No family holidays on cricket tours

By Bernie Wijesekera

It happened in the past, but it will not happen in the future. No wives or families will be allowed to go with the touring cricket team abroad said a senior official of the Cricket Board, to The Sunday Times.

Of course, they could join the team at the tailend of the tour, but not stay in the same hotel or allowed to occupy the rooms meant for the players. This will not only apply to the players alone but also to the officials managing the touring party, too, the same source added.

This malady has caused much frustration among some members of the team and in the process has caused inconvenience to them, he added.

The players on tour, their first commitment is to play cricket and do the country proud They are no longer amateurs. Today it's a high octane professional game with money aplenty at stake.

No one can deny that everyone is concerned with their families, that is one of the human elements. If that is so then they might as well stay back and look after their families, rather than cause embarrassment to others.

Q. What is the remedy to overcome this?

A. This clause will be added to the contract. This need not apply if th/e tour management is firm.

There have been complaints in the past, but no action was taken by the administration. But now we have to act by putting it in black and white, he added.

Social obligations, too have to be curbed, especially in an ongoing match or on the eve of a match. Sri Lankan hospitality is known worldwide. Nobody will dispute that they have a right to entertain their countrymen, but not when they are under pressure.

The hosts, too must bear in mind that they have come to play cricket, but not on a fellowship tour and attend parties going on till late in the night. There should be a deadline given by the tour management, which could overcome this unwarranted criticism of these 'so called late nights' where some players have been found wanting.

This was long overdue and there official of the CB must be commended for his positive approach to overcome these cricketing ills which have tarnished our image, when on tours abroad.

Horlicks "Most Popular Cricketers" show at BMICH

The Horlicks "Most Popular Under-13 and Under-15 Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 1997" awards ceremony will be held at the BMICH Conference Hall on May 5 at 4 p.m.

The chief guest will be Sri Lanka's cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga. 220 teams from 165 schools participated in the Under-15 tournament with 658 matches being played involving 4400 players.

255 teams from 180 schools participated in the Under-13 tournament with 782 matches being played involving 9500 players. The winners of the respective tournaments in the sections are:

Under-15:

Section 1 - Ananda champions, St. Peter's runners-up.
Section 2 - St. Sylvester's champions, Mahanama runners-up.
Section 3 - Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya champions, Tissa Central Kalutara runners-up.

Under-13:

Section 1 - St. Sebastian's champions, St. Anthony's Katugastota runners-up.
Section 2 - Ananda B champions, D.S. Senanayake runners-up.
Section 3 - Tissa Central Kalutara champions, D.S. Senanayake, Uhumeeya runners-up. - (A.F)

India meet Bangladesh

HONG KONG, May 1 Friday Reigning South Asian soccer champions India will open the defence of their title against Bangladesh following the draw made for the tournament on Friday.

The South Asian championships will be staged in Goa, India from October 15-24. India, who defeated the Maldives 2-0 in last year's final in Kathmandu, and Bangladesh, have been drawn in Group A along with Pakistan. Group B consists of the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

The round-robin leg of the tournament will start on October 15 and finish five days later with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the semifinals. The final itself will be played on October 24.

Match schedule:

Oct 15: Group A India v Bangladesh
Oct 16: Group B Maldives v Sri Lanka
Oct 17: Group A Bangladesh v Pakistan
Oct 18: Group B Sri Lanka v Nepal
Oct 19: Group A India v Pakistan
Oct 20: Group B Maldives v Nepal
Oct 22: Semifinals: Winner Group A v runner-up Group B Winner Group B v runner-up Group A
Oct 24: 3/4th place playoff between losing semifinalists
Oct 24: Final

Access Ltd to sponsor Kandy SC again

Rugby triple champions in 1998, Kandy Sports Club are being sponsored for another year by M/s. Access Group of Companies.

Access Group of Companies have agreed to extend the sponsorship up to the year 2000.

They will also be sponsoring one of the expatriates playing for Kandy Sports Club for this season.

This year Kandy Sports Club is captained by Asoka Jayasena, a national Player. Priyantha Ekanayake, Lasantha Wijesuriya, Nalin Dissanayake, Haris Omar, Imthie Marikkar are the other experienced players in the team. The two expatriate players Michael Collins and John Fitzgerald are experienced players who have represented "Otago" 'B' division teams in New Zealand.

The team is being coached by the Sri Lanka national team skipper Priyantha Ekanayake. He has over the past few months followed extensive coaching programmes in New Zealand under the guidance of Jeff Matcheson, a former national player of New Zealand.

The Kandy Sports Club Rugby team is full of youth and most of the players are under 24 with talent, skill and commitment.

Kandy Sports Club Rugby fixture for 1998

May 3rd Sunday Air Force SC-Colombo; 10th Sunday Police SC -Colombo; 24th Sunday Navy SC-Colombo; 31st Sunday Peterson's SC-Colombo.

June 07th Sunday Havelocks SC- Nittawela; 14th Sunday CH& FC- Nittawela; 21st Sunday CR&FC-Nittawela.

In short

Chess Assn. officials

E.A. Sumanapala was elected President at the inaugural annual general meeting of the National Chess Association for the Visually Impaired (NCAVI) held at the Vocational Training Centre of the Department of Social Services, at Liyanagemulla, Seeduwa.

The other office bearers elected were, Vice President - R.A. Sirisena, Secretary - Rienzie Benedict, Assistant Secretary - S. Mohammed, Treasurer-Tony Alwis, Assistant Treasurer- Anil Chaminda, Organisational Secretary - Priyantha Mahanama

Rohan Rajapakse the Director of Eric Rajapakse Opticians who has provided an office and practice centre for the association, was appointed as Chairman of the Chess Development Committee.

