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Not easy to match Aussie power - PCB Chief
" Pakistan will be fielding a virtually youth team for the three-Test home series played on neutral venues. This is due to geo-political constraints, which we tried to dispel. This is our second home series played away from home", said the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board Lt. Gen. Taquir Zia who was in SriLanka for an ICC meeting.

This Pepsi Test series is being played in Colombo and the next two tests will take place in Sharjah. "Due to a spate of injuries it was a daunting task to pick a team without seniors to match the Aussie power - the best in recent times.

I've addressed the youth players. With the fighting spirit that they possess they will make the on going series highly competitive. There will be a cleanly fought out contest for all to enjoy", said Gen. Zia.

In the 1999-2000 series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan the visitors were leading 2-0, after Pakistan's 3-0 whitewash in the one-dayers. PCB Chief Zia, encouraged the youth for the Karachi Test and Pakistan won the match. One of them was Younis Khan, who made a debut 100.

Today he's a frontline batsman in Pakistan and has been appointed deputy to Waqar for the present three-Test series. Hasan Raza, the youth captain, who led the Pakistan 'A' (Under-21) team to Sri Lanka won the series against Sri Lanka and is a member of the present team.

Lt. Gen. Zia is a firm disciplinarian on and off the field. He said that the media could play a vital role for the development of sport with truthful reporting. It's a 'must', he added. He commended the successful running of the ICC Champions Trophy barring the weather in the final - where rain proved a spoiler. - B.W.

Late P. 'Sara' has created cricket history
By Bernie Wijesekera
The man, who converted the marshy land in Wanathamulla, to a beautiful playing field, to be tagged as one of the best in the world. The late P. Saravanamuttu presently not living amongst us.

But he has created cricket history in the annals of Sri Lanka's cricket. For the first time it has become a neutral venue for the Pepsi Cup Pakistan Vs. Australia first Test match (Oct.3 to 7, 2002). Besides it has become the first Test playing nation to stage a Test match on a neutral venue. The Saravanamuttu clan, has a special place for cricket and cricket administration.

In late 19th Century, there was understanding and respect amongst various ethnic groups here, and in its wake gave rise to the formation of sports clubs - Malay CC (1872) the oldest, BRC (1895), Sinhalese Sports Club (1899), Tamil Union C and AC (1899), Moors SC (1908) etc. The members of these clubs interacted freely with each other socially on and off the field and bringing about camaraderie.

The Tamil Union C and AC until 1940 had its clubhouse at Campbell Park- the present Wesley College grounds. P 'Sara' a towering personality to come from the Mt. Lavinia school with his personal funding and strategy made the playing field a reality and also a place for human habitat - when it was a no man's land until then.

It did not become an international venue fit for first class matches until Sri Lanka gained ICC recognition, to emerge as a full member in 1981. Fittingly, the inaugural Test between England led by Keith Fletcher and Sri Lanka skippered by Bandula Warnapura was played at the Oval, with late Gamini Dissanayake as President of the BCCSL.

Sad to mention later on the venue was not found good enough to stage even a first class match - unkind cut of all says one of the senior TU officials. The likes of late P. 'Sara' and Robert Senanayake worked hard with their own men and material (unlike at present times) to sow the seeds for the present generation to reap the harvest. Both were Presidents of the Cricket Board and with a band of officials worked ungrudgingly in an honourary capacity to uplift the country's image. Sad to mention today it's a power-struggle to hold office at times it being fought in the portals of the Hulftsdorp, but not on the playing fields.

At the then Oval, a whistle stop match was played in Ceylon in 1948 against the invincible Aussie team led by the late Sir Don Bradman and the Ceylon team skippered by maestro M. Sathasivam. 'Satha' was a pillar of TU cricket and world class batsman who could have matched his skills against the world's best.

Sir Don was impressed with the venue and the Scoreboard:- 'Worthy of mention is the Colombo Oval's Scoreboard which is in some respects gives more information than any scoreboard in the World - a tribute to local enthusiasm.

Officials from Pakistan and Australia was pleased with the venue for staging the Test - (neutral ground) for the first match- thanks to late P. Saravanamuttu's brainchild, to build this grandiose project.

Royal clinch Junior Waterpolo championship
Royal College Junior Waterpolo Team emerged winners beating St. Thomas' College by two goals to one in the final of the 12th All Island Inter Schools' Waterpolo Tournament 2002 conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports on September 22, 2002. Skipper Supun Kulathilake scored both goals for the champions.

In the senior game Royal became runners up to S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia.
Both teams were coached by Mahinda Liyanage with M. Fareed assisting the senior side and Damith Rozairo assisting the juniors.

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