 |
15th November 1998 |
|
 |
||
 |
|
Contents
|
 |
How dare you Hair?By Marlon FernandopulleThe Board of Control for cricket in Sri Lanka(BCCSL) reacted strongly and angrily to Australian Umpire Darrell Hair's latest remarks on off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and have requested the ICC to take stern action against the Umpire and resolve the matter urgently.In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times the President of the BCCSL Thilanga Sumathipala said,"We must put a stop to this nonsense.We cannot allow an individual to tarnish the reputation of a World Class cricketer and the Cricket Board and bring the game to disrepute". In a strongly worded statement to ICC Chief Executive David Richards Sumathipala has pointed out that Umpire Darrell Hair has breached clause 8 of the ICC Code of conduct and should not be allowed to go scot-free. Clause 8 states "Players, Umpires and team officials shall not make any public pronouncement or media comment which is detrimental either to the game in general; or to a particular tour in which they are involved or to relations between the Boards of competing teams. Darrell Hair was quoted in Australian Newspapers criticizing Graham Dowling (the ICC match referee during Sri Lanka's previous Australian tour) for distancing himself from the Muralitharan issue and the Australian Cricket Board(ACB) for not supporting him on the same issue.These are gross violations of the ICC code of conduct. In addition Hair has also stated that Kumar Dharmasena and Ruwan Kalpage were secretly reported for suspect actions but he did not 'no ball' the two players as he feared that with the World Cup around the corner it would have soured simmering relationships between the two countries.He also goes on to say that had he known Australia were going to boycott the World Cup game he would have taken action against any bowler with an action he thought was illegal.Effectively this means Hair has been biased in his job and should be dealt with in accordance with the law. Hair also has gone on record saying that unless Muralitharan has changed his action drastically he will be obliged to call him again.Although Murali was cleared for throwing by an ICC appointed committee the Umpire in the centre still has the right to call the bowler if he is convinced the bowler is throwing. "Hair can call him for throwing if he thinks.so But what is sad is that Murali has played even at the home of cricket in front of the best Umpires in the world and has even been signed up by a leading county for next year and still one individual feels he is throwing.How strange",a visibly upset Sumathipala said. Sumathipala intends to gather support from the other test playing countries as well to fight his case and is confident that it will be resolved before the team leaves for Australia. The Sunday Times learns that if the matter is to be resolved Darrell Hair must be warned and suspended from umpiring by the ICC or at least not allowed to officiate in the games involving Sri Lanka.If this does not transpire Sri Lanka's tour to Australia will definitely be in the balance despite latest reports indicating that six out of eight matches featuring the world champions are sold out with ticket sales already topping six million Australian Dollars.
AAA stands by Susanthika, Chinese claim absurdThe local controlling body for athletics yesterday came out strongly in support of Sri Lanka's sprint queen and Asian Gold Medal prospect Susanthika Jayasinghe amidst attempts by interested parties to discredit or debar her from next month's games in Bangkok.Sri Lanka Amateur Athletics Association Secretary Rohan Amerasinghe told The Sunday Times yesterday that Ms. Jayasinghe who faced drugs charges earlier had been cleared by both the local body and the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF). He was commenting on a foreign news agency report which quoted a top Chinese sports official as saying that the IAAF had not yet cleared Ms. Jayasinghe of drugs charges and he believed she would not be able to take part in next month's Asian Games. Ms. Jayasinghe who won a Silver medal at the World Games in Athens last year is strongly tipped to win at least one Gold medal in the 200 metres at the Asian Games. China also has top women sprinters and the sudden attack on Ms. Jayasinghe by a Chinese official prompted speculation as to whether it was an orchestrated plan to keep Sri Lanka's star sprinter out. The local AAA Secretary told The Sunday Times they had a clear-cut document from the IAAF clearing Ms. Jayasinghe of charges of taking banned performance enhancing drugs. He said the AAA would in any event seek clarification from the IAAF while Ms. Jayasinghe herself would continue intensive training for the Bangkok Games. Ms. Jayasinghe herself was away in Kegalle and not available for comment yesterday, but the news agency on Friday quoted her as saying she was certain she had been cleared of all charges.
