|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 12 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Double standard Benaud falls out of favour of Sri Lankans Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England LONDON, Saturday - Richie Benaud, the former Australian captain who headed the panel that chose the world Test and One-day teams announced at the ICC awards ceremony at the Alexandra Hotel, has fallen from grace, especially in the estimation of the Sri Lankans here. Benaud, who is now one of the most sort after cricket commentators and writers, made the Lankans here take him to task when he said that Sri Lankan champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was unlucky not to be picked ahead of Warne in the One-day and Test teams. Benaud, who went for his countryman Shane Warne, did not play fair by Muralitharan who is the leading Test wicket taker in Test cricket. Warne should never have been anywhere in the picture. He was tested positive for drugs, served a one-year ban, and while appreciating his amazing comeback, Sri Lankans here reckon that he should have been given a longer ban from the game. True that Muralitharan's action is not what it should be. But now that he has been allowed to continue playing, it is not fair not to recognise him and give his due place! Muralitharan had every reason to feel bitter and disappointed. Ajith Jayasekera, Manager of the Sri Lankan team, said that the non-selection of Muralitharan was a travesty of justice. "In the period under review for selection Muralitharan had done very much better than Warne. Capturing 68 wickets. If that is not enough for selection, what is? questioned Jayasekera. Jayasekera was also disappointed that the opposition they were up against was a very poor side in the second practice game. "The first practice match was against New Zealand and it was a great win for us. But the second game was absurd. Anyway the boys had a bat and bowl and are shaping well for the big games ahead" said Jayasekera. Incidentally, the panel that chose the ICC Test and One-day teams were: Richie Benaud (Chairman), Michael Holding, Ian Botham, Barry Richards and Sunil Gavaskar. When everything was in place for the conducting of this cricketing showpiece - the ICC Champions Trophy, the fickle England weather turned awful and the first two games between New Zealand and USA and England vs. Zimbabwe were interrupted by rain. However, the Kiwis managed to down the US, while the game at Edgbaston went to the reserve day. The sudden change in the weather was unexpected, and if the present weather continues it could ruin the tournament and the excellent work put in by the organisers. This tournament has big prize money on offer to the 12 participating teams. 1,150,000 prize money The winning team will carry away US$ 300,000, semi-final winners US$125,000 each (2 matches), Group match winners US $50,000 each (12 matches). In addition to the prize money, all teams also receive a participation fee. The winning team at the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 will pocket US $525,000 in prize money. The top side in the 12-team tournament will claim US $ 100,000 if they win both of their group matches, US$ 125,000 for winning the semi-final and US$ 300,000 for emerging victorious in the final. Each match in the tournament has prize money at stake, but sides do not get any money for losing matches. The total prize money for the event is US$ 1,150,000, making it the second highest prize fund in international cricket behind the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
