Ensure security, Lanka tells Cricket Australia

By S.R. Pathiravithana

Sanath Jayasuriya: A broken jaw

Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday fired out a strong e-mail to Cricket Australia in the aftermath of an attack on Sri Lankan cricketers and officials by the Australian public on Friday night in Hobart, Tasmania. The incident occurred when a group of Australians ambushed the Lankan cricketers and officials who were returning to their hotel after dine out and stared jeering and throwing objects at them.

Speaking to The Sunday Times on the incident, Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary K. Mathivanan said, “Yes, we are perturbed by the incident and we already have cautioned Cricket Australia through e-mail urging them to ensure the security of our cricketers on and off the field. However when it happens in a public area there is very little that any one can do.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka was dealt with another major blow when veteran Sanath Jayasuriya was struck on the Jaw by a bouncer bowled by Tasmanian fast bowler Tim MacDonald.

Jayasuriya was struck while trying to pull a MacDonald bouncer in the eighth over and left the field for six stitches. However according to Mathivanan, Jayasuriya in spite of his injury will be playing in their tour opener against India on Tuesday. Sri Lanka Cricket President Arjuna Ranatunga will join the tour party on February 20 while Secretary Mathivanan is also expected to join him.

On Friday evening Ranatunga met former national players and appealed to them to come forward to help take the game in the island to greater heights.

Ranatunga along with some members of the Cricket Committee was present at SSC grounds on Friday when their teenagers went down meekly to Pakistan yet again in the Under 19 Tri-nation final.