HNB enter quartersDefending champions Hatton National Bank had an easy time as they entered the quarter finals in the Mercantile rugby sevens which were worked off at Havelock Park yesterday.The quarter final Line up - Cup - Hatton National Bank 'A' vs Metropiltan Group, Transasia vs Aitken Spence, Sampath Bank 'A' vs Muslim Commercial Bank, Lanka Bell vs John Keells 'A'. Plate - Maritime vs Trismart, Bits and Bites vs Seylan Bank 'A', East West vs Hong Kong Bank, HNB 'B' vs Metroof. Bowl - Air Lanka catering vs Mercantile Merchant bank, Sampath Bank 'B' vs Ceylinco Group, Central Finance vs Hemas, John Keells group B vs Connaisance. (S.I)
POW 264 for 6By S.M.D SirisenaTwo fruitful half centuries from righthanders Shammika Fernando (70) and Janaka Wannakuwatte (55) helped Prince of Wales to reach 264 for 6 against Dharmasoka.Prince of Wales - 264 for 6 (Roshan Pieris 20, Shammika Fernando 70, Pubudu Ranaweera 30, Janaka Wannakuwatte 55, Janka Gunaratne 33, Eranga Mendis 3 for 48)
Exciting drawBy Saif IzzadeenIt was so close but yet so far for Royal as they set to make 161 to win in 20 overs. The homesters made a valiant attempt only to end up on 100 for 1, as their inter school cricket match against St. Sebastian's ended in an exciting draw at Reid Avenue yesterday.Both Royal and St. Sebastian's must be congratulated for entering the game with a positive frame of mind and if the rains had kept away the match should have produced a result. St.Sebastian's -166 and 92 for 6 dec ( K.Cooray 31, S.de.Silva 23, S. Perera 12; S.Udamalagedera 3 for 14, J.Mubarak 2 for14) Royal - ( 6 for 1 overnight) 97 for 9 dec ( D.Perera 28, H. Rajakaruna 21, S. Edirimuni 10n.o. Angelo Perera 10; M.Fernando 3 for 18, H.Perera 2 for 20) and 100 for 1 at close (Thushan Amarasuriya 41 n.o, Ruchira Jayasuriya 47 n.o)
Medals go abeggingSri Lanka's chances of winning at least two medals at the Asian Games in Billiards may go abegging with the wrong choices being made by the selection committee on the ranking committee recommendations.The proper person to seek advice would no doubt be Frouse Saheed one time President of the World Billiards and Snooker Association who has also been instrumental in getting the sport into the Asian Games. The Minister of Sports should summon Saheed and get his advise on selections.
Otters cager champsIn a rousing women's final Otters playing with vim and vigour nudged Ramblers by 53 points to 48 in the Inter Club Basketball Championships played at the Kings Court, organised by Otters and conducted by the Colombo District Basketball Association last evening.Sir Arthur C.Clarke was the chief guest and gave away the awards. BW
St. Peter's crush DharmapalaThe Palians took home with them bitter memories of a pathetic performance when they crashed to a humiliating ten wicket defeat at the hands of St.Peter's in their inter-school cricket fixture which concluded at Bambalapitiya yesterday.Collecting runs seemed like climbing the greasy pole for the Dharmapala batsmen who folded in both innings for totals which looked nothing but shameful.The lop- sided contest finshed a few minutes before tea after the hosts knocked off the required target of thirty runs which came in just eighteen minutes.Dharmapala crashed out for a mere 111 runs in the first innings and then collapsed for a paltry 82 in their second assay. St.Peter's made an impressive 165 for 2 in the first innings which was spearheaded by a valuable half century from Mahesh Perera . The scores - Dharmapala 111 all out and 82 all out (S.Thushara 17 ,R.Ranasinghe 14, A.Samsudeen 2 for 14 ,K.Lokuarchchi 2 for 24 , D.Rupasinghe 2 for 7 , N.Desilva 2 for 8 , ) S.t Peter's 165 for 2 declared (J . Fernando 35, A.Fonseka 41, M.Perera 50, S. Gunasekare 23,) and 30 for no loss (K.Lokuarachchi 19 no: , S.Pinto 11 no: )
Milo School's awardsAn administration blunder may have cost promising young cricketer Malinga Bandara a chance of his life when the Education Ministry did not reckon him for the position of Most Outstanding school sports star award.The 18-year-old right arm leg spinner from Kalutara Vidyalaya represented Sri Lanka in the first cricket Test against visiting New Zealand in May this year. He was only the second schoolboy to represent Sri Lanka in Tests after Sanjeewa Weerasinghe of Isipatana represented Sri Lanka in the eighties Sports Director of the Sports Ministry Olivia Gamage said adding that the panel did not even discuss Bandara as a potential candidate for the award.
Return to Sports Contents Sports Archive Front Page| News/Comment| Editorial/Opinion| Business| Plus | Mirror Magazine |
|
 |
|
|