Afghanistan came to the do-or-die clash against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as neither side was confirmed to qualify from Group B of the tournament. However, the Charith Asalanka-led side’s victory not only qualifies them but also sends Bangladesh to the Super 4 stage of the event.

However, the victory turned bittersweet for the spinner, Dunith Wellalage, after he learnt the demise of his father, Suranga Wellalage, who was regarded as a well-known player, leading the Prince of Wales College during the same period Russell Arnold led St Peter’s College.

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A video went viral around the social media platforms where Wellalage was seen to be informed of the news from the manager of the Sri Lanka side, as their coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, consoled along with captain Asalanka. It was not a great evening anyway for the left-arm spinner, who was smashed for five consecutive sixes on the last over of the innings against Mohammad Nabi, who celebrated a fine fifty.

Watch: Dunith Wellalage learns of his father’s demise from Sri Lanka coach after Afghanistan clash in Asia Cup 2025

Just moments after the side sealed a six-wicket victory over the Rashid Khan-led side, Sri Lanka’s former all-rounder, Russell Arnold, shared the heartbreaking news on air, as he recalled all-rounder Suranga Wellalage. Dunith went for 49 runs in his four-over spell, including bowling the 20th and last over of the innings.

The moment when Sri Lanka’s coach Sanath Jayasuriya and Team manager informed Dunith Wellallage about the demise of his father right after the match. Dunith’s father passed away due to a sudden heart attack. He was 54.🥲
video credits- Dhanushka pic.twitter.com/P01nFFWlVW

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) September 18, 2025

“Dunith Wellalage’s father, Suranga, passed away just a while ago. Quite sad to hear that. The news was broken to Dunith just a while ago. And our condolences to the family. The celebrations will be muted. The team is a tight place, the dressing room. Hopefully, this bonds them and helps them go on and do well in the Super 4 stage,” Arnold commented on air.

Kusal Mendis, the wicket-keeper batter, nailed a fine unbeaten knock of 74 runs in 52 balls at a strike rate of 142.31 with the help of 10 boundaries to chase down the target by six wickets with eight balls to spare.

The world is about to experience a liftoff as preparations for the Asia Cup are underway in full swing. The epic rivalry between the Asian giants kicks off on September 9. Since this marquee tournament will be played in a T20 format, expectations of high scores and electrifying batting displays run rampant. Throughout the history of the Asia Cup, run-scoring has been aplenty, be it the T20 or ODI format. Legendary batting prodigies from India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan have gone on to script historic knocks that are still etched into the memories of die-hard fans to this day. 

Yet, when we look at the top five run-getters list of all time, only batters from India and Sri Lanka make the cut. Read on as we showcase the top five batters in the Asia Cup history to score the most runs. 

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Sanath Jayasuriya (ODI - 1220, T20I - N/A)

Jayasuriya was responsible for inflicting an unprecedented reign of terror, especially on the Indian bowlers. When in form, the Sri Lankan batting all-rounder would spare no one. To this day, he remains the highest run scorer in the history of the Asia Cup. Despite not playing long enough to feature in the T20 version of the Asia Cup, Jayasuriya's run tally still surpasses the contemporary greats like Kohli and Rohit. In 25 games, Jayasuriya amassed 1220 runs at a stunning average of 53 and managed six centuries and three half-centuries. With a strike rate of 102.2, Jayasuriya was a sheer menace with the willow. His best knock in the Asia Cup came against Bangladesh in 2008. In a winning cause, the all-rounder slammed a rapid 130 (88) to power Sri Lanka to an imposing 332-8. He partnered with Sangakkara at the top of the order to register a crushing 201-run opening stand, which virtually took the game away from Bangladesh well inside the first innings. 

