The High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, retired Major General Faheem Ul Aziz, has informed Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath that Pakistan’s decision regarding the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup was changed following three days of diplomatic discussions with Sri Lanka. 

According to a statement from Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry, he said that Pakistan had earlier decided not to participate in the 2026 T20 World Cup match against India, but at Sri Lanka’s request, it has now agreed to set aside differences and take part, further praising Sri Lanka’s mediation in resolving the issue.

The remarks were made when High Commissioner Faheem Ul Aziz met Minister Vijitha Herath at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (10 Feb), ahead of concluding his tenure in Sri Lanka.

Minister Vijitha Herath expressed gratitude for the High Commissioner’s prompt response during the three days of diplomatic talks and phone discussions.

Faheem Ul Aziz also commended Minister Herath’s continuous diplomatic efforts to resolve several uncertainties surrounding the T20 World Cup.

Reflecting on his tenure, the High Commissioner said serving in Sri Lanka had been a pleasant and successful period, supported strongly by the Foreign Minister and the Ministry. 

He noted with satisfaction that during his service, Sri Lanka held two fair and exemplary elections in 2024. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has extended his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan for acknowledging the request to play the India–Pakistan T20 World Cup match on February 15.

“Thankful to Prime Minister @CMShehbaz, the Government of Pakistan, and @ForeignOfficePk for positively considering Sri Lanka’s request. I also appreciate @TheRealPCB and Pakistan’s sports authorities for their cooperation. A gesture that reflects sportsmanship, friendship, and the strength of our bilateral ties,” Minister Herath said in a post on ‘X’. 

It was announced yesterday (09 Feb) that Pakistan will play the India–Pakistan T20 World Cup match on February 15, following consultations with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and requests from Sri Lanka and other friendly nations.

The decision was taken after Pakistan PM Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was briefed by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, and after talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka player Malki Madara has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup league match against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

Madara was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Madara’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred in the 11th over of Bangladesh’s innings, when Madara, after dismissing Fargana Hoque, celebrated excessively in close proximity to the batter, which could have provoked an aggressive response from the batter. (ICC)

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A cricket encounter has been organized in honour of the late Bandula Warnapura, Sri Lanka’s first test cricket captain and the first President and former Patron of the Colonel Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation.

The Bandula Warnapura Memorial Challenge Trophy 2023 will be held at the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) Grounds on Saturday, 25th February 2023.

The match is organized by the Colonel Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation (CHSOMSF) and the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA).

The joint committee appointed to organize this event has made all the preliminary arrangements to conduct the opening ceremony at 9.30 am and to commence the cricket encounter at 10.30 am. 

Whilst the cricket mates of the late Bandula Warnapura are being invited to witness the encounter, the former cricketer’s wife, Mrs. Hemali Warnapura, will be the Chief Guest of the event.

Both teams will consist of Bandula Warnapura’s test teammates, South Africa tour mates, and Nalanda College cricket players during his era. 

All the players are above 50 years of age, while 1996 cricket world cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Hemantha Devapriya, Upul Chandana, Susantha Karunarathne, Aruna de silva, Sudermann De Silva, Ajith Ekanayake, Ashley Rathnayake, Roshan Iddamalgoda, Waruna Waragoda, Adrian Jarkey and few other famous cricketers are also set to participate in the tournament. (NewsWire)

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