At present, the Sri Lanka Men’s National Baseball team is featured in the BFA XVI West Asia Baseball Cup 2025, at the Karaj Complex Stadium in Iran. In the opener, the boys from the island nation suffered a heartbreaking 3 – 2 loss after a hard-fought battle.
This year, the biennial tournament is taking place for the sixteenth time, and only seven nations are in the fray for the West Asian title.
Preliminary Round Pools
Group A – Sri Lanka, India, Afghanistan, Palestine
Group B – Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran.
The tournament started on May 15th and will conclude on May 22nd 2025. The vibrant Sri Lankan outfit is definitely targeting a medal, as they were the champions on a couple of occasions and were placed 3rd in the last tournament. Experienced player and striker Naveen Anuradha Kasthurimudali is the Captain of the Lankan side, which is a blend of experience and youth talents.
Sri Lanka National Baseball Squad
Naveen Anuradha, Dinesh Weerasinghe, Sandeesha Chanod Meegoda, Chintaka Indunil, Thilina Sameera Perera, Dilshan Madushanka, GT Sandaruwan, AP Kumara, Hemantha Pushpasiri, Iresh Kosala, WS Madushan, HM Perera, HT Madumal, DS Dulshan, Hashan Dileep Seneviratne, ID Gunapala, IE Dharmaratne, Himsara Randeni, Malaka Priyadarshana, Niroshan Ranjan Kumara, Thushara Madushanka Wickramasinghe, Gayathra Amasara Weerawardane
Head Coach : Damith Nadeera Mallawarachchi
Manager : AJ Ratnayake
In the opening fixture, Sri Lanka took the field against their neighbors, India. After the first innings, the Sri Lankans were in the driver’s seat with a 1 – 0 lead. After the second innings, India managed to square the game at one all. At the end of the third innings, there wasn’t any difference between the sides, as the score read 3 – 3. Then India managed to score in the fifth inning and took the lead for the first time in this crucial encounter.
By needing two to win and one to equalize in the seventh and final inning, Sri Lanka’s scoring opportunities went begging due to various mistakes. Finally, the Indians managed to edge over Sri Lanka to claim a famous victory. It was definitely a disappointment for the Lankans, as they were able to thrash the Indians 11-02 in the previous edition of this tournament.
Results of the other matches
Palestine 22 – 7 Afghanistan
Pakistan 10 – 6 Bangladesh