Rohit Sharma (ODI - 939, T20I - 271)

The former Indian skipper marginally edges behind Jayasuriya with a tally of 1210. Rohit Sharma, who made his Asia Cup debut in 2008, took his own merry time to establish a foothold on the big stage. But when he did, there was no looking back. From 2013 onwards, Rohit rose to prominence and evolved into one of the most destructive openers in modern-day cricket. Unlike Jayasuriya, Rohit has been a part of the T20 versions of the Asia Cup that were played in 2016 & 2022. In the T20I version, Rohit has scored 271, which includes some match-winning cameos. However, the bulk of his Asia Cup runs came in the ODI format. Across 23 innings, Rohit plundered 939 runs at a remarkable average of 48.86, with one century and nine half-centuries to his name. His only century, which also happens to be his best Asia Cup knock, came against the arch-rivals Pakistan in 2018. Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan proved way too good for Pakistan as the duo registered a dominant 210-run stand for the opening wicket to roll over the Green Shirts shambolically by nine wickets. Rohit stayed unbeaten on 111* to steer India home with ease. With a fair bit of cricket still left in him, Rohit will be eyeing to go past Jayasuriya's record to become the highest run scorer in the history of the Asia Cup. 

Virat Kohli (ODI - 742, T20I - 429)

The chase master's heightened appetite for runs earns him a well-deserved third spot in this coveted list. Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in the T20I format with 429 runs to his name. The most iconic moment of his Asia Cup career came in the T20I format in 2022, when he ended a three-year-long century drought by silencing his critics with a match-winning century against Afghanistan. As for his record in the ODI format, Virat's numbers are equally impressive as his numbers from the shortest format. In 13 ODI innings, Virat has managed to maintain a jaw-dropping average of close to 62 and has registered a tally of 742 runs, which includes four breathtaking centuries. His best Asia Cup knock, which also happens to be his career-best ODI knock, came against Pakistan in the 2012 edition. Virat walked out to bat in a tricky situation, with India already two down for less than 10 runs on the board. But what followed was something way beyond everyone's comprehension. At a time when the momentum rested in favor of Pakistan, Virat's counter-attacking century changed the entire dynamics of the run chase.  With world-class bowlers like Ajmal, Wahab, and Hafeez to contend with, Virat went about his business and fought fire with fire to get India over the line on the back of his swashbuckling 183. 

Kumar Sangakkara (ODI - 1075, T20I - N/A)

The Sri Lankan batting genius comes fourth in the list with 1075 runs in 23 innings. But if we keep the T20I record aside, Sangakkara emerges as the second-best run scorer in the history of the Asia Cup. Although Sangakkara never got a chance to feature in the T20 edition of the Asia Cup, the tailsmatic wicketkeeper-batter unleashed enough carnage to establish himself as a force to reckon with in the ODI format. In 23 ODI innings, Sangakkara scored well above 1000 runs and maintained a healthy average of 48.86. Moreover, he also produced four tons and eight half-century scores, most of which had come in a winning cause. His highest score of 121 in the Asia Cup was achieved against Bangladesh during the 2008 Asia Cup edition in Pakistan. 

Sachin Tendulkar (ODI - 971, T20I - N/A)

When we talk about run scoring, no list is complete without the mention of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Being the highest all-time run getter in ODI and Test formats combined, to see his name appear at the fag end of the list is a tad bit surprising. From a period spanning from 1990 to 2012, Tendulkar featured across 21 ODI innings and amassed 971 runs at an impressive average of 51.10. In his extensive Asia Cup journey, Tendulkar witnessed moments of highs and lows. However, unlike his batting rivals, the little master could only manage two centuries. Nevertheless, he managed to complete seven half-century scores and maintained a healthy strike rate of nearly 85. His best Asia Cup knock, which could arguably be the most magical moment of his life, was against Bangladesh when he racked up a brilliant 114 to bring up his 100th international ton, a feat that is almost impossible to break in the contemporary era. 

Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya played one of the finest and most dominating innings in the history of Test cricket. On August 6, 1997, he individually scored 340 runs against India in Colombo, and Sri Lanka registered a mammoth total of 952, losing only 6 wickets. The match ended in a draw but remained as one of the highest-scoring events in cricket.

Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama batted throughout two full days' play; Roshan got a 225-run knock, and Aravinda de Silva scored 126. With the help of those individual brilliances, the home team encrypted 952/6d—the highest score in test history.

The partnership between Jayasuriya and Roshan became one of the main attractions of the game. In all, they went on to add 576, a record that remained untouched for nine years before being shattered by two other Sri Lankan legends, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. They added 624 against South Africa in 2006. In that encounter between India and Sri Lanka in August of 1997, India too had multiple centurions. Navjot Singh Sidhu, then the captain of Team India, Sachin Tendulkar, and Mohammad Azharuddin scored centuries in the match, and India put 537/8d on the scoreboard, batting first.

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Jayasuriya was trying to avoid follow-on 

537 itself was a massive total, but the mammoth was yet to come. Marvan Atapattu's early departure turned out to be a false hope only. When Atapattu was dismissed, Sri Lanka was 39/1. After that it was only about Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama. After 39/1, India got the second wicket when Sri Lanka was on 615. Jayasuriya had made 340 from 578 balls in 799 minutes, with 36 fours and two sixes. Showing respect to India's competitive total, the first target of Jayasuriya was to avoid the follow-on. 

"I wasn't going after the record—at least not until the end of the fourth day, when someone told me I was only 50 short. I felt a great pressure on me when I came out to bat [on the fifth morning], and obviously I am disappointed now—but at least my country has made a great achievement," he said. 

In the dynamic world of One Day Internationals (ODIs), speed is crucial when it comes to runs. The fastest fifties are among the most exciting achievements in the game. Reaching a fifty in record time is incredibly demoralizing for the opposition, and enthusiasm is contagious when the batting side is showing speed. Scoring the ball in national conditions requires courage and intent, impeccable timing, and, of course, complete confidence.

Throughout the years, there have been many players, and a select few have achieved incredible striking speeds, managing to grab a place in the history books by completing half-centuries in no time. These players certainly bring a new level of scratch to the way we play ODIs in the modern era. Here are the top six fastest fifties in ODI history; each time the batsman surprised the cricketing world with their powerful hitting.

AB de Villiers – 16 Balls vs West Indies, 2015

South African batter AB de Villiers is also the holder of the record for the fastest ODI fifty, scored in just 16 balls. What made this resulting innings so iconic was the fact it came against the West Indies in Johannesburg and the relentless pace of his innings. In some few short minutes he plundered 8 sixes and 4 fours, taking on the West Indies bowlers erratically.

De Villiers' pyrotechnics, along with trembling heart rates, made for a performance that we will remember for years to come. He managed to score 149 off 44 balls, with 31 of those balls being the fastest ODI hundred. It is not an understatement to say this is considered one of the greatest ever exhibitions of batting within the ODI format.

Matthew Forde—16 Balls vs Ireland, 2025

On May 23, 2025, West Indies all-rounder Matthew Forde shocked the cricketing world with a stunning 16-ball fifty against Ireland at Castle Avenue, Dublin. Coming in at number eight, Forde went on a rampage, scoring 58 off just 19 balls, which included two fours and eight sixes, all the while equaling AB de Villiers' record for the fastest ODI fifty. His late strike pushed West Indies to 352/8. Forde's explosive batting changed the game and showed his ability to transform it in a matter of minutes. This knock was his entry on the global stage, and he arrived in style.

Sanath Jayasuriya—17 Balls vs Pakistan, 1996

You would have to go as far back as Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya to observe batting of that nature in quite possibly ODI cricket history. Jayasuriya was known for swinging hard and hitting for distance. During this innings against Pakistan, we saw 17 balls hammered for 5 fours and 3 sixes in Singapore. By any measure, the degree of aggressive batting in the early overs was unheard of in 1996, which is why Jayasuriya is known as a pioneer of this style of batting.

His power and sentiment helped dictate the future successful batting performances of Sri Lanka throughout the mid-90s era. Jayasuriya's innings and attitude at the top of this batting also helped shape the way ODIs were played in the future and changed batting. His style of aggressive batting has shaped how younger generations have also played.

