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| Sunday, 30 January 2005 |
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Royal - Thomian cricket match 'on a low key' Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Although there is hectic lobbying going on to cancel the "Big Matches" this year due to the Boxing Day tsunami, the oldest of them all-the Royal-Thomian, will go ahead as scheduled. The Principal of Royal College, Upali Gunasekera, said that the match will be played over three days as the Education Department or the Ministry have not requested them not to play it this year. However, he said that it will be on a low key and will request the young old boys to refrain from the usual merrymaking that is associated with this game for over one and a quarter centuries. The Warden of S. Thomas' College, David Ponniah, too said that the match will be a low key affair, but how they observe the disaster has not been finalised. He said that this game of the series has an unbroken record and even during World War II it was staged. However there are some critics, who are of the opinion that these schools cricket "Big Matches" should not be played and the money diverted to the Disaster Relief Fund. They also say that during the World War II there were not many deaths and property destroyed. The tsunami took away the lives of over 30,000 people and thousands are yet left homeless. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) decided to cancel all club tournaments for 2004-05 as several clubs, particularly in the Southern Province, and most of their cricketers were badly affected by the tidal waves. However, tours are going ahead as scheduled for the national side. Arrogant Murali Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lanka spin wizard is once again in the news. He does not seem to care two hoots for authority. On arrival in Christchurch last week to play for a World XI led by non-other than Shane Warne, who broke Murali's world record for the most number of wickets in Tests, the Sri Lankan is alleged to have said that he could bowl whatever he wants and that he is ready to go for another hearing. Muralitharan's "Doosra" was banned in March last year (2004) by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after being reported by Match Referee Chris Broad. The ICC are to meet in Melbourne, Australia next week to approve a recommendation by its Cricket Committee suggesting that all bowlers be permitted a 15 per cent bend in the arm. Muralitharan seems to be quite arrogant in his speech, and does seem to learn from previous lessons. He was earlier taken to task by SLC for saying that some Australian bowlers chuck. Now comes the latest episode and SLC have written to Muralitharan to clarify his latest utterances in New Zealand. He is bound to deny the latest allegation as well, and his manager Kushil Gunasekera must impress upon the Sri Lankan spin wizard to keep his gab shut. Murali should know when to speak and what to speak about. He is not a novice. Chandana for Gloucester Upul Chandana who is turning out to be a very valuable all-rounder in the Sri Lanka side has signed on to play for Gloucestershire in the 2005 county season in England. Earlier, Aravinda de Silva turned out for Kent with a great amount of success and so did Muralitharan for Lancashire and Chaminda Vaas too. Before these crop of cricketers and even before Sri Lanka get full membership of the ICC, there were cricketers in the calibre of Laddie Outchoorn, Stanley Jayasinghe, Clive Inman, Gamini Gunasena, Gehan Mendis and a few others who turned out for the Universities (Oxford and Cambridge) and other county sides with distinction. There are other Sri Lankan cricketers who could easily walk into any county side without any difficulty and I am certain that they will do their country proud. Canvassing for AGM's The annual general meeting of various sports controlling bodies are round the corner, and finding suitable persons to hold office seems to be quite evident and canvassing is going on at the moment. The wife of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Shiranthi, it is learned has shown disinterest in heading the Netball Federation again. Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA) sees a former top notch athlete and administrator with a proven track record, Ranjith Weerasena, and Derwin Perera, the present Deputy Director of Sports attached to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, among the persons ready to battle it out for the post of President. The latter is also a coach of repute and this sees a conflict of interest. The Interim Committees of Cycling and Wushu are having problems. The President of cycling body, DIG Pathirane, has not been successful in bringing all factions together. Even the Wushu body are having internal conflicts. It is learned that a petition was sent to Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga against the Secretary (Manel Dharmakirthi), but what the Minister did is quite interesting. He dissolved the Wushu Interim Committee and removed its President, Chrysantha Kapuwatte, but retained the services of Dharmakirthi to the surprise of all concerned. It is learned that these two interim bodies will continue. |
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