SLC scoffs at Sanath’s ICL rumours

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) scoffed off rumours that their champion batsman Sanath Jayasuriya has made a request to release him from their contract for one month in order to play in the controversial Indian Cricket Leagues (ICL) Twenty-20 tournament later this year.

Speaking to the Sunday Times SLC Secretary K Mathivanan said,”Sanath has not made any form of request asking SLC to release him to play in the ICL tournament. This is all nonsense.Infact SLC will not even consider such a request from a contracted player”.

Earlier this week it was reported that the Lankan Master Blaster was offered US$ 500,000 by the ICL and Jayasuriya had subsequently made a request from his employer SLC to release him for one month in October.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sent a stern warning to all players on Friday stating that if any cricketer participates in tournaments not approved by SLC they will not be eligible for selection for Sri Lanka at National/International and domestic tournaments conducted by SLC.In addition such players will also not be able to participate in cricket related activities coming under the auspices of SLC.

Selectors Fiasco!
Despite another week passing by Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge was unable to complete his selection of four Selectors. His latest inclusion, former wicket keeper batsman Amal Silva rejected the offer following his exclusion from the original selection. At a time when many past cricketers are lobbying for positions in the Selection Committee Amal Silva snubbed the Sports Minister with a firm No.

Silva’s rejection left only chairman Ashantha de Mel and Ranjith Madurusinghe to sit along side skipper Mahela Jayawardene to select Sri Lanka’s Twenty-20 squad for next months world cup. The only other selector Don Arunasiri is currently in England with the Sri Lanka A team.

Sri Lanka Cricket will now send a few more names to the sports minister to fill in the fourth selector’s position as the remaining members in the original 10 names Graeme Labrooy and Flavian Aponso are unlikely to get the consent from the sports minister. Although Ashley de Silva’s name is in the list, it is believed that he will not be able to serve as a selector due to his involvement with the Sri Lanka Under 19 team while Shabbir Asgerally, a former selector has informed SLC that he is not interested in another term.

Mubarak Injured –Out of Tri -Nation
Sri Lanka A team skipper Jehan Mubarak was forced to pulled out of the Tri Nation tournament following an injury to his knee. Mubarak sustained the injury while at practices on Wednesday. The tall left hander who has also been selected to represent Sri Lanka in next month’s twenty – 20 tournament is expected to be out for two weeks.Malintha Waranapura will now lead Sri Lanka in the Kenya Triangular tournament which will also feature India A as the third team.