Also Read: IRE vs WI: West Indies’ Matthew Forde smashes joint-fastest fifty in ODI history

Kusal Perera – 17 Balls vs Bangladesh, 2014

Kusal Perera, another dynamic left-handed Sri Lankan batsman, achieved a record of his own by equalling Jayasuriya's feat of also scoring a fifty in 17 balls vs. Bangladesh. Opening the innings, Kusal operated from his first ball and put pressure on the bowlers. Kusal struck 9 fours and 1 six in explosive innings. This inning further confirmed his dominance early in the innings and set up the Sri Lankans in what was a big win that day.

He has often received comparisons in the past two due to each of their fearless approaches to the game. Kusal has also continued his dominance early in the innings for Sri Lankan cricket, where he continues to be a big player for the limited-overs format.

Liam Livingstone—17 Balls v Netherlands, 2022

England's Liam Livingstone joined this elite group by scoring a fifty in 17 balls against the Netherlands in 2022, hitting the ball with power and confidence all around the wicket, indulging in all forms of explosive power-hitting. Livingstone's innings included 6 sixes to show an incredible amount of strength and timing, as the wickets made no difference.

His innings allowed England to reach a world record ODI score of 498 runs. Unsurprisingly, Livingstone is known for his fearless approach to the game and personifies the more dynamic and aggressive format that England has moved towards in recent years. I thought his fast fifty was a great example of the aggressive attitude modern-day cricket demands.

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya recently told that he personally approached Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently. When meeting him, Jayasuriya requested the Indian government to lend support towards establishing an international stadium for cricket in Jaffna, which is a northern town in Sri Lanka. According to him, lots of young, talented cricketers reside there, but unfortunately, they have no appropriate facilities for training.

Jayasuriya added that Prime Minister Modi had responded positively. The Prime Minister indicated he would discuss this with his team and respond soon.This type of appeal demonstrates how closely Sri Lanka and India are together, particularly regarding development and sports. A stadium in Jaffna would not only be advantageous for local cricket but also mean more opportunities for youth in the area.

Jaffna has witnessed a lot of suffering in the past, and such support could give hope for the future generation. If this stadium construction gets realized, then it would open up employment, motivate young cricketers, and even organize international matches in the future.It can be a giant step towards peace and development through sports.

🚨 A REQUEST FROM JAYASURIYA TO PM NARENDRA MODI 🚨

Sanath Jayasuriya said "There are many talented cricketers in Jaffna so I requested the honourable Prime minister if he could help us build this facility (International cricket stadium) in Jaffna, he said he would discuss with… pic.twitter.com/9sSnJo1d4h

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 8, 2025

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How a Cricket Stadium in Jaffna Can Make a Difference

Building an international stadium in Jaffna would be more than a sporting project. It would be a demonstration of solidarity between two adjacent countries and rebuilding a part of the country that wishes to move on. Most young players in northern Sri Lanka lack adequate support, and a new stadium would transform their lives.

If India backs this proposal, it will be remembered as a generous and strong gesture of friendship. It may also result in increased sports and cultural exchanges between Sri Lanka and India, forging strong bonds through cricket and more.

Century is incredible to score and always stands out while being achieved within a One Day International, especially if it's done against such a strong bowling team as Pakistan. Throughout history, some of the world's top batsmen have scored match-winning hundreds with tremendous speed and agility against Pakistan.

Here's the list of the top five quickest ODI centuries hit against Pakistan :

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1. Jos Buttler (46 balls) – Dubai, 2015

Jos Buttler smashed his first century off 46 balls against Pakistan in Dubai on 20 November 2015. His aggressive stroke play included powerful sixes and boundaries all over the park. It is the fastest hundred ever to be scored by a batsman against Pakistan in ODIs.

2. Sanath Jayasuriya (48 balls) – Singapore, 1996

An opener known for aggressive batting from the beginning, Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya showed to the cricket world in the 1996 Singer Cup in Singapore by scoring a century in only 48 balls, where he demolished the bowlers with his hitting.

