David Beckham retires from football

David Beckham retires from football

"I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realise my dreams,"

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar David Beckham will bring the curtain down on his glittering  20-year carer after Paris Saint-German's final home game of the season against Brest.
The former England captain made 115 appearances for his country and 394 for Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

"I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level," he said.

"I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realise my dreams," he said.

"I owe everything to Victoria and the kids, who have given me the inspiration and support to play at the highest level for such a long period."

Dinuka Karunaratre wins Uganda International Badminton Open titles

Dinuka Karunaratre wins Uganda International Badminton
Open titles

Uganda International Badminton Open Championships 2013

Sri Lanka's player Dinuka Karunaratne won the men's single title at  the 2013 Uganda International Badminton Open Championships,held at Kampala, over the weekend.

Dinuka is the younger brother of Niluka Karunaratne, who represented Sri Lanka in the London Olympics. Dinuka Karunaratne beat his Indian rival, Sabanka Deshi by 2-0 in the final. Karunaratne beat Italian, Gracio, in the semi-final by 2-0 to get through to the final.

"This is a great win because we are making sure this title goes to Sri Lanka again after my brother won it last year. I have liked the tournament because it has been very competitive and beating an Indian in the tournament is even so sweet because they are a big badminton playing nation in Asia," a happy Karunaratre said.

The UCI World Cycling Tour Visits Sri Lanka in 2013

The UCI World Cycling Tour Visits Sri Lanka in 2013

UCI World Cycling Tour 2013.

After two successful seasons since its launch in 2011, the UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT) enters 2013 with an exciting calendar, touring all five continents. Besides classic venues such as Italy, Belgium and France, the new world giants of Australia, Brazil and the USA among many other exciting destinations, the series is now ready to welcome its first Asian event. The exotic landscape of Sri Lanka is our first stop next year, with a Road Race and a Time Trial in the surrounding of the country’s former capital, Colombo. The month of April seems to be inviting to warm, coastal destinations. After Sri Lanka, the UWCT has a stop in the glamorous hills of Saint Tropez, France, in Perth, Australia and then in Chania, on the Greek Island of Crete.

In May we move on to the state of New York, in the USA to get the season started in North America. UCI Bike City Copenhagen expects the Scandinavian crowd and other visitors for their Road Race and Time Trial. Belgium also hosts their qualifier event in May.

In June it’s time for Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, to show why they have recently been awarded as host city of the 2014 UWCT Final. Their classic style road race is one of the biggest and most traditional in the series, with the city centre fully closed for cyclists. Then we move north to the rolling mountains of Austria, to St. Polten in the Vienna surroundings.

In July the UWCT takes us to a rehearsal of the most challenging UWCT Final ever. The Qualifier event in Trento, Italy, will feature most of the climbs and landscape of this season’s Final. In August and September, Brazil and Spain close the opportunities for riders to qualify to a legendary Final.

The town of Trento is so proud to be hosting the 2013 Road Masters World Championships (UWCT Final) that it will be hard not to feel already a World Champion once you get there. The rainbow colors will be everywhere and the top of the famous Giro d’ Italia climb, Monte Bondone itself, will be standing like a podium for the ones who reach its top on the road race.

Calendar 2013

Sun 16 Sep 2012	Amy’s Gran Fondo	Lorne	Australia
04-07 April 2013	Gran Fondo Sri Lanka	Colombo	Sri Lanka
Sun 07 April 2013	Gran Fondo Golfe de St Tropez	Saint Tropez	France
12-14 April 2013	UWCT Perth	Perth	Australia
28-30 April 2013	Cretan Cycling Challenge	Chania	Greece
Sun 05 May 2013	Putnam Cycling Classic	Cold Springs	USA
10-12 May 2013	Copenhagen Gran Fondo	Copenhagen	Denmark
Sun 26 May 2013	Gran Fondo Eddy Merckx	Blégny	Belgium
07-09 June 2013	Franja Maraton BTC City	Ljubljana	Slovenia
14-16 June 2013	Sankt Pöltner Radmarathon	Sankt Pölten	Austria
19-21 July 2013	La Leggendaria Charly Gaul	Trento	Italy
Sun 11 Aug 2013	Copa 100k	Rio De Janeiro	Brazil
Sat 07 Sep 2013	Val d’Aran Cycling Tour	Vielha	Spain
19-22 Sep 2013	UWCT Final	Trento	Italy

Qualifier events for the 2014 Final

Sun 15 Sep 2013     Amy’s Gran Fondo                    Lorne                        Australia

26-27 Oct 2013      Msunduzi Road Challenge         Pietermaritzburg    South Africa

More information on www.uciworldcyclingtour.com

Mahela to step down as Sri Lanka captain

Mahela to step down as Sri Lanka captain

Angelo Mathews ready for captaincy

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said,he will step down as Captain after this Sri Lanka’s current Test and one-day tour of Australia,with Angelo Mathews seen as his likely replacement. Mahela Jayawardene, who was re-appointed as captain for a 12-month period in January,which expires at the end of the current tour.

