Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sangakkara optimistic Sri Lanka will stage England series despite attacks

Kumar Sangakkara believes Sri Lanka will stage England's scheduled tour of the island next year despite safety concerns caused by the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

More than 250 people were killed and nearly 500 wounded in a series of attacks claimed by Islamic State on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on April 21.


England are due to play Tests in Colombo and Galle next March but the attacks have led to fears Sri Lanka could join Pakistan as a no-go area for major international sides.

Pakistan have been forced to play the bulk of their home games in the United Arab Emirates since 2009, when armed militants targeted Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore.

Sri Lanka great Sangakkara, who will later this year become the first non-British president of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), lamented the fact some Pakistan players had never played a Test in their own country and hoped his own nation would not face a similar fate.

"I was in the bus in 2009 when the Sri Lanka team got attacked and I understand the reservations and the security concerns that come after such an incident or even as an observer looking from the outside in," Sangakkara told reporters at Lord's on Thursday.

"We need a very open conversation with the necessary security aspects that are in place, make sure there are independent assessments done, that the boards connect openly and fully," he added.

"We always talk about cricket transcending politics and that has to be the case with tours, as long as security and safety is assured, and there is an honest commitment from every country to put those security measures in place."

He said Sri Lanka, which endured a long and bloody civil war until 2009, had managed to host cricket tours, including a World Cup "in very trying circumstances" in the past.

- World Cup tips -

Sangakkara was speaking just a week from the start of the World Cup, with hosts England opening the tournament against South Africa on May 30.

One of the best batsmen of his generation and twice a losing World Cup finalist, Sangakkara has been impressed by the way Eoin Morgan's England side have climbed to the top of the one-day international rankings since their first-round exit in Australia four years ago.

"Since 2015 England have changed their mindset about how they play their cricket and that has revolutionised their performances," Sangakkara said.

"It's a strange kind of shift. When you're young in Sri Lanka the coaching methods are very English, what you wear, how you conduct yourself... everything about the game is very much old school.

"Then the shift starts later on in your teen years when the Asian genes kick in -- the supple wrists and experimentation, flamboyance, panache -- not restricting that natural ability with too much technique. In England now you see that shift towards vibrancy and individuality. It's been great to see."

But Sangakkara, who also acknowledged the strength of India and Australia, highlighted the World Cup threat posed by the West Indies and Pakistan.

"The West Indies are an incredible T20 side and it's great to see they're more open to their best players representing them," he said. "A strong West Indies side means strong world cricket.

"Pakistan are always inconsistent but if they get to the play-offs, they can beat any side in the world."

More For You

Aga Khan IV tribute: ‘His vision and impact transcended borders, faiths and generations’

His Highness the Aga Khan IV with the then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, at the Aga Khan Centre, London, in 2019.

Aga Khan IV tribute: ‘His vision and impact transcended borders, faiths and generations’

Naushad Jivraj

WITH profound sorrow and deep gratitude, we reflect on the life and legacy of Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, our beloved 49th hereditary Imam.

For nearly seven decades, His Highness Aga Khan IV dedicated his life to the spiritual and material wellbeing of the Ismaili community. He was not only our spiritual leader but also a visionary, whose work improved the lives of millions worldwide, leaving an impact that transcended borders, faiths and generations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey set to dazzle Brighton Pride 2025 with a show-stopping performance at Preston Park

Getty Images

Mariah Carey to headline Brighton Pride 2025: Iconic comeback set to break records

This summer, music legend Mariah Carey is set to light up the stage at Brighton Pride, marking her first UK performance since her 2019 Royal Albert Hall shows. Scheduled for August 2, 2025, at Preston Park, Carey’s highly anticipated appearance follows the cancellation of the 2020 event due to COVID-19. Known for her chart-topping hits like "Fantasy" and "Always Be My Baby," her performance is expected to draw massive crowds. Tickets go on sale February 20, and demand is expected to be high.

Paul Kemp, Brighton Pride’s Managing Director, shared his excitement, recalling the disappointment of 2020. “We’re thrilled to finally welcome Mariah this year,” Kemp said. “Pride is a celebration of love, diversity, and unity, and having a global icon like her headline makes this year’s event even more special.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Are Kanye West and Bianca Censori breaking up after the viral Grammys stunt?

Kanye West and Bianca Censori at the Marni Fall/Winter 2024 Fashion Show during Milan Fashion Week

Getty Images

Are Kanye West and Bianca Censori breaking up after the viral Grammys stunt?

Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, and his wife, Bianca Censori, are once again at the centre of divorce rumours, this time following a series of controversies surrounding Ye. Reports suggest that the couple’s relationship has been strained due to Ye’s recent actions, including allegations of antisemitism and the backlash from selling swastika-themed merchandise.

Sources claim that Censori, 30, reached a breaking point, unwilling to be associated with Ye’s controversies any longer. The tension reportedly escalated after Censori’s near-nude appearance at the 2025 Grammy Awards, which drew widespread criticism. While Ye defended her bold outfit, calling her “smart, talented, brave, and hot,” the incident allegedly deepened the rift between them.

Keep ReadingShow less
Win tickets to Mythili Prakash’s stunning dance show

Mythili Prakash

Win tickets to Mythili Prakash’s stunning dance show

Eastern Eye

EASTERN EYE readers have the chance to win a pair of tickets to watch Bharatnatyam dancer Mythili Prakash perform at Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford, London, later this month.

In the new show titled She’s auspicious, Prakash explores the relationship between femininity and purity, according to the programme website.

Keep ReadingShow less
Man found guilty of rape and murder of Irish backpacker in India

McLaughlin, 28, from County Donegal, was found dead in a field in Goa in March 2017. (Photo credit: Twitter)

Man found guilty of rape and murder of Irish backpacker in India

A COURT in India has found Vikat Bhagat guilty of the rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin.

McLaughlin, 28, from County Donegal, was found dead in a field in Goa in March 2017.

Keep ReadingShow less