Sports

As the date for the much looked forward to Cricket Board elections was announced earlier this week, the two arch rivals who are expected to compete Jayantha Dharmadasa and Mohan de Silva were busy preparing their respective teams for the different positions that will be contested.

Current Interim Committee Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa who is confident of victory confirmed to The Sunday Times that he has finalized his line up apart from a few positions.

“We have finalized about 90% of our team with only a few more positions left, which will also be done shortly”. When asked if any past cricketers are in his team Dharmadasa replied in the negative saying, “No, we tried to include a few cricketers but most of them are involved in coaching and have no time”.

Dharmadasa left the island on Friday to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) at which Sri Lanka is expected to take over the reins as Chairman. However the ACC may defer the appointment till the CB elections are over next month.

Meanwhile The Sunday Times learns that former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Mohan de Silva is tipped to be nominated from the Sumathipala camp for the CB Presidency after Thilanga Sumathipala refused to contest this year’s election. Speaking to The Sunday Times De Silva said, “We are in the process of finalizing the names and should complete the list within the next two or three days”. Although De Silva did not reveal any of the names The Sunday Times learns that two former Sri Lanka Captains are expected to be in the fray.

With both candidates expressing confidence of winning, next months election is expected too be a close contest. The elections to is scheduled for the 15th of July, while nominations close on the 1st of July.