• Aravinda, Murali out ?
• Schools take cager title
• Lalin, Janaka Lanka's hopes
• Windies totter
• Dalmiya to intervene in Murali matter
• Standing ovation for P.W.
• Mixed feelings in Lanka camp
• A string of victories
• Pay hike for cricketers
• Cricket gap will create chaos - Letter
• In brief

• Between the devil and the deep blue sea
• A'pura cycle race
• Bens, Hindu on top
• Karate or judo is all Sita can think of
• Williamson's Direct Route to Tingle Creek
• Umpires must act without fear
• Scorers, here's the chance
• Women powerlifters the pick at nationals
• Peruvian Star a 'Cracker'
• 'Lanka's path to victory'

Aravinda, Murali out ?

By M.H.M. Manasique

Sri Lanka's hopes of making a come-back after the disastrous Sharjah tournament are being dimmed amidst indications that two key players may have to pull out of the team for the triangular in Australia next month.

The Sunday Times learns from authoritative sources in the Cricket Board that vice-captain Aravinda de Silva and star bowler Muttaiah Muralitharan may withdraw from the Sri Lanka team for the triangular involving Australia and England next month.

Besides a shoulder injury he suffered in Dhaka, Muralitharan has been plagued by the eruption of a fresh controversy involving Australian Darrel Hair who called him for throwing three years ago. Umpire Hair said in a recent book that he still felt Muralitharan was chucking and that he would call him again despite an official ruling by the games international controlling body that Muralitharan's action is in order.

Sri Lanka's cricket board has asked that umpire Hair be kept out of the Triangular series and protest to the ICC against what he sees as bias against Muralitharan who has emerged as the world's greatest off-spinner after his sensational 17 wickets haul against England in August. Umpire Hair later stepped down from the series apparently under pressure from the Australian Board but some cricket observers feel the pressure will be very much against Muralitharan in Australia, if other umpires are also sympathetic to Hair.

In star batsman Aravinda de Silva's case also a major personal problem has emerged in Australia amidst reports that some section of the Australian media might exploit this problem to hit at Sri Lanka's most prolific player.

The Board sources said no final decision has been taken but Muralitharan and Aravinda were unlikely to be in the team for Australia. In that event Mahela Jayawardena may come into the team along with paceman Ruchira Perera giving Sri Lanka a five pronged pace attack.

Schools take cager title

By Saif Izzadeen

It was a humdinger and it entertained the large crowd present to some eye-catcing cager play as Colombo Schools scored a close 64 points to 56 win over Colombo Distict in the women's final at the Senior National Basketball Championships worked off at the Depot Police courts yesterday. At half time Colombo Schools led 34-26.This competition was played for the Lifebouy Cup .The contest was conducted and organised by the Sri Lanka Basketball Association was sponsored by Unilevers.

Lalin, Janaka Lanka's hopes

Annesley Ferreira reporting from Bangkok

Sri Lanka kept their hopes of winning their first gold medal alive on the seventh day of the 13th Asian Games when Lalin Jeerasinghe, crewed by W.P.Janaka, won the seventh fleet race of the Enterprise Open here on Saturday.

Jeerasinghe and Janaka finished in third place in the eighth fleet race.

Golf: Sri Lanka and the hosts Thailand tied for the sixth place with 465 points in the women's team event just below Japan and India with T.Selvaratnam improving her position in the women's individual event taking ninth position with 228 points followed by Anouk Chanmugam15th with 237 points and Shyanika de Silva18th with 245 points.

Windsurfing: Thushal Gunewardena finished last in the Imco heavy men's event.

Rugby: Sri Lanka beat Thailand 18-6 to keep alive their hopes of at least winning a bronze medal. Incidentally this is Sri Lanka's third win over Thailand this year.

Rifle Shooting: The individual scorers for Sri Lanka were D.M.I.K.Passaela (549), Malee Wickremasinghe (551) and Pushpamalee Ramanayake (561).

Weightlifting: Shahin Nassiri-Nia of Iran surprised everyone by winning the gold with China's Yaun Arjun taking the silver while Sun Tiani outdid her Chinese women's team mate by breaking all three world records in the 69kg Division.

Squash: Men's semi-final - Amjad Khan (Pakistan) beat Abdul Fahim Khan and Zaruq Jehan (Pakistan) beat Low Ellie Loong (Malaysia).

Snooker: Sam Chong/Ooi Chunky of Malaysia beat Phaitnam/ Noppachorn of Thailand by 6 frames to 4to win the men's doubles gold.

Tennis: Taiwan won their first ever gold medal defeating arch-rivals Japan 2-1 in the women's events. Japan are scheduled to meet South Korea in the men's final.

