What Sri Lankans Can Watch This Weekend: Football, Cricket and Australian Open Action

By Moiz Mustafa

Sri Lankan sports fans have another strong weekend of viewing ahead, with Premier League football under the lights, international cricket at home and abroad, and the Australian Open reaching its decisive rounds. From Saturday afternoon through Sunday night, there is no shortage of sport to follow.

Premier League Football

The English Premier League returns with four fixtures spread across the weekend.

On Saturday, January 24, Manchester City host Wolves at 8.30 pm, with City looking to maintain their push near the top of the table. Later in the night, Bournemouth take on Liverpool at 11.00 pm, a fixture that could test Liverpool’s consistency away from home.

Sunday offers two high-profile matches. Crystal Palace welcome Chelsea at 7.30 pm, a game that often proves tricky for visiting sides. The weekend’s football concludes with a major clash at 10.00 pm, when Arsenal face Manchester United, a fixture that always attracts strong interest regardless of league position.

Cricket: Sri Lanka at Home and T20 Action in India

Cricket fans in Sri Lanka will have a particularly keen interest on Saturday afternoon, when Sri Lanka take on England in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, starting at 2.30 pm. With the series finely balanced, the match provides an important opportunity for the home side to build momentum in familiar conditions.

Later in the weekend, attention shifts to India, where India face New Zealand in the third T20 International on Sunday evening at 7.00 pm in Guwahati. India head into the match with confidence after winning the first T20 by 48 runs, and will be aiming to press their advantage in the series.

Australian Open: Big Names in Action

The Australian Open continues in Melbourne, with several key matches scheduled across Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, the women’s third round sees Anna Kalinskaya face Iga Świątek, while the men’s draw features Ethan Spizzirri against Jannik Sinner and Botic van de Zandschulp taking on Novak Djokovic.

Sunday’s schedule includes Carlos Alcaraz versus Tommy Paul in the men’s draw, along with a women’s fourth-round match between Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Mboko. Match times for Sunday are yet to be confirmed, but both encounters are expected to draw strong interest.

A Weekend Full of Choice

With Premier League football offering late-night drama, international cricket featuring Sri Lanka at home, and Grand Slam tennis reaching the later rounds, Sri Lankan sports fans have plenty to watch this weekend. Whether following local cricket, European football or tennis from Melbourne, the weekend promises action across all fronts.