Dinesh 122 not out

An unbeaten century by Dinesh Perera comprising 2 sixes and 16 fours enabled Raddoluwa MMV to beat Basilica College Ragama by 7 wickets in the Gampaha District inter schools under 17 Limited overs tournament encounter played at Raddoluwa.

Basilica College 222 all out. Dimuthi Dias 61, N.A.E.Mendis 21, N.J.Thabrew 46, D.Tennekoon 3/35, C. Kulasinghe 2/33.

Raddoluwa - 224 for 3 in 45.5 overs. Dinesh Perera 122 not out, D. Manage 28, Dushantha Ranatunga 27.

Throwball new officials

June Perera was elected President of the Throwball Association of Sri Lanka at its AGM held recently.

The others elected were: Deputy President - Nimal Ramachandra. Secretary - Yasa Ramachandra. Treasurer -Malik Fernando. Tournament Secretary - Saman Weerasooriya. Vice Presidents - Lionel Kodikara, Ranjith Maragalla, Mohini Ahangama, Nihal Gamini Silva, Seetha Ramani, Wimala Jayaweera, Ranjith Jayatilleka. Assistant Secretary - Vajira Pushpakumari. Ass. Treasurer- Anula. I. Peiris.

Prins, elected as Patron

Former Sri Lanka and NCC's legendary skipper, Vernon Prins, was elected Patron of the club, at its 110th Annual General Meeting, held on April 30.

Prins made a tremendous contribution to the club, which was tagged as the 'champion club' during his reign. He takes over from the late veteran politician, Bernard de Soysa.

Another newcomer to the club's administration, is former Royal cricketer, Lionel Gunasekera. He will take over as the Assistant Secretary.

Roy Abeysekera, who contributed much to cricket and hockey, was elected as one of the Vice Patrons.

Chanaka de Silva, the President of the club, did a tremendous job during his first year, and will continue as the President. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Mr. de Silva said that he believed in discipline, be it on or off the field.

"I am happy that I have a committee who work as a team for the bettermnet of the club. I have greater plans for the club in the forthcoming year, and I am determined to fulfil them". The following is the list of office bearers:

Patron- Vernon Prins, Vice Patrons- Francis Fonseka, Harold de Andrado and Roy Abeysekera, President- Chanaka de Silva, Vice Presidents- Ranjith Fernando, Nimal Ranchigoda and John Rajapakse, Secretary- Leslie Hewage, Assistant Secretary- Lionel Gunasekera, Treasurer- Sam de Silva, Assistant Treasurer- Rohan Fernando, Bar Secretary- Marlon Ranasingha, Assistant Bar Secretary- Lal Gunadasa, Pavilion Secretary- Paul Fonseka, Ground Secretary- Asoka de Silva, Cricket Secretary- Dilrukshan Tilakaratna, Tennis Secretary- Lawny de Silva, Billiard Secretary- Ranjan Paiva, Hockey Secretary- F. Dole. (B.W)

Lanka Federation for Handicapped snatch victory

By Annesley Ferreira

The visually handicapped cricketers from the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped, scored a thrilling 3 wicket win over the more fancied Sri Lanka Council for the Blind, in an exhibition match, played at the School for the Blind in Ratmalana.

This match was played to mark the the presence of George Abraham, the Chairman of the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC), which also served as the first trial match to pick Sri Lanka's team to participate in the World Cup for the Blind in India.

The Council for the Blind were put in to bat, and scored 157/6 in their allotted 18 overs, with young Chandana Kumara scoring 57, which included ten fours and a mighty six.

In reply, the federation snatched victory with two balls to spare, with Sarath Kumara scoring 54, which included seven fours.

He was assisted by Chrysantha Bandara who hammered a sparkling 51 with eight fours and a huge six.

The special award winners were: Best Batsman- Blind- Ajith Ranasinghe, Best Batsman- Partially sighted- Chandana Kumara,

Best Bowler- Blind- Nuwan Indika, Best Bowler- Partially sighted- Chinthaka Sathischandra, Best allrounder- Blind - Nuwan Indika, Best allrounder- Partially sighted- Chandana Kumara

George Abraham, Sue Karunaratne, Squadron leader Cyril Siriwardena, and Rajiv Wickremasinghe, the President and Secretary of the National Federation of Sports for the Disabled, distributed the awards.

The match was sponsored by Liptons Ceylon Ltd.

J.A.N.Perera new National Hockey Coach

J.A.N. Perera, the National Grade1 Hockey Coach has been selected unanimously at the council meeting of Sri Lanka Hockey Federation to coach the National team. Being an old Anandian, he excelled in athletics, cricket, soccer and hockey. He was an outstanding cricketer who was the opening batsman for the Tamil Union in Sara Cricket played in the mid 60s. He was a reputed hokey player in his days having played hockey both at home and abroad in major tournaments.

After a succesful career as a player he has had an impressive record of achievement not only as a coach, but as a National Grade 1 Umpire. Having being trained and graduated at the Internationally recognised National Institute of Sports, India, he was the only Sri Lankan who was awarded a Diploma from the famed Haryana Umpires Association, India.

Talking point

Wrong choice

A swimmer from a leading school in Colombo has got the nod from the Swimming Federation for a scholarship abroad.

Rover learns however that this swimmers' times are nowhere near the qualifying time though recommended for this schol many parents felt.

A swimmer who has a better timing and trained by a former leading swimmer, has been overlooked.

Bootlicker

A bootlicker from the electronic media has called all Print media journalists (rubbish), when he is noted for his (rubbishy talk), trying to imitate big names.

TV commentator axed

A cricket TV commentator has been dropped from the panel like a hot potato because he did not see eye to eye with a leading cricket board official, and had canvassed against him, at the AGM.

– Rover

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