The Sri Lanka men's national cricket team, nicknamed The Lions, represents Sri Lanka in men's international cricket. It was a Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) status until it was suspended, for 11 days, by the ICC on 10 November 2023. The suspension was lifted on 21 November 2023. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27 and became an associate member of the ICC in 1965. They were awarded the Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket-playing nation. The team is administered by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Deshabandu Sanath Teran Jayasuriya, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever to play the game. A left arm opening batsman, an orthodox spinner and a dynamic fielder, Jayasuriya together with his opening partner Romesh Kaluwitharana is credited for having revolutionized one-day international cricket with his explosive batting in the mid-1990s, which initiated the hard-hitting modern-day batting strategy of all nations. He was a key member of the Sri Lankan team that won 1996 Cricket World Cup. Under his captaincy Sri Lanka become joint champions along with India in the 2002 Champions Trophy.
Deshabandu Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who represented the Sri Lanka national cricket team from 1990 to 2004. He was a key member and wicket-keeper for 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team and renowned for his aggressive batting style.
Russel Premakumaran Arnold Tamil: ரசல் பிரேம்குமாரன் அர்னால்ட்;( born 25 October 1973), or Russel Arnold, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer of Tamil descent, who played all forms of the game. He played as the finisher role in the Sri Lankan team batting down the order at international level. Arnold currently works as an international commentator. He was the first Twenty20 International cap for Sri Lanka as he was part of Sri Lanka's first ever T20I team. He retired from cricket in 2007 after playing the final in 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Deshabandu Roshan Siriwardene Mahanama is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and a former ICC match referee. He was a key member for 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team for Sri Lanka. He is the first man to have stood as a match referee in a day-night test match in Test history.
Wickramasinghe Gallage Pramodya, commonly known as Pramodya Wickramasinghe, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm-fast bowler. He was regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in 1990s. He was a member of 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team. He is the former national chief selector of both Sri Lanka men's and women's cricket teams.
Mohamed Naveed Nawaz, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman and a leg-break bowler who played one Test and 3 One-Day Internationals for Sri Lanka. He is appointed as under-19 coach of Bangladesh. Under the coaching of Nawaz, in The 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh beat India by three wickets to win the tournament.
Matara is a district in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. It is one of 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka.
The 2002 ICC Champions Trophy was a cricket tournament held in Sri Lanka in 2002. It marked the third edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, with the previous two tournaments being known as the ICC Knock Out Tournaments. Originally scheduled to be held in India, the tournament was moved to Sri Lanka when India did not grant an exemption from tax, as needed. The tournament consisted of fifteen matches, including two semi-finals and a final match. This event was notable as it marked the first time that teams from all member nations of the International Cricket Council (ICC) visited Sri Lanka to participate in a cricket tournament.
The Indian cricket team toured Sri Lanka in August 1997, participating in two Test matches and three One Day International (ODI) matches. During the first Test match, Sri Lanka scored 952 runs for 6 wickets, the highest team total in Test cricket. Several more records were established in this match, including the highest partnership for the second wicket by Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama. The Test series ended without a result, with both Test matches drawn.
The Sri Lanka national cricket team toured England in the 1998 season. On the tour they played 4 first-class matches, 5 List A matches and a single Test match. They also competed in a tri-series tournament against England and South Africa, entitled the Emirates Triangular Tournament. They won the competition by defeating England in the final, also beating South Africa in the group stage. They won the only Test, with Muttiah Muralitharan taking a career best 16/220 – the 5th best bowling figures in a match in Test cricket history.
The Sri Lanka national cricket team toured New Zealand in the 2000-01 season to play a five-match LOI series. New Zealand were captained by Stephen Fleming and Sri Lanka were captained by Sanath Jayasuriya.
The Nairobi Club Ground is a multi-use sports venue in Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya. It is the second oldest cricket ground in Kenya, having been predated by the Sir Ali Muslim Club Nairobi which opened in 1934. The Nairobi Club lays claim to being the first cricket ground to feature a turf wicket when it opened in the early 1950s, which was installed by former club cricketer for Prestwich in the United Kingdom, and Nairobi Parks Department employee, Don Pringle who later represented East Africa in the 1975 Cricket World Cup.
Manoj Veerendra Hemaratne is a former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer who played for the Antonians Sports Club from 1985 to 2000.
St. Servatius' College is a boys' school located in Matara, Sri Lanka. The school was established in 1897 by recently arrived Belgian Jesuit missionaries, led by Joseph Van Reeth, first bishop of Galle and Father Augustus Standaert. St. Servatius' College is a national school, which provides primary and secondary education. This is the only school in Sri Lanka where three Governors of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka were educated. This is the only school in Sri Lanka that has produced national team captains in the sports of cricket, football and volleyball.
Ruhuna cricket team was one of the five provincial cricket teams that took part in Sri Lankan Inter-Provincial Tournament, representing Southern Province. The Ruhuna cricket team was based in Galle. It drew cricketers from Sri Lanka Premier Trophy. Team colors were Red and Blue. Ruhuna cricket team took part in all three provincial tournaments: the first-class cricket competition known as the Inter-Provincial First Class Tournament, the List A competition known as the Inter-Provincial Limited Over Tournament and the Twenty20 competition known as the Inter-Provincial Twenty20.
Gampalage Shehan Naveendra De Fonseka Gunawarna Jayasuriya, or commonly Shehan Jayasuriya, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who played for Chilaw Marians in Sri Lankan domestic cricket. He is a quick-scoring left-handed batsman and a right-arm off-break bowler. He was born in Colombo, and attended Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa. He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in Sri Lanka on 8 January 2021 because of him moving to United States to live with his wife and her family.
Cricket was introduced in Sri Lanka during the 19th century by the British. A Sri Lankan school was the first to play cricket in 1864, primarily against small clubs. With the arrival of English cricketer Ashley Walker and the founding of Royal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka's first inter-school match took place between St. Thomas' College, Matale and Royal College in 1880. An annual match, known as the Battle of the Blues, was held.
Uyanwatta Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Matara, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the southern tip of Sri Lanka. The Uyanwatte ground is home to Matara Cricket Club. The ground, which has staged `A' internationals and U19 matches, now looks set for a major period of development.
