Go for it !

Omar Khan, Sri Lanka team's 'peak performance' expert speaks

By Renuka Sadanandan

"I was the sandwich filling," says Pakistani 'peak performance' expert Omar Khan describing his twelve hour stint with the Lankan cricket team last month. 'They had gruelling practices in the morning and again in the evening. I got them in-between."

With just five days more for cricket's biggest event, Sri Lanka's cricketing pundits and public alike are debating the big question; can the team shake off its abysmal form of the last few months and regain its winning streak?

Twelve hours was all Omar Khan had with the Lankans before they left for the U.K to defend their World Cup title. No, he did not put them on the couch or psycho-analyse why the magic has been missing these past few months, much to the deepening dismay of the Lankan cricketing public for whom the game borders on nothing short of obsession. What he did do was to help them amplify their performance and focus as a team through a concept called peak performance.

'Peak performance has been used with world heavyweight boxers, Olympic gold medallists, all kinds of celebrities, in short, people who have to put out peak performance under pressure. The whole concept is that talent is not something that we can instill in someone that comes from their genetic inheritance coupled with arduous training and discipline. But we know that sustained championship performance is a mental thing, it's as much a question of focus and self belief."

"Champions are not necessarily those who have the greatest physical skill. But what they do have is the mental toughness to take victory and defeat, to come back fighting after a setback."

'Tennis star Andre Agassi, heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield, golfer Greg Norman, companies like Motorola and American Express, actress Demi Moore all use "peak performance" methods. Do these sound like desperate individuals needing couch time? They go in for this expertise because the best of the best are always looking for a way to sharpen their edge," says Khan.

Khan illustrates his point with Brazil's performance at last year's football World Cup where he says some of the young stars of whom so much was expected wilted under the pressure, The problem, was not that they lost, but that it was felt they did not give of their best.

"My whole approach has never been about winning or losing. That really isn't my job. For that, there are technical experts, coaches, people with far greater credentials to assure victory. What's important is to see that any mental or internal blockages that stand in the way of a team expressing their full potential are removed."

Khan's contract with the Cricket Board, was fixed whilst the team was in Australia and he confirms that other parties were contacted as well as his team, Sensei Lanka. 'I think the officials felt the cricketers needed a "pump-up", a chance to move beyond some of the negative images that were swirling around."

When the cricketers did come in for Khan's sessions in mid-April, there was, he admits, a degree of scepticism among them. They were guarded and the thawing process did eat into some of the precious 12 hours.

'But at the end of the three sessions, the team's energy swayed and carried along even those who were doubtful. Some took to it like mothers' milk, others had little injuries that seemed to be pulling them down but overall, there was a great spirit and you can see why they have the potential to be champions. That spirit is there.. it's just waiting to be summoned."

'I left with a very positive feeling about most of them, if not all. They're impressive individuals and when they do come together as a team, they can be an extremely powerful force in the World Cup. I think the challenge is that they synergise their individual talents," Khan said.

The son of a globe-trotting Pakistani diplomat, Khan who took a degree in philosophy and psychology at Oxford University and went on to Stanford law school only to embrace the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) says he is not a cricket fan. 'Because of my friends in Sri Lanka and the personal ties with some of the cricketers, I would like to see them win. But that is not the purpose of my time with them."

'The actual victory depends on factors beyond human control. You could be having the worst luck or playing against a side that is simply performing beyond all expectations. What we have to ask is, do the cricketers work as a team, do they believe in themselves, do they do justice to their talents? Then if they aren't successful, do they still finish as champs, through their behaviour, their performance, so that we can at least feel it wasn't for the lack of effort?"

'If they do that Sri Lanka owes it to them to give them respect and support, celebration and affirmation."

Peak performance, Khan explains, teaches you to forget about the outcome, to totally devote yourself to the process. To do each moment as beautifully as you can. These moments can then add up to the final result. But if you are continually obsessed with winning, you will invariably do worse than the person who's taking it step by step, moment by moment, putting all his energy in focus.

