Minister to meet cricket hierarchy and set new guidelines
Sports Minister Navinda Dissanayake will meet the Sri Lanka Cricket hierarchy tomorrow at 10 a.m. with a set of strict guidelines which they will have to follow.
Sports Minister wants to get tough with the cricket administrators
The Minister told the Sunday Times that initially he wants to have a general discussion about the game of cricket in the country and then gradually get on to more serious affairs.
“I want to set a few guidelines that they should follow. This is not an exercise to promote favourites, but a serious effort to get an even flow. I would go through the accounts system and administrative
Angelo on the road to recovery
functions and then set the guidelines. As long the guidelines are adhered to, I will not interfere in their matters, but, if the rules are broken I would have to get though at this end.”
As result of the three stadiums at Hambantota, Pallekelle and Khettarama built and revamped for the 2011 World Cup Sri Lanka Cricket is in the red and still owes the government large sums of money, which the cricket board expects the government to foot.However the biggest thorn in the smooth functioning of the process has been the feud between its President Jayantha Dharmadasa and Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga. Once it reached to crisis proportions that the then President Mahinda Rajapakse had to intervene and bring peace between the feuding parties.
Meanwhile reports reaching from New Zealand state that Lanka’s mainstay in the fast bowling department Lasith Malinga is in full training now and is ready to take part in the two practice games ahead of the World Cup opener against New Zealand on February 14 at the Hagley Oval. Besides, skipper Angelo Mathews has recovered from his virus flu and his calf is also feeling better and would be ready for action when training begins.
Sri Lanka are down to play warm-up matches against South Africa at the Hagley Oval on February 9 and Zimbabwe on February 11 at the Lincoln Oval.
All rounder Jeevan Mendis who was injured while fielding during one of the ODIs should be fully recovered within the next couple of days while fast bowler Dhammika Prasad is also improving in his condition and is expected to be available and able to bowl within a week. He should be ready to practice when squad training resumes.
The other fast bowler Suranga Lakmal who was also injured during the lost series is aiming to be back bowling at full intensity when group practice resumes.