) and skipper Charith Asalanka (44). The pair launched a ferocious assault on the Bangladesh bowlers, ruthlessly dismantling the opposition’s attack. Their unbeaten partnership of 73 runs off just 33 balls propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding total of 206 runs on the scoreboard.

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The Bangladesh bowlers endured a tough outing, with Shoriful Islam claiming one wicket but conceding 47 runs. Taskin Ahmad managed to secure a wicket as well, while Rishad Hossain also contributed with a dismissal. However, Bangladesh faced a challenging start in their chase, losing early wickets and feeling the pressure.

Angelo Mathews emerged as the standout performer among the bowlers in the game, having picked up two crucial wickets. Matheesha Pathirana and Binura Fernando also made valuable contributions, each chipping in with one wicket apiece.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is set to request clarification from Allan Donald regarding his recent comments about Shakib Al Hasan’s timed out appeal against Angelo Mathews during their match against Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on November 6. Mathews became the first international cricketer in history to be timed out in that match.

Shakib Al Hasan faced substantial criticism from various quarters for his actions, with Allan Donald expressing his disapproval as well. Donald found it disheartening to witness such conduct on the cricket field and noted a clear sense of discontent in Shakib’s demeanor when discussing the incident.

Controversial Timed Out Decision and Allan Donald’s Response

“It was disappointing to see. I can understand Shakib taking his chance. His words were ‘I was doing everything to win.’ You can sense in my voice that I don’t like it. My immediate reaction when that happened – and this is just my instincts taking over – is I almost actually thought of going onto the field and saying, ‘enough is enough, we don’t stand for this; we are not that kind of team who stand for this.’ That was my immediate thought,” Donald mentioned during an interview with CricBlog.Net.

BCB officials have acknowledged Allan Donald’s comments and stated their intention to seek clarification promptly. They emphasized their commitment to avoiding distractions for the team leading up to their crucial match against Australia. “We have seen the news quoting Donald, and we are taking that seriously. We will certainly seek an explanation in the coming days.”

This memorable incident occurred in the 25th over of the Sri Lankan innings after Sadeera Samarawickrama’s dismissal. Angelo Mathews, upon reaching the crease alongside Charith Asalanka, encountered a broken helmet strap and immediately signaled to his teammates in the dugout for a replacement helmet.

As the substitute brought the correct helmet, the umpires expressed their dissatisfaction with the proceedings. Bangladesh’s captain wasted no time in appealing for a ‘timed out’ dismissal. Despite Mathews’ efforts to explain the situation to both Shakib and the umpires, Bangladesh upheld their appeal, resulting in the rare instance of a timed out dismissal in the match.

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Angelo Mathews made history in the ODI World Cup 2023 when he became the first batter in international cricket to be declared ‘timed out’ during a match against Bangladesh. The former Sri Lanka captain has shared screenshots of video evidence to contest the umpires’ decision that led to this milestone dismissal. This pivotal moment occurred in a significant clash between two Asian cricket nations, with Bangladesh emerging victorious by three wickets.

For those unfamiliar with the incident, Angelo Mathews was deemed ‘timed out’ at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi due to an unexpected delay caused by a helmet strap issue.

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This delay prevented him from reaching the popping crease within the stipulated time frame to take strike. When the 36-year-old was finally ready to face his first ball in the innings after the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama, the Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan, had already appealed to the on-field umpires, resulting in the ‘timed out’ decision.

Mathews’ Timed Out Controversy: Video Evidence and Rule Interpretation

It’s worth noting that as per ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 rule number 40.1.1, “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”

During the mid-innings break, the fourth umpire of the match, Adrian Holdstock, discussed the ‘timed out’ dismissal of Angelo Mathews, noting, “This afternoon, the batter wasn’t ready to receive the ball within those two minutes even before the strap, which became an issue for him.”

In response to this, Angelo Mathews took to his official account to counter the fourth umpire’s decision. In his first post on the matter, he stated, “The 4th umpire is wrong here! Video evidence shows I still had 5 more seconds even after the helmet gave way! Can the 4th umpire rectify this, please? I mean safety is paramount as I just couldn’t face the bowler without a helmet.”

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In a subsequent post, he shared screenshots of the video evidence, saying, “Proof! From the time the catch was taken to the time the helmet strap came off.” According to the timestamps on the screenshot, Sadeera Samarawickrama was out at 15:48:50:16 hours, while Angelo Mathews made his way to the playing field at 15:50:45:14 hours, a difference of roughly around 1 minute and 55 seconds, as per the calculations of the all-round cricketer.