What he did impart was the wisdom distilled from the experiences of all types of champions, from survivors of concentration camps, to top business performers, cricketers, tennis players and boxers 'They found it particularly useful when we drew quotes from some of the cricketing greats. When the cricketers were talking of some of their experiences, there was such a close parallel between what we had shared with them, that it did validate that this was not some theory out of a textbook. I gave them an example of how Garfield Sobers playing a Test match in Jamaica made a century while all around him, wickets were tumbling. Asked how he came good, he said he forgot about everyone else's success or failure and played it ball by ball."

Khan says a lot of the insights he shared with the cricketers were drawn from the Australian experience. 'Australians are very vocal about the benefit they receive from applying the mental edge to sport. It's the good players who use peak performance methods because they feel they need to do their talents justice and to avoid sabotaging themselves at key moments."

Khan's Neuro-Linguistic Programming "Mastery of Self" workshops in Colombo have drawn an enthusiastic response from Colombo's corporate sector who have used his "mind power" techniques to revitalise their businesses. He used some of the experiential exercises with cricketers and demonstrated to them how to "transcend the limits we all impose for ourselves".

'These are people of action and it was heartening to see their natural gregariousness express itself. I felt they connected a little better as a team and it helped that some of the coaches and Board officials joined in the exercises at their request. On the third day we had a fairly euphoric finale, quite different from the "sort of sullen beginning". That senior players like captain Arjuna Ranatunga and vice-captain Aravinda de Silva had also shared their personal experiences on how they had used some of the techniques, for instance, in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the last World Cup, was significant, in Khan's eyes.

'All peak performance looks to do is to model excellence. So it's not surprising that with so many excellent performers in the team, that a lot of models have been derived and intuitively used. We only systematised some of that for them."

Khan feels that the fact that the team's long run of defeats, (15 in the last 20 ODIs) that has seen them relegated to underdog status could perhaps work to their advantage. 'They may be pugnacious enough to want to prove people wrong. I've tried to convince them to let go of the pressure of maintaining the "world champion" status even though that's the fire in the belly that keeps them burning and instead seize each moment, this ball, this fielding opportunity and give it their full concentration."

Khan is reluctant to divulge the tools he used to reinforce his concepts saying it could take away the team's competitive advantage if too much were revealed. "They worked on focus, on concentrating and relaxing at key moments, on the need to support each other at such times, to ensure that mistakes are learnt from, to mentally rehearse results and most of all, to look beyond barriers and see them as opportunities to spur oneself on. Foremost to immerse oneself in the process."

Khan stresses that what he conducted for the cricketers was an "interactive workshop" or session, quite different to the techniques used for an ongoing coaching programme, where the motivator is on hand to see them through the setbacks and galvanise them for the big challenges. 'However, given this time-frame, I'm satisfied that the key needs which were to give them a few tools to amplify performance, help them feel better about themselves as individuals and each other as a team, to have a little more focus and faith and greater energy to take on the challenge, were maximised as well as possible," he says.

'I think this should be an ongoing process and not just when you hit a slump. My personal focus has shifted somewhat from this arena, but I do believe that the mental side of life will be seen as integral to life in the 21st century. We are seeing counsellors in schools now and I think we need parental counsellors too. In the past, nobody would admit they needed counselling but with the hectic pace of life today, it's an integral part of sports, education, of being human."

On a personal note Khan says he accepted the assignment because of his strong emotional attachment with Sri Lanka. He has conducted programmes here since 1994 and been through bomb blasts and refinery fires undaunted. Last year, he established a permanent office here and feels that this is his way of saying thank you to the country which has come to be a second home to him and his American wife Leslie..

Paradoxically for one who's invested so much effort in the cricketers, Omar Khan remains strongly critical about Sri Lanka's "cricket mania". 'It seems excessive that the nation has chosen to pin its self-esteem on the fortunes of some young men who sometimes unfairly get lashed for not being able to sustain the hopes of 18 million people." That much pressure can almost put a paralysis on them, he says. 'My heart went out to them when I saw the criticism they were under these past months. I really hope they can forget about all that and just play the best cricket they can as a team. If that's not good enough for anybody, then that anybody should go and fill their life with more meaning."

'We need to stop acting as though someone has mutilated our first-born whenever there's a loss in a cricket match. This is not the Kosovo crisis". This is a game. We need to realise there are more important things going on in the world. What we should aim at is to create a society where the type of performance seen from the cricketers could be expressed in all different areas of life."