"I took over the captaincy for 12 months and that ends after this series, so I don't want to continue to captain Sri Lanka after this tour. This will be my last. I was going to wait until the end of the series but I thought I might as well do it now, having had a chat to the selectors. I hope I don't get any more SOS calls from them later on. This year has been brilliant. I've enjoyed and what I've achieved." Mahela Jayawardene said

“I think this is the right time. We don’t have much cricket next year, not many big tours, so it will be a nice easy start for Angelo if he takes over,” Jayawardene added

Maldives U23 team wins Mahinda Rajapaksa International Football Trophy

Maldives U23 team wins
 Mahinda Rajapaksa International Football Trophy 2012 

Maldives beat Pakistan 2-1

Maldives Under 23 team has won the Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa International Football Tournament after beating Pakistan Under 23 team by 2 – 1 in the finals at the Jayathilaka Stadium in Nawalapitiya (Sri Lanka). 

The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Soccer Tournament-2012 was organized by the Minister of Sports and the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.

ICC named the World T20 team 2012

Mahela Jayawardene named
The skipper for the ICC T20 team

Three sri lankan`s  included in ICC World T20 team

International Cricket Council (ICC) has named the World T20 team 2012,which includes Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga,Ajantha Mendis.

ICC panel selected three players from Sri Lanka, two from West Indies, and a few players from Australia, India, England, New Zealand and Pakistan were a part of the 12-man squad.

Mahela Jayawardene has been named the skipper for the ICC T20 team.

In the women’s side, five players from champion 2012 T20 world cup(Women) Australia are represented while beaten finalist England has four representatives in the side including Edwards. The team also features players from India, West Indies and New Zealand.

ICC World T20 2012: Men's team 

• Chris Gayle (WI)

• Shane Watson (Aus)

• Virat Kohli (Ind)

• Mahela Jayawardene (SL) (C)

• Luke Wright (Eng)

• Brendon McCullum (NZ) (wk)

• Marlon Samuels (WI)

• Lasith Malinga (SL)

• Mitchell Starc (Aus)

• Saeed Ajmal (Pak)

• Ajantha Mendis (SL)

• Suresh Raina (Ind) - 12th Man

ICC World T20 2012: women's team 

• Charlotte Edwards (Eng) - Captain

• Meg Lanning (Aus)

• Poonam Raut (Ind)

• Laura Marsh (Eng)

• Sarah Taylor (Eng) - Wicket Keeper

• Lisa Sthalekar (Aus)

• Stafanie Taylor (WI)

• Julie Hunter (Aus)

• Ellyse Perry (Aus)

• Katherine Brunt (Eng)

• Erin Bermingham (NZ)

• Jess Cameron (Aus) - 12th Player 

The Selected ICC panel 

• Geoff Allardice (ICC General Manager - Cricket)
• Rex Clementine (Cricket journalist - Sri Lanka)
• Tony Hill (Member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires)
• Ranjan Madugalle (ICC Chief Match Referee and former Sri Lanka captain)
• Sanjay Manjrekar (Former India cricketer and ESS commentator)
• Melanie Jones (Former Australia cricketer and ESS commentator)

West Indies Wins ICC T20 World Cup 2012

The West Indies wins the championship of 2012 ICC T20

ICC T20 World Cup 2012 Final

The West Indies wins the championship of 2012 International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World cup,beating the host nation by 36 runs in a low-scoring but mesmerizing final on Sunday.
Sri Lanka who also lost its second chance of winning the championship after making to the finals. After bitter defeat to Pakistan in the finals at the 2009 championship in London, Sri Lanka made all efforts to keep the cup home, but could not match to Caribbeans(West Indies) who defeated them with 36 runs.
This is a team that loves to have fun almost as much as it loves to play cricket. There’s always a smile on the face of the West Indies players, full of wonderful people like Chris Gayle, the man who adopted the “Gangnam-style” dance.

