http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:57:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/can-sri-lanka-shift-gears-as-a-buoyant-skipper-claims-631107.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:34 pm lt;div gt;For a team that has experienced constant failure in a format that demands clarity, courage and relentless intensity, this ICC Men rsquo;s T20 World Cup is not all about winning a title. It rsquo;s an opportunity for redemption through cleansing years of timid cricket and showing that the team is battle-hardened enough to survive on the global stage. lt;/div gt; But redemption does not ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/icc-mens-t20-world-cup-2026-schedule-631093.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:32 pm lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-631095 quot; title= quot;24 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260208/uploads/2026/02/24.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;752 quot; / gt;... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/shanaka-blames-pitches-for-batting-woes-631086.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:28 pm Sri Lanka rsquo;s T20 captain Dasun Shanaka took a dig at the pitches for the team rsquo;s batting failures, expressing confidence that this World Cup will provide an opportunity for the batters to shine as they look to leave behind years of disappointment and push for at least a semi-final berth. The T20 World Cup began yesterday in Colombo, and Sri Lanka, playing in Group B of the 20-team tou... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/sri-lanka-to-go-with-six-five-combination-vs-ireland-631080.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:27 pm Sri Lanka have opted for a six-batsman, five-bowler combination for their opening T20 World Cup fixture against Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium today. This means batters Charith Asalanka, Kusal Janith Perera, and Janith Liyanage will sit out. Young Pavan Rathnayake, who has brought a breath of fresh air into the team, will occupy the key No.4 slot, followed by Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka.... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/pakistan-deter-dutch-invasion-in-curtain-raiser-game-631065.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:22 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_631070 quot; align= quot;alignright quot; width= quot;325 quot; caption= quot;Faheem Ashraf quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-631070 quot; title= quot;AFP__20260207__96GY7UW__v1__HighRes__CricketIccMensT20Wc2026PakNed_p24 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260208/uploads/2026/02/AFP__20260207__96GY7UW__v1__HighRes__CricketIccMensT20Wc2026PakNed_p24.jpg qu... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/icc-in-talks-to-revive-india-pakistan-t20-world-cup-clash-631053.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:17 pm New Delhi, India, AFP: The International Cricket Council is in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board to resolve the boycott of its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, AFP learnt on Saturday. Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsor and advertising revenue. But the fixture was thrown in... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/shepherd-takes-hat-trick-as-windies-beat-scotland-631045.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:10 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_631046 quot; align= quot;alignright quot; width= quot;260 quot; caption= quot;Romario Shepherd (L) celebrates with Shimron Hetmyer (R) after taking the hat trick quot;] lt;img class= quot; wp-image-631046 quot; title= quot;AFP__20260207__96HH8JA__v1__HighRes__CricketIccMensT20Wc2026WisSco quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260208/uploads/2026/02/AFP__20260207__96HH... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/kandy-sc-rampage-past-havelocks-631041.html 7 February 2026 @ 10:55 pm lt;div gt;A fully loaded Kandy Sports Club outfit went on a rampage, making their intentions clear in the Cup Championship of the SLR-Maliban Club Rugby League 2025/26, annihilating Havelock Sports Club 42-17 at Havelock Park yesterday. lt;/div gt; Kandy SC went down to 14 men 16 minutes before full-time, yet proved that a clinical approach, rather than panic, could reap dividends in their six-t... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/it-felt-like-home-630983.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:33 pm lt;div gt;Sri Lanka rsquo;s only and first motorsport athlete to reach the Formula 3 status, Yevan Ranasinghe David, who is enjoying the brief streak of success in New Zealand, indicated the makings of a professional sportsperson while responding to reporters in Teretonga Park, following the third round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy. lt;/div gt; [caption id= quot;a... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/suryakumars-84-leads-india-to-win-over-usa-631121.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:05 pm Mumbai, India, AFP: A sparkling unbeaten 84 from India captain Suryakumar Yadav and three wickets from late call-up Mohammed Siraj in Mumbai on Saturday helped India to avoid a shock defeat to the United States as they opened their defence of the T20 World Cup. India were in trouble at 77-6 before Suryakumar took them to a competitive 161-9 at a packed Wankhede stadium and won by 29 runs as the... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/ssc-coast-to-their-ninth-outright-win-631118.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:00 pm Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) continued their winning streak when they coasted to their ninth outright win of the SLC Major Club Tier lsquo;B rsquo; Cricket Tournament with a comfortable 209-run win over Navy SC in the match concluded at Welisara yesterday. In two other games, outright wins were recorded by Negombo CC, by a convincing innings and 96 runs against over Malay CC at BRC ground, and Kan... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/st-annes-record-easy-win-over-de-mazenod-631038.html 7 February 2026 @ 10:52 pm St. Anne rsquo;s College, Kurunegala recorded an easy win by 8 wickets against De Mazenod College, Kandana in the Inter-School Under-19 Cricket encounter concluded at Kurunegala yesterday. In other matches St. Benedict rsquo;s, Richmond, Royal and Maliyadeva colleges recorded first inning wins while the match between Ananda and S. Thomas rsquo; is set for a thrilling outcome at stumps on day two i... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/david-embracing-world-cup-in-return-from-injury-631031.html 7 February 2026 @ 10:48 pm Australian blaster Tim David is preparing to be eased back into the T20 side during the opening stages of the World Cup as he steels himself for maximum impact towards the pointy end of the global tournament. David showed no signs of the hamstring injury that ended his Big Bash season at Australia's training session on Friday, launching all comers ndash; including the Aussie quicks and a handf... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/tamil-union-outclass-nugegoda-swc-631025.html 7 February 2026 @ 10:47 pm Tamil Union recorded an emphatic innings-and-141-run victory over Nugegoda Sports and Welfare Club in the SLC Major Club Plate encounter concluded at the Welagedara in Kurunegala yesterday. After resuming from their overnight score of 417-6, Tamil Union declared their innings, setting a massive target. Nugegoda S amp;WC, trailing by 329 runs, struggled in their second innings and were unable to br... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/airmen-shoot-down-army-25-15-631022.html 7 February 2026 @ 10:44 pm Air Force Sports Club kept their momentum high in laying hands on the Plate Championship of the SLR-Maliban Club Rugby League 2025/26, with a hostile 25-12 win against Army Sports Club at Panagoda yesterday. Adding another bonus-point win, the Airmen braced four tries, converting one of them and putting over a penalty, while holding a slender 10-5 lead at halftime. The Soldiers, who were gritty... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/wada-shrugs-off-usa-withholding-dues-of-3-6mn-631002.html 7 February 2026 @ 10:42 pm Washington, United States, AFP: The United States has withheld $3.6 million in annual dues for a second consecutive year to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which says it remains financially strong despite the move. An appropriations bill signed into law by President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed the move and included language demanding an independent audit -- following up concern over Chi... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/england-exploit-on-sri-lankas-batting-woes-ahead-of-t20-world-cup-630976.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:28 pm When England arrived in Sri Lanka for the white-ball tour, expectations were of two closely-contested series. With both teams struggling for consistency, Sri Lanka being whitewashed by Pakistan in an away ODI series, struggling in the subsequent T20 matches, and England also suffering a whitewash against New Zealand in ODIs and 4-1 Ashes thrashing in Australia, it was expected to be a battle betwe... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/wormsley-in-buckinghamshire-one-of-worlds-most-beautiful-grounds-could-become-little-brother-to-lords-630960.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:25 pm Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) plans to turn Wormsley, one of the world rsquo;s most beautiful grounds, into the ldquo;little brother rdquo; of Lord rsquo;s as part of a drive to improve its pitches. MCC has been exploring ways to alleviate pressure on the ground at Lord rsquo;s, where the demand for fixtures presents a ldquo;currently unsolvable problem rdquo;, according to the club rsquo;s new ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/island-invitational-2026-to-herald-new-era-of-luxury-golf-in-sri-lanka-630864.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:19 pm Sri Lanka is set to host one of its most prestigious sporting and lifestyle events with the official announcement of the Island Invitational 2026, an elite invitational golf tournament bringing together sport, luxury hospitality, and influential business leaders from India and Sri Lanka. The Island Invitational 2026 will take place from February 17 to 20, with Cinnamon Life ndash; City of Drea... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/dialog-unveils-big-match-season-2026-powering-the-champions-of-tomorrow-630817.html 7 February 2026 @ 4:08 pm lt;div gt;Sri Lanka rsquo;s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC, announced the launch of the 2026 Dialog Big Match Season initiative, on Thursday at its headquarters amidst the presence of representatives from leading big match-playing teams. At the heart of Dialog Big Match Season is school cricket, a cornerstone in nurturing future cricketing stars, as it is on school grounds that ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/outstanding-success-for-gateway-at-sri-lanka-indoor-rowing-nationals-630813.html 7 February 2026 @ 4:02 pm Gateway College recorded a stellar performance at the Sri Lanka Indoor Rowing Nationals 2026, held on January 30 and 31 at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre, with an event count of five golds, four silvers, and a bronze. Eventually, Gateway completed the two-day event with a medal haul of 17 golds, 10 silvers, and a bronze across all junior, youth, and mixed categories. Gateway athletes demonstrated exc... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/visakha-vidyalaya-reigns-supreme-at-2026-indoor-rowing-championships-630809.html 7 February 2026 @ 4:01 pm Visakha Vidyalaya stamped their authority on the national rowing arena with a dominant showing at the 2026 Indoor Rowing Championships, emerging as overall champions in both the Junior Girls rsquo; Overall and Senior Women rsquo;s Overall categories, alongside Sri Lanka Army. The championship concluded with Visakha recording an outstanding medals tally of six gold, six silver, and a bronze, furthe... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/springfield-college-kandy-opens-state-of-the-art-badminton-complex-630802.html 7 February 2026 @ 3:53 pm Springfield College, Kandy, located in Anniewatte, marked a significant milestone in its sporting journey with the opening of two new indoor badminton courts built to international standards. The state-of-the-art complex, unveiled last week, further strengthens the sporting infrastructure available to students in the Central Province. The newly constructed courts are equipped with high-quality ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/sports/sahansa-revaan-clinch-u-14-yeti-ssc-tennis-titles-630796.html 7 February 2026 @ 3:49 pm Sahansa Damsiluni of Visakha Vidyalaya and Revaan Amarasinghe of S. Thomas rsquo; College clinched the Girl rsquo;s and Boy rsquo;s Under-14 Singles titles of the Yeti SSC Open Tennis Championship played at the SLTA tennis courts in Greenpath, Colombo last weekend. This was Sahansa rsquo;s second title win, having earlier won the Under-16 Boy rsquo;s Singles title and this time out she overcame...