That, however, is easier said than done as the countdown to the World Cup continues and passions soar higher than the Colombo heat.

Dedicated Police ruggerites

Sivendran column{tc "Sivendran column"} All rugger players were temporarily transferred to the Police Training School at Kalutara from where we travelled to play our matches.

In 1961, the Police jus tified their entry into Clifford Cup rugby with some breathtaking performances and did well to hold the 1960 Clifford Cup champions CH&FC to a 3-all draw at the racecourse and then went on to defeat CH&FC in the return game at Police Park by 27 points ( 3 goals and 4 tries) to 3 points ( 1 penalty).

A great achievement for the "B" Division team playing for the first time in the premier league and against an all-expatriate side. Police were unlucky to lose to CR&FC by 6 points ( 2 tries) to 3 points ( 1try) and to Havelocks by 16 points ( 2 goals, 1 try and 1 penalty) to 8 points ( 1 goal and 1 try). This year the Police beat most of the other teams and served notice to all other clubs that they were soon going to be a force to be reckoned with in local rugby which they did in the coming years.

At the end of the rugby season I was transferred to the Fort Police station where my ASP was Lionel C. Jirasinghe an Old Trinitian who was a very good officer. The OIC was Inspector M.M. Hussain, a tough task master who rose from the ranks and was promoted ASP. There were some very senior officers attached to Fort such as inspectors, Selladorai Gurusamy and Vittachi and young Sub-Inspectors R.C. Jayatileke, T.N. Meedin, Dharmasiri Weerakoon and Gamini Weerasinghe along with me.

Fort was busy by day but by night it went to sleep with all the mercantile establishments putting up their shutters. During these days a lot of foreign sailors roamed the streets of Fort and patronised the bars such as Lord Nelson, Dominion Hotel and the Metropol Hotel.

A a lot of passenger lingers called at the Colombo Harbour to carry passengers to the United Kingdom and Australia as there were no air flights during those days.

At the end of 1961 I was transferred to Kandy and I was afforded the opportunity to experience outstation life. The Supdt. of Police Kandy was Carl Van Rooyan and the Asst. Supdt. of Police was the one and only Eddie Bultjens, a colourful personality and full of humour who played cricket and rugger for Trinity College and whose son Rohan Bultjens captained St Peter's College and later played for N.C.C in the SARA Trophy tournament. The other A.S.P was T.S. Bongso who later became a DIG and who is now living in retirement at Kandy. A.S.P Gampola was Ernest Perera an Old Josephian who later became the I.G.P.

The HQI of Kandy was Inspector Wijetunge a man who rose from the ranks and who was fond of his chew of betel, and later became an A.S.P. The OIC Crimes was Inspector Karunaratne who was later killed in the attack on the American Embassy in Colombo. The OIC Traffic was Inspector Krishnasamy. The Inspector in charge of SCIB was Inspector Weerasekara who was a very good court officer and the Inspector-in-charge of DIB was inspector Anthonypillai. The Sub-Inspectors were T.K. Bohoran, Vivian Jayaweera, T.S. Pieris, Lionel Caldera, Mauritz Dias, Camilus Abeyagunawardane and Ryan Roberts. The Police kennels were in charge of Inspector Ranjit Wanninayake. There were also police mounties at Kandy and the horse Legacy was knocked down by a lorry near the Kandy Railway Station and killed during that time.

Kandy was a pleasant town and not crowded like today.

The evenings were very quiet and serene. I had the opportunity of meeting some great personalities in Kandy such as Dr. C.D.L Fernando a former cricketer and Ruggerite E.W. Balasooriya, who was the creator of the Kandy Lake Club rugby team and today a great promoter of rugby in Kandy, M.N. Jainudeen who was President of the Kandy District Football Association and father of Shaffie Jainudeen my good friend who played rugby for Trinity College, Havelocks S.C. and Sri Lanka, and Chief Jailor Leslie Perera and his wife Pearl and Tissa Kapukotuwa who was MP for Teldeniya and a former Royal College cricketer.