3. Jos Buttler (50 balls) – Southampton, 2019

Jos Buttler appears on this list again for another century on May 11, 2019, in Southampton. It was an ODI series match before the World Cup 2019, but his 50-ball hundred was full of pure power-hitting, for which Pakistan bowlers had nothing to say to him.

4. Ross Taylor (70 balls) – Napier, 2015

Ross Taylor played a ripping innings against Pakistan in Napier on February 3, 2015. His 70-ball hundred was seen when batsmen went out to put on a show and entertain the crowd, playing some real classy strokes.

5. Travis Head (70 balls) – Lahore, 2022

Travis Head hit a century off 70 balls on 29 March 2022 in Lahore. He started attacking right from the beginning during his match in Pakistan, taking full benefit of the circumstances. He played classical stroke play and helped his team amass a stiff total.

These magnificent innings speak for the talent and aggression of the modern-day cricketer. Scoring a fast hundred against Pakistan is never easy, but these players have made it look so easy with their skill and power. In the future, we may witness even quicker centuries as cricket develops!

Sri Lanka Cricket on Monday, October 7 has shared the news that they have appointed Sanath Jayasuriya as the permanent head coach of the team after their stunning show recently. Jayasuriya, who was the interim coach of the team after the T20 World Cup 2024, will remain in the post until March 31, 2026 as well.

However, in a statement released on their official X account, Sri Lanka Cricket shared that the executive committee made the call, after observing the team's recent good performances against India, England and New Zealand as well. The cricket board also said that the appointment had already come into effect on October 1, 2024 as well.

Sri Lanka make headlines with their stunning performances

"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya as the head coach of the national team. The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket made this decision taking into consideration the team’s good performances in the recent tours against India, England, and New Zealand, where Jayasuriya was in charge as the ‘interim head coach.’. The appointment came into effect on October 1, 2024, and will remain until March 31, 2026," read the statement from Sri Lanka Cricket.

Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya as the head coach of the national team.

The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket made this decision taking into consideration the team’s good performances in the recent tours against India, England,… pic.twitter.com/IkvAIJgqio

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 7, 2024

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Sri Lanka under coach Sanath Jayasuriya

However, the Sri Lankan Cricket Team has evolved a lot under the guidance of Sanath Jayasuriya as the coach as well. Notably, the veteran's tenure started with the series against India in T20Is and ODIs where they successfully beat Rohit Sharma and Co. in the 50-over format as well.

This was followed by the England tour, where they registered a win in the third Test to create history at the Oval. They then beat New Zealand at home to win the series 2-0 as well. Sanath Jayasuriya's first assignment as the full-time head coach will be the T20I and ODI series against the West Indies, which will begin from October 13 as well.

"We are in the final stages of negotiating the contract with him," board CEO Ashley de Silva

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Sanath Jayasuriya will replace Chris Silverwood as Sri Lanka’s head coach just before the white-ball series against India. Jayasuriya, the interim head coach, steps in after Silverwood parted ways with the team following a disappointing ICC T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka will play three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals (ODIs) against India, starting from July 27. At the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka managed to win only one match, beating the Netherlands. They finished third in their group, behind South Africa and Bangladesh.

Jayasuriya takes over as head coach

Silverwood, who became head coach in April 2022, had an early success by leading Sri Lanka to victory in the T20 Asia Cup the same year. He also took the team to the final of the 50-over Asia Cup against India last year.

Jayasuriya’s impressive playing career

Jayasuriya is one of the most attacking batters in cricket history. Between 1991 and 2007, he played 110 Tests, scoring 6,973 runs at an average of 40.07, including 14 centuries and 31 fifties. In ODIs, he scored 13,430 runs at an average of 32.36 over 445 matches. Jayasuriya played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s victory in the 1996 ODI World Cup.

Now, Jayasuriya is ready to lead the Sri Lankan team as head coach. Fans are hopeful that his experience and aggressive playing style will inspire the team to perform well against India. The upcoming series promises to be exciting, as two of Asia’s cricket giants face off.