Windies totter

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Saturday (Reuters) - The West Indies slid closer to defeat on the third day of the second test against South Africa at St. George's Park on Saturday.

At tea the tourists were 87 for seven in pursuit of a target of 320 to win the match and prevent South Africa from taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Brian Lara, batting at number five, was six not out with Curtly Ambrose on four.

The West Indies resumed after lunch on four for one and were 40 for two in the 14th over when unlikely number three Ridley Jacobs was trapped in front for 22 in Jacques Kallis' first over by a delivery which cut back at the left-hander.

Seven overs later Carl Hooper was irresponsibly run out for eight when his batting partner, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, failed to respond to the call for a second run.

Chanderpaul departed two overs later for 16 when Kallis held a fine low catch at second slip off the bowling of Shaun Pollock.

Four overs passed without incident before Floyd Reifer and Nixon McLean were dismissed for nine and nought respectively in the 27th. Reifer was caught at first slip by Daryll Cullinan off Allan Donald, while McLean was run out first ball by Hansie Cronje's throw from mid-wicket.

Stuart Williams was then out leg before to Donald for eight in the 29th over. The South African second innings ended 25 minutes before lunch when they were dismissed for 195.

Dalmiya to intervene in Murali matter

By Marlon Fernandopulle

Dissappointed and frustrated in the manner at which the Chief Executive of the International Cricket Conference(ICC) Dave Richards is handling the Muralitharan-Hair issue the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka(BCCSL) has now written to the President of the ICC Jagmohan Dalmiya to intervene and resolve the matter.

At the onset of the Muralitharan-Hair issue the BCCSL wrote to the CEO of the ICC requesting the games governing body to take action against the Umpire for violating the ICC code of conduct.

However three weeks have elapsed and the ICC have dragged their feet on this issue and have showed no signs of taking any action..

The CEO has informed the BCCSL that the matter will be taken up at the executive committee meeting in New Zealand in January next year.

However the BCCSL did not agree to Dave Richards's request and have now appealed to the President of the ICC Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya.

In an Interview with The Sunday Times the President of the BCCSL Thilanga Sumathipala said, "Since we have received no reply from the CEO of the ICC we decided to write to Jagmohan Dalmiya and expect him to expedite the matter or take action in his capacity as the President of the ICC".

When asked whether the ICC President has the powers to act in such a situation Sumathipala replied promptly saying,"Yes, Article 14 of the constitution of the Association of International Cricket Council empowers the President of the ICC in consultation with a past President to take a decision in a dispute of this nature. Any decision taken is also said to be binding".

Whatever the outcome is going to be the BCCSL is also preparing to present a paper on this issue at the next ICC Executive Committee meeting in January. Sumathipala also vowed to deal directly with Darrell Hair after the Umpire was quoted in some newspapers saying he intends to sue the BCCSL President over the comments made on the issue."It's disappointing to note that an official is making an attempt to sue a director of a cricket's governing body. However I will take that matter up at the correct time" said the BCCSL President .

Standing ovation for P.W.

By Bernie Wijesekera

Ananda College Colours Nite was held amid pomp and pageantry to award colours to their young sporting heroes at Kularatne Hall who brought honour to the school this year, on Dec. 10 .

The young and old Anandians, who have excelled - be it sport or otherwise were in their numbers to mark the occasion. The Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, S. B. Dissanayake was the chief guest.

But the showpiece of the evening was the presentation of a challenge trophy to be on offer at the annual Ananda Dharmaraja cricket match from 1999, in honour of legendary P.W Perera, who served the school for over 50 years as player, captain and coach.

This trophy is in memory of a sportsman, gentleman, and a genuine humanist who served Sri Lanka's cricket and helped rehabilitate those misguided youth behind the walls of the Welikade Prisons.

He not only served Ananda, but also other schools, whenever he was posted in the outstations in his official capacity.

His first prescription for the youngsters was to play according to the rule and abide by it at all times.

The old Anandian's committee, headed by Sanjeewa Senanayake should be commended for initiating this move to revive the name of P. Walter Perera who started his cricket career in 1938 as a frontline all-rounder. Later he served the school as coach, where many of them have gone places and Senanayake was one of them. Incidentally, Sanjeewa, is the grandson of yet another legend of Ananda, educationist, Late P.de S. Kularatne, who did much for the upliftment of the school.

More Sports * Mixed feelings in Lanka camp * A string of victories * Pay hike for cricketers * Furtherance of cricket gap will create chaos in Sri Lanka * Between the devil and the deep blue sea * A'pura cycle race

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