In 1962 the then I.G.P M.W.F. Abeyakoon who took over the reins of the Police from Osmund De Silva sent shock waves down the local rugby world that the Police will not be playing rugger owing to lack of funds and will be withdrawing from the Clifford Cup Tournament. The local press began a campaign to bring back the Police into the tournament with a banner headlines: 'What does the Police withdrawal mean?"

"The Police were our favourite team last year. For long we have campaigned that they be recognised as a major rugger club. And now, after last year's superb season, and just when they have received due recognition, it is indeed a pity they have to withdraw", said The Sunday Times of April 8, 1962.

I went around meeting all the Police Rugger players and getting their signatures to a memo stating that we will meet all our travelling expenses and also use our railway holiday warrants to travel upcountry to play Uva, Dimbulla, Dickoya and Kandy."The corner flag" writing in The Sunday Times under the heading "Dedicated Men" wrote, "We take our hats off to the men who form the Police Rugger team, who haven't still given up hope of competing in the Clifford Cup. And we hope that the powers that be take some notice of this dedication to sport."

"The team is planning to suggest that they play in the tournament- paying their own way, using holiday warrants for outstation travel and even buying their own boots."

"That's dedication for you. And an answer to those who have given the team no encouragement."

"Such dedication needs some reward"

The Ceylon Rugby Football Union too offered financial assistance, a magnanimous gesture to make the police participate in the Clifford Cup Tournament and finally the police hierarchy allowed the police to play in the Clifford Cup tournament with no financial support.

The Police team that year was captained by "Brute" P. Mahendran a former Trinity College and Royal College ruggerite who later played for the national team as a Prop Forward. He was also an athlete excelling in discus and Put Shot, and a national boxer. He was the ASP in charge of Kalutara. I was his Vice Captain.

All rugger players were temporarily transferred to the Police Training School at Kalutara from where we travelled to play our rugby matches.

For the match against Kandy, as we had exhausted our holiday railway warrants our Captain, Brute Mahendran used his good offices as A.S.P. Kalutara to arrange a goods lorry on the understanding we paid for the fuel to take us to Kandy and back.

We travelled in the rear of the lorry having laid out mattresses on the floor board and lying on them. It was very uncomfortable but the main thing was that we were continuing to play our rugby in the Clifford Cup tournament for which we have no regrets today as the Police is today a leading rugby club in Sri Lanka.

Six of the best

The Ranil Abeynaike Column

The World Cup is to be played on a new format this time. There are a greater number of games scheduled to be played. The winning team will have to play ten games consistently well to lay their hands on the newly designed trophy which is going to be permanent from now on.

What would be the initial aim of the twelve teams that are participating? I reckon to reach the "super sixers" stage. This concept is a good one. It gives the top three teams in the two initial groups an opportunity to bring out the best in themselves prior to the semi finals. There is much discussion and speculation as to which teams will reach this stage.

Let us start at the earlier situation and pause for a moment to predict who will be amongst the qualifying six. My prediction is: South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Australia, Pakistan and West lndies. My desire today is not to reason out why these are my favourites. I wish to dwell on the individuals, whom I believe, will be a major influence to their teams.

South Africa - Shaun Pollock

Could be classed as the best allround player in the world. Although not yet in the league of the likes of Botham, lmran, Hadlee and Kapil Dev, he is fast developing into being a good, consistent performer in all departments of the game. Big, strong and fit Pollock oozed with confidence from the moment he entered big time cricket.

He is an exciting batsman who is technically sound. His performances with the bat have been improving rapidly. He is mainly a new ball bowler who varies his deliveries judiciously. His great asset is being able to bowl from very close to the stumps. Should he be bowling on seaming pitches he will be a handful for the opposing batsman.

Sri Lanka - Aravinda de Silva

The most experienced and accomplished player in this tournament. The "Little Master" has performed Herculean deeds under pressure and on the big occasion. He possesses an incredible eye and has all the time in the world to execute his strokes.

His foot movements are minimal. De Silva focuses on watching the ball until it hits the deck and is approaching him. A vital requirement for batting on English pitches early in the season. The experience of a season with Kent in the county championships and the touring experiences with the national side should be valuable for this great performer. He should make big scores and the rest of the batsmen will build around him.

England - Darren Gough

A pace bowler who can also score some runs down the order. Has worked hard to become a complete fast bowler. Another player who bubbles with confidence.