West Indies Gangnam-style

after winning the toss and choosing to bat first West Indies was struggling with a poor start. Its first wicket of Johnson Charles fell without a run and dangerous Chris Gayle fell as the second wicket with just 3 runs but Marlon Samuels' 78 runs with 6 huge sixes and 3 fours West Indies was able to reach a winnable total of 137.
Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis made the biggest damage to West Indians taking most crucial wickets including Gayle. 
Chasing 137 runs Sri Lanka's first wicket opener Tillakaratne Dilshan
fell as the scoreboard just clicked 6 runs. The most experienced duo in Sri Lankan side, present captain Mahela Jayawardena together with Kumara Sangakkara made a brisk 42- run stand for second-wicket but wicket fell in quick succession after Sangakkara was out for 22.

Five wickets continued to fall until Nuwan Kulasekara in a final attempt trying to save Sri Lanka making 26 runs with just 13 deliveries but the host was all out for just 101 runs.

Sri Lanka present captain Mahela Jayawardena , announced his decision to step down as the captain of the Sri Lankan T20 team after losing the ICC World T20 2012 final against West Indies .

"Just one announcement guys, I have had a chat with the selectors and I have decided to step down as a captain of the Sri Lankan T20 team after the end of the tournament"


12 cricket playing nations competed for the fourth T20 World Cup from September 27 to October 7 in Sri Lanka.

West Indies beat Australia to reach T20 World Cup final 2012

West Indies beat Australia by 74 runs

West Indies will meet Sri Lanka on Sunday

West Indies beat Australia by 74 runs in the second semi-final of the T20 world cup 2012.

West Indies qualified for the final of the ICC T20 World Cup , they will meet Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium,colombo on 7th October 2012.

After winning the toss  West Indies captain Sammy decided to bat first and  scored 205 for 4 wickets.
West Indies Opener Chris Gayle top scored for 75 off 41 balls while Kieron Pollard chipped in with 38 off just 15 balls.
West Indies hit 13 fours and 14 sixes in their innings.

In reply, Australia only managed to get 131 runs while Ravi Rampaul picked up 3 wickets for 16 runs. 
The Australia captain Bailey smashed 63 from 29 balls.

West Indies Opener Chris Gayle was named the Man of the Match. 

1st semi-final of ICC T20 World Cup 2012:Sri Lanka vs Pakistan

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan ICC T20 World Cup 2012

Sri Lanka have a 90% chance of winning the Twenty20 World Cup title...

Sri Lanka and Pakistan, will meet in the first semi-final of ICC T20 World Cup 2012 to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today. The match will start at 13:30 GMT.

Sri Lanka topped Group One with six points by beating England, West Indies and New Zealand in the Super Eights(8) stage of the  ICC T20 World Cup tournament. West Indies remained runners-up with four points.

In Group Two, Australia, Pakistan and India secured four points each after the Super Eights(8) stage but Pakistan and Australia qualified for the semi-finals on better run rate.

Sri Lanka have a 90% chance of winning the Twenty20 World Cup title, if they beat Pakistan today’s  semi-final in colombo:Sri lanka former spinner Muttiah Muralitharan Said.

ICC T20 World Cup 2012:Semi-final and Final

T20 World Cup 2012 Semi-final teams

Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan at the first semi final 

The fourth ICC T20 World Cup 2012 going more interesting to watch its latest matches in Super 8 after complete group stages now become next round semi-final stage come in T20 World Cup 2012 in Sri Lanka,  Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan,West Indies team qualify for semi final rounds.
Both semi-finals will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium,Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan in the first semi-final in Colombo on Thursday while Australia take on West Indies on Friday in the same stadium(R Premadasa Stadium,Sri Lanka).

Semi-final and Final Schedule T20 World Cup 2012

• 1st Semi-Final: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo (RPS) Oct 4, 2012 (19:00 local | 13:30 GMT)
• 2nd Semi-Final: Australia v West Indies at Colombo (RPS) Oct 5, 2012 (19:00 local | 13:30 GMT)

• Final: TBA v TBA at Colombo (RPS) Oct 7, 2012 (19:00 local | 13:30 GMT)

World T20 Ranking:Sri Lanka top of the ICC T20 World rankings

Sri Lanka the top of the  ICC T20 World ranking 2012

ICC T20 World ranking 2012

Sri Lanka moved to the top of the  ICC T20 World rankings after their win against West Indies super 8 match(ICC T20 World cup 2012)

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ICC Twenty20 Championship

30 September 2012 Team Matches Points Rating Sri Lanka 12 1120 124 South Africa 17 1461 122 England 19 1573 121 Pakistan 24 1844 115 India 13 1150 115 Australia 18 1489 115 West Indies 13 956 106 New Zealand 17 1205 100 Bangladesh 10 597 85 Ireland 12 659 82 Zimbabwe 10 306 44