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| Sunday, 5 December 2004 |
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What a shame, Murali hoarding burnt in Jaffna! Straight talk by Lal Gunesekara The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are very keen followers of the game of cricket and watch telecasts of matches, particularly when Sri Lanka are playing. Sri Lanka's spinning maestro Muttiah Muralitharan, himself a Tamil of up-country origin, played in an exhibition match in Jaffna a couple of years back, and even last year (2003), the centenary match between Central College and St. John's at the former's grounds saw Janashakthi Insurance, where Muralitharan, is employed being one of the sponsors. Janashakthi erected a hoarding in Jaffna depicting Muralitharan himself, but it is disappointing to note that this hoarding was burned down. Don't the Tigers appreciate what Muralitharan has done for cricket and the honour he has brought about by breaking Courtney Walsh's record haul of Test wickets? The record is presently held by Shane Warne. Muralitharan even went to Jaffna as an Ambassador of the World Food Programme (WFP). However, Muralitharan, does not seem to be bothered at all about this sad state of affairs meted out to him by the LTTE, but continues with his meritorious deeds like collecting funds for charity, attending felicitation ceremonies etc in countries like Canada, England, Australia and even visiting South Korea to receive an award after Time International named him as one of Asia's heroes. All this was able to do while recuperating from the injury to his shoulder three months back and thus took a break from the game. The master spinner has not been sending down his deadly deliveries, but his infectious smile has been catching on with thousands of people he is in contact with. Now, his smile is even bigger with medical consultants in Australia clearing him to bowl again, but gradually ease himself into the rigours of the international cricket scene. He has been waiting to bowl again and even send down the "Doosra" which was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier in the year during Australia's tour of Sri Lanka, but now expected to be given the greenlight by the ICC's Chief Executives Committee early next year (2005) when they meet in Melbourne. The ICC Cricket Committee decided (after discussion in Dubai) to allow all (repeat all) bowlers to flex their arm at 15 degrees. Muralitharan and his "Doosra" will be in full focus when Sri Lanka tours New Zealand and when the Tests get under way in January next year (2005), most likely in the Second Test. Perhaps during the three months he has been recuperating, Muralitharan, has added yet another delivery to his wide repertoire. Opposing batsmen all over the world will now be watching video clippings of Muralitharan bowling his "Doosra" with their coaches in attempts to counter this particular delivery and ways and means to read it. I am certain that Muralitharan will reclaim the world record from Warne and with more years remaining in his career (God willing), he will be able to get close to the 1000 wicket mark, which he himself has ear-marked when he broke Walsh's record. Good luck Murali may your dreams come true! Recently at a function in Australia, Muralitharan, was presented with a cricket ball autographed by the legendary Sir Donald Bradman himself. Even wines manufactured in South Australia and New South Wales have been named after him - Murali Chardonnay 700 from the wineries of McLaren Vale in SA and Murali Cabernet Merlot 600 from the wineries of Sandy Hollow in Hunter Valley, NSW. I also hear that certain types of prepared food are also to be named after Muralitharan - not in any other part of the world, but here in his own country of birth. Well done Maharoof Congratulations Farveez Maharoof, who was picked as the most promising schoolboy cricketer and awarded the Prince of Wales award by the British High Commissioner, Stephen Evans, at Westminster House recently. Maharoof from Wesley College which school he captained in 2002 and 2003, has also toured Zimbabwe and Pakistan with the Sri Lanka team and will also tour New Zealand later this month. He is the fourth Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award winner to receive the Prince of Wales award. The others were Pradeep Hewage of St. Benedict's in 1998, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara of Ananda in 2001 and Sahan Wijeratne of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa in 2003. Peculiar seedings Who was responsible for finalising the seedings for the 52nd Badminton Nationals which starts tomorrow? For the men's singles event, the two Karunaratne brothers (Niluka, who is the defending champion and his younger brother, Dinuka) have not only been seeded No. 1 and No. 3 respectively, but also in the same half of the draw. Niluka who is concentrating more on overseas tournaments in attempts to improve his world ranking, has not played in a single tournament this year in Sri Lanka, while Dinuka on the other hand, has won two of four tournaments. Is it fair by these two players (who may even meet each other in a match)? Their protests too have been overruled by the authorities. Another question I would like to pose to the badminton authorities is why the selectors were not given the opportunity to pick the pools (men and women) to be in training for the South Asian Games to be staged in Sri Lanka in August next year (2005). Were there any other reasons for not involving the selectors in picking the pools? Also, why was one player (recognised as a 'rebel' by the big wigs), asked to play three players (once again from the same family) on just one day? Is this fair by that player? Certainly not! Golf Union flies kites Last week in my column I congratulated Ms Radha Sunderampillai and the Junior Programme of the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC). This seems to have hit a nerve in the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) with one official (I wonder what office he holds) having the audacity to say "get your information from other sources you know". Even a member of the fairer sex who is employed in the office does not want to disclose news, but says "I have to get confirmation from so and so". What a pathetic state of affairs, particularly from the SLGU with whom I have had a splendid rapport for over three decades. Instead of trying to govern the sport and promote it, they are now trying to tell journalists what to write and what not to. We are professionals and know exactly what to write. Perhaps these officials should be taught a lesson on public relations on how to handle the media. Let not the game and its players (both amateur and professional) suffer due to a couple of arrogant officials. |
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