His great asset is his ability to bowl well under pressure at the death, being the gritty fighter that he is. He reverse - swings the ball well and bowls good yorkers. So very vital in the one day game. Gough is capable of dismissing the best batsmen in the world and should he get some top players then England will hold a huge advantage.

Australia - Glen Mc Grath

It is my view that the seamers and quicker bowlers will perform well at this World Cup. Glen Mc Grath is currently the outstanding new ball bowler in the world. With maturity he has controlled his temper. His aggression is now directed towards softening up and dismissing batsmen.

Like Pollock, Mc Grath delivers from close to the stumps. Being very accurate, chances of scoring fours and sixers off him are almost impossible. He is the prime example of an off-stump line bowler. He is bound to win a few matches for the Aussies.

Pakistan - Wasim Akram

Many of the great players of this decade who will be seen in action over the next few weeks will not be around when the next World Cup is played. That will certainly be the case with Wasim Akram. The veteran Pakistani captain will no doubt be approaching this World Cup with a lot of passion. If Aravinda de Silva could be termed the most experienced batsmen then Akram deserves the mantle of the most experienced player.

Accurate pace bowling with swing both ways, a perfect yorker, deft changes of pace, all combined from left arm over and sometimes round the wicket makes Akram a deadly bowler to face. His powerful hitting in the middle order adds weight to the batting line up. He is in top form right now and is bound to inspire the Pakistani's to produce their best.

West Indies - Brian Lara

After a spell in the wilderness of poor form Lara has returned with a vengeance. And what better opposition to do that than against arch-rivals Australia. He is perhaps the most gifted attacking batsman in the world. Batsmen such as him and Viv Richards can win matches single-handedly. That is the danger that Lara poses to all opposition. Couple that with the new found form of the Windies and you have a combination that finds them in the position of "dark horses" to win this World Cup.

Shaun Pollock, Aravinda de Silva, Darren Gough, Glen Mc Grath, Wasim Akram, Brian Lara, watch out for them - over the next few weeks. They will delight you with many a glittering performance.

1963 Leeds Test: Sobers vs England

When the fourth Test between England and the West Indies was looming up at Headingly in 1963, the series stood at one all and the panic signals were flying high for the West Indies. This was because Sobers had a septic finger on his right hand and had to pull out of the side when they were playing Middlesex. This was only fourteen hours before the Test was due to start and he had his arm in a sling and a hangdog expression on his face. But a few hours before the Test was due to start he had his finger lanced. Sobers, poison or no poison, pain or no pain had discarded his sling and decided to play. And the West Indian management picked an invalid.

Worrell won the toss and then in the third over they should have lost McMorris when he edged Trueman to Barrington. But McMorris was not destined to stay for long. Again he got an outside edge to Shackleton and this time Barrington made amends. At 42 Hunte had to go when he snicked Trueman to be caught by Parks. Butcher made 23 but did not know if he was coming or going, and dead on the stroke of one o' clock he edged an out-swinger from Dexter and Parks took his second catch of the day. West Indies 71 for 3. England on the attack and an invalid to come in next.

This was how the dice was loaded against Garfield Sobers as he walked out. That famous swivel hipped walk. Across the sun dappled Headingly turf and every eye glued onto him. He had not held a bat for a week and his lanced finger was heavily bound inside his glove. The entire series was in the balance as he took guard and waited very relaxed to face his first ball. The third ball beat him all ends up. And the West Indies must have thanked the Guy upstairs that it did not bowl him. He then drove Shackleton through the covers for four and then square-cut him for another that blazed through like forked lightning. Trueman came back and Sobers hooked him violently for another boundary and at lunch the West Indies were 95 for 3.

After lunch he and Kanhai began to put the West Indies back into the game. Kanhai set the ball rolling with some glorious shots off Shackleton. Sobers was content to let him hold centre stage, because he knew that his crowded hour was not far off. It came when Dexter brought on Titmus. Kanhai was in the mood to murder anything and from now on it was the same with Sobers. Titmus' second and third deliveries he smashed for boundaries. He then celebrated it with some spectacular shots off Dexter. Twice he hooked Dexter for four. The second time spinning on his toes like a dancer to finish staring Dexter straight in the face again. Kanhai not to be outdone hit Dexter's first bounce into the crowd and then crashed Titmus like a bullet through the covers. The 30,000 inside Headingly were basking in the glory of glittering batsmanship. At tea they were still there. 209 for 3 - Kanhai 81, Sobers 63. Partnership without end. So let it be for England it seemed.

