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| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Murali one of Asia's heroes
Sri Lanka's King of spin bowling, Muttiah Muralitharan, has been picked as one of Asia's heroes by 'Time International' and is to be in Seoul, South Korea personally on November 10 to receive his award. There were 19 other personalities in the under-40 age group from Asia who were also selected for other fields. Murali is also to attend a Trade Fair organised by the Ministry of Tourism in London in the latter part of next month (November). The Ministry's Deputy Minister is none other than former Sri Lanka Test captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who not only won the World Cup for his country, but also stood by Muralitharan when he was called for "chucking" by Australian umpires when Sri Lanka toured 'down under' some years ago. The 32-year-old Muralitharan who is recuperating from shoulder injury, will take a final decision whether to tour New Zealand later this year only after seing his doctor in Australia mid-November. His manager, Kushil Gunasekera, told me that Muralitharan's progress will only be known then, but he should not "rush into playing" again until his doctors clear him. Muralitharan in the meantime is very confident that he will be permitted to bowl his "Doosra" delivery during the New Zealand tour and get ahead of Australia's Shane Warne, who broke the Sri Lankan's world record (532 wickets in 91 Tests) during Australia's current tour of India. The "Doosra" was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after match referee Chris Broad, the former England cricketer, reported Muralitharan's action when sending down the "Doosra" at the end of Sri Lanka's Test series against Australia in March. After this particular delivery was banned by the ICC, Muralitharan, had "tests" performed on him at the University of Western Australia under bio mechanics expert Daryl Foster. He was measured at 14 degrees, but brought in down to 10 after remedial action. However, it was yet five degrees in excess of the ICC tolerance level set for spinners. The tolerance limit for medium-pacers is 7.5 degrees and 10 degrees for 'quickies.' A special committee appointed by the ICC comprising Tim May of Australia, Angus Fraser of England, Michael Holding of the West Indies, Tony Lewis of England and Sri Lanka's own Aravinda de Silva together with technical experts in Dr. Marcus Portus, Dr. Paul Hurrion and Professor Bruce Elliott, met in Dubai last week with ICC's General Manager, David Richardson, to make recommendations to the ICC's Cricket Committee who are scheduled to meet on November 9 and 10 also in Dubai to discuss this matter regarding tolerance limits for all types of bowlers, which is likely to be one figure for all bowlers, and not confined to spinners, medium-pacers and fast bowlers. This committee is headed by India's Sunil Gavaskar and also includes Angus Fraser, Tim May and Aravinda de Silva. They in turn will make their recommendations known to the ICC Chief Executives committee who will take the final decision. According to news reaching Sri Lanka, it's going to be a favourable report, and Muralitharan, who underwent shoulder surgery in Australia in August, is confident that he will be able to bowl his full repertoire of deliveries during the New Zealand tour and reclaim the world record. Muralitharan was earlier cleared of "chucking" after scientifically being proved that he had a deformity in his bowling arm after being no-balled by Australian umpires earlier in his career. Pakistan's Shoib Akthar, who has been labelled as the "Rawalpindi Express", too was reported thrice for a suspect action, but was cleared. Another Pakistani, Shoib Malik, the off-spinner, too was reported to the ICC during Sri Lanka's current tour of Pakistan. Headaches not over The Athletic Association of Sri Lanka found their registration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports cancelled just before the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Then under pressure, particularly from the world body for athletics, it was restored to the AASL who set November 6 to pick a new set of office-bearers. Then, Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga, decided that the officials continue till the next annual general meeting in March and has decided once again to resume the inquiry into alleged malpractices by the AASL. This was earlier abandoned when the inquiry panel did not get the needed support from AASL officials. By resuming this inquiry and with just a few more months ahead for the next annual general meeting, does Minister Kumaratunga and his officials seriously think that they are going to get the full support of the AASL now? To add to their headaches, the AASL, has now been informed that the Asian AA (AAA) has ruled out Sri Lanka as a venue for one leg of the Asian Grand Prix for next year (2005). This comes after Sri Lanka successfully hosted one leg in the last two years (2003 and 2004). The Asian body has even ruled out the Philippines and the countries replacing them are Indonesia and Singapore besides Thailand. It's interesting to find out what the reasons are for these changes. The AASL are also awaiting the Ministry to release the much needed funds to resume training of its national pool which stands at 71 athletes (40 men and 31 women). I understand that the funds are to be released after next month's budget of the UPFA government. Scharenguivel first News is that Sri Lanka's former Test cricket captain, the dashing left-handed opening batsman and all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya, is to sign on to play cricket in Scotland when not playing for his country. But Jayasuriya is not the first Sri Lankan to play in Scotland. According to former S. Thomas', SSC and All-Ceylon cricketer, P. Ian Pieris, who also headed the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL), James Arthur Scharenguivel, was the first. He had captained S. Thomas' in 1895 and soon after his school career, played for Aberdeenshire in Scottish County Cricket for seven years and had played even against visiting South African and Australian teams during that time. In Sri Lanka, Scharenguivel, had also turned out for Colts and had played against the Europeans. He was a medical student at Aberdeen University and had excelled as a brilliant left-handed batsman and bowler. He was invited to play for Lancashire, but could not do so due to his father's illness in Singapore where he continued with his cricket and practised his profession. He decided to settle down in Singapore, but returned to his country of birth in the 1920's to play for Kalutara Town Club and NCC till 1927. He migrated to Australia later and passed away at 90 years. What is interesting is that James Arthur Scharenguivel is a close relative of present Sri Lanka Test cricket captain Marvan Atapattu and his cousin Marlon Ven Haght, who is now in Australia. The relationship is through their grand mother. |
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