New Delhi/Colombo: On Wednesday morning, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made it out of Sri Lanka, Mark Madushka stood his ground. He was also set to face fast pace and left-arm spin for the third day at Colombo’s historic Colts Cricket Club ground – just 8 km from Rashtrapati Bhavan – with thousands of angry protesters. raided earlier this week.
Madushka is part of the Sri Lanka A team that met Pakistan in a three-day warm-up match Starting Monday. The faceoff is the prelude to a bigger cricket battle, when the full-strength Sri Lankan side – fresh from a 1-1 draw in the two-match Test series against Australia – will take on Pakistan in the two-match World Test Championship series that begins on Saturday. The second Test is scheduled to end on July 28.
Unlike the match against Australia, however, the Pakistan match is being played under tight security of the Sri Lankan army and police. Hundreds of people marched on the ramparts of Galle Fort on Saturday to protest against the government, especially since the second Test against Australia – and celebrated Pat Cummins’ first demolition job of left-arm spinner Prabhat Jayasuriya’s Australian side.
I have seen many sanga-mahela stands, Rangana Herath’s run, Dale Steyn’s scintillating performance and Chris Gayle’s triple century at Galle, which is my favorite cricket venue.
I have 24 hours to think about it now, and I sure do. Yesterday was the best day ever for me. pic.twitter.com/i6bsHkQnLt
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) 10 July 2022
A Colts club official said only those in the list approved by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board were allowed for the match. ThePrint spotted A local resident was barred from entering the stadium because he was not a member of the club.
match a. ended in To make a picture Wednesday. After Pakistan scored 323 runs in their first innings, Sri Lanka A responded with a declaration of 375 for 8. Pakistan then went to bat for the second time, and scored 178 for 2 at the end of the game.
Sri Lanka are yet to name their squad for the Pakistan matches but will likely retain the 1-1 draw with Australia, especially since the first Test will be held in Galle, where spinners thrive. So far, both Sri Lanka and Pakistan have scored similar percentage points as they compete for a place in the World Test Championship final next year.
Read also: Carrom at PM’s residence, swimming in President’s residence – peace after storm in Sri Lanka
go far behind
Cricket ties between the two countries are much closer than those of many other competitors in the game.
Sri Lanka was the last cricket country to tour Pakistan in 2009, when the terrorists were attacked Touring party in Lahore triggers six-year international exile for hosts’ venues, In 2017, Sri Lanka became Second cricket country (after Zimbabwe) to tour Pakistan again, and was instrumental in the re-normalization of matches in the country.,
Off the fray, the two South Asian powers now find themselves in similar financial boats, relying on important talks With the International Monetary Fund to find a viable route out of the ongoing economic crises.
politically important sports matches
Given the political, economic and social turmoil that loomed large over this Test series, the situation pointed to other sporting events in previous years, when off-field tensions were, for a moment, less than what happened on the field. was away.
Hungary vs USSR (1956)
1956 Olympics saw the iconic ‘Blood in the Water’‘ water polo semi-final match between Hungary and the Soviet Union, when the Central European nation defeated the giants 4–0 on 6 December – a month after the student-led Hungarian Revolution, a popular revolt against the Soviet-backed communist government of Hungary. In. Bloody political animosity between the two countries played itself out on the field as well as Soviet tanks pushed Hungarian player Ervin Zador’s face was seen in a pool of blood after being punched by Soviet player Valentin Prokopov in a water polo match to quell the rebellion in Budapest.
El Salvador v Honduras (1969)
Even though the armed conflict between these two Central American nations lasted less than a week in July 1969, the match between Honduras and El Salvador was widely known as the “Football War” because it was before By a bitter competition for a three-match qualifier series for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Due to riots and fan violence in the first two matches, El Salvador broke ties with Honduras, citing alleged Honduran harassment of Salvadorans living there. El Salvador won the third match in extra time.
Iran vs USA (1998)
Decades after the US-led coup in 1953, which overthrew Mohamed Mossaddeg, and the 1979 revolution that overthrew US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and saw Ayatollah Khomeini rise to power, the United States won the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Iran’s encounter with considered “The most politically charged match in World Cup history”. However, contrary to expectations, the Iranians were seen giving white roses to their American rivals and taking pictures together before winning the game 2-1.
India vs Pakistan (1999)
India’s controversial sporting history with Pakistan is well documented, but the most notable encounter on the cricket field was in 1999 – months before the Kargil War.
Pakistan toured India for two Tests that year, won the first match in a dramatic fashion at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai and went on a victory lap around the stadium to applause from Indian fans. India won the second Test in Delhi with Anil Kumble taking all 10 wickets in the final innings.
Ukraine at the Sochi Winter Olympics (2014)
Ukraine’s participation in the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Russian resort city of Sochi was one of the last major tournaments held on Ukrainian or Russian soil, with the two countries competing directly against each other. The Sochi Olympics were held in February 2014 – three months after the violent Euromaidan Revolution and Russia attack of Crimea. eight years war This was followed in the Donbass, and the sports federations of the two countries decided to prohibit their players from playing each other again.
Serbia vs Albania (2014)
Tensions between the two nations, which initially led to the Kosovo War – an armed conflict in Kosovo in southeastern Europe that began on 28 February 1998 and lasted until 11 June 1999 – resurfaced during a qualifying game for UEFA Euro 2016. came in front. Held in October 2014 in Belgrade. Serbian fans in the stadium hurled abuses at their Albanian opponents at the start of the first match from a drone carrying the nationalist. “Greater Albania” The flag fell on the pitch in the middle of the match, leading to a fight between the players on the field. The match was abandoned after 42 minutes of play, and after an investigation by UEFA, controversially led Albania to a 3–0 win.
Qatar vs UAE (2019)
This Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup semi-final match in Abu Dhabi was contemporaneously called “Blockade Derby” Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic ties with Qatar in June 2017 in light of the United Arab Emirates and fellow Asian Cup competitors blocking the latter’s land, air and sea trade routes. But on the field, Qatar had the last laugh, beating hosts UAE 4-0 to win the Asian Cup for the first time in their football history.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
Read also: Lankan Gotabaya ‘run away’ to Male, likely to move to Dubai or Singapore later