When play started after tea the new ball was only four overs away. But now logic meant very little. Because Dexter all of a sudden remembered that he had another spinner by the name of Tony Lock. Somebody had to get somebody out and Lock came on for his first spell. The first ball of his second over was pitched right up. Kanhai went back to crash it through the covers. He played a shade too early, got a bottom edge and it crashed into his off stump. Kanhai out for 92. The West Indies 214 for 4 and England were ruefully left to survey the storm damage of a stand that had put on 143 runs in 160 minutes. The bright hopes that England must have had when play started already seemed like the daydreams of boyhood. Solomon joined Sobers and the West Indies were now playing themselves into a position of enormous strength.

240 for 4, 260 for 4, 280 for 4 and Sobers moving closer to his century. Trueman had a spell with the new ball from both ends and then Dexter brought Lock back into the attack from the Kirkstall End. At 6.15 with Sobers on 98 he bowled a delivery just outside the off-stump. Sobers leaned across and lanced it superbly wide of covers right hand. The applause started before it skidded into the boundary boards. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and it was more than half a minute before they would let him continue. Then, like a singer raising a silencing hand to reward an adoring audience with an encore, he took his stance and waited for the next delivery. Lock bowled, and Sobers hit it back like a tracer bullet. It did not rise more than six inches off the ground and thousands of eyes swivelled down to the sightscreen to see the ball crashing into it. But back in the centre, there was an arresting blur of movement. Lock in a flurry of whirling arms and legs had flung himself across the wicket to take a catch that nobody would have dreamed of even attempting. Sobers and 30,000 could not believe their eyes. Sobers just stood there with a dazed expression on his face and did not move in the direction of the pavilion, nor, back to the crease. It was only when Lock, rose roared an appeal and hurled the ball into the air did Sobers turn and walk slowly from the scene of one of his greatest Test triumphs. It's simple statistics were 102 - with 15 fours - in 251 minutes. ET SIC TRANSIT GLORIA!!

The next day Solomon completed his 50 and at 2.37 the West Indies were all out for 397. This score was more than enough for England to start batting with the follow-on rather than the first innings lead on their minds. At 2.47 Worrell strode out like Caesar with his favourite gladiators Wesley Hall and Charlie Griffith towering at either shoulder. Stewart got a single off the first ball and then all hell was let loose as Bolus hammered 10 runs off the rest of the over. But that glorious glow was to last only 18 balls. The 19th ball by Griffith struck England the blow from which they never recovered. Stewart playing at it with a yard of daylight between bat and body edged it to Gibbs in the gully. One run later Hall removed Bolus by having him well caught at slip by Hunte and England were 19 for 2. Griffith was swinging the ball both ways and mixing them with yorkers and bumpers that had both Dexter and Barrington swaying and ducking for cover. With the greatest effort they limped to 32 and then came two broadsides fired by Griffith. The first ball bowled Dexter and before Yorkshire realized that a son of their own soil had reached the wicket, Brian Close was re-tracing his steps. Clean bowled first ball! Sharpe another Yorkshireman survived the hat-trick.

- Bruce Maurice (More Next Week)

Briefly

Golfer Kumar creates record

Twenty-year-old B.G. Lalith Kumar won the All India Amateur Golf Championships last month, thus becoming only the third Sri Lankan to win this prestigious championship. Kumar beat the cream of the Indian golfers who have a much wider international experience.

The Royal Colombo Golf Club feliciated Lalith Kumar yesterday at the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

Athletic trial

The first athletic trial for the SAF Games will be held in Nepal from September 22 to October 4.

The first trial will be held on May 23 and 24 at the Sugathadasa Stadium starting at 9 a.m.

The events to be conducted are: Men - 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5000, 10,000, Steeplechase, 110 and 400 Hurdles, Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin, Shot Putt, Discuss Hammer Throw, 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 metres Relay, Marathon. Women - 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5000, 