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In a stunning twist of events during the ODI World Cup 2023 clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Angelo Mathews, the seasoned Sri Lankan cricketer, etched his name in history as the first player in international cricket to be penalized with a ‘timed out’ dismissal. This unprecedented occurrence unfolded during a pivotal moment in the match.

An Unusual Turn of Events in the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Match

The incident unfolded during the 25th over of the Sri Lankan innings, shortly after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama, who had amassed 41 runs off 42 deliveries. Initially, Mathews hesitated to take his position on the field and then further delayed his entry due to a damaged component on his helmet.

In light of these delays, the on-field umpires made a historic decision to invoke the ‘timed out’ rule, in accordance with the laws of the game.

Understanding the MCC Rule on ‘Time-Out’

According to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) rulebook, “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”

This groundbreaking decision has triggered conversations within the cricketing community. ‘Timed out’ dismissals are exceedingly rare in international cricket, and this ruling underscores the significance of players adhering to the game’s time restrictions. It emphasizes the need for strict adherence to the rules to preserve the integrity and fluidity of the match.

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After more than two years, Angelo Mathews returns to Sri Lanka’s white-ball line up, and Kusal Perera will play for the first time in over a year. The two players were important for the ODI and T20I crews Sri Lanka Cricket have chosen for the impending series in New Zealand.

Lasith Croospulle and Sahan Arachchige, both uncapped batters, were part of the teams as well. Nuwanidu Fernando, a batsman, could make his T20I debut, and Matheesha Pathirana, a seamer, is hoping to make his ODI debut.

Jeffrey Vandersay, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Nuwan Thushara, and the rest of the team did not travel to India in January.

After an awful ODI tour of India earlier this year, Mathews and Perera were included, and there were calls to pick more seniors in a World Cup year.

Despite not playing much after 16 months of recovery from a shoulder injury, Perera was reinstated. Despite the possibility that Sri Lanka might consider him for the ODI World Cup in India in October and November, he is currently only a member of the T20 squad to manage his workload.

Since Sri Lanka’s March 2021 tour of the West Indies, Mathews has not played for the white-ball teams. His most recent limited-overs experience came in two games against the England Lions for Sri Lanka A, in which he scored fifty runs, and in the Lanka Premier League, where he scored 201 runs for the Colombo Stars at an average of 40.20. Although his fitness has improved over the past year, he is not considered a seam-bowling option that is always reliable.

Who are the new faces?

Croospulle, who bats first, scored two centuries and a fifty in a List-A match against the England Lions.

Arachchige also put together a strong performance against the Lions, scoring crucial runs in the lower order and taking wickets with his off breaks. Nuwanidu also stood out against the Lions, scoring two runs over 50, and he also scored fifty against India to complete a strong run of form that began with the LPL. Croospulle, Nuwanidu, and Arachchige are all in the T20I team, while Arachchige is in the ODI team.

Avishka is one of the most well-known exclusions. He had just returned to the national team for the India tour following an impressive LPL, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer. In the most recent NSL 4-day tournament, he also scored 67 and 150. However, the selectors were forced to exclude him due to his poor performance in India, subpar performances against the Lions, and intense competition for top-order spots.

The absence of Rajapaksa is less troubling because, in recent months, the batter has resembled the player who was awarded Player of the Match in the 2022 Asia Cup final.

How the rest of the squads shape up

The remaining members of Sri Lanka’s squad appear to be fairly settled. Dasun Shanaka will lead both teams, and Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Chamika Karunaratne will play the majority of the batting for both white-ball teams.

In addition to bowling seam, Karunaratne is a member of a pace unit that also includes Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, and Kasun Rajitha. Dushmantha Chameera was originally scheduled to play, but the coaches are limiting how much time he gets on the field because of his history of injuries.

“The bowler will not be able to tour, as he is still undergoing his structured return-to-play program, a part of his rehabilitation program, following his left ankle surgery,”

SLC said. Madushan has taken his place in the T20I side, while Pathirana replaces him in the ODI squad.

However, despite a strong LPL, Thushara might consider himself unlucky for having not played India. In the seam-bowling department, Sri Lanka has a lot of options, and in Pathirana, they already have another slinger who has a little bit more pace.

With Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and the young allrounder Dunith Wellalage joining the spinners, there are no surprises. Because Sri Lanka does not require an additional spin option in New Zealand, Vandersay is left out.

The first of Sri Lanka’s four matches against New Zealand will be an ODI on March 25 in Auckland, followed by three T20Is. On April 2, the T20Is will begin.

T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Lasith Croospulle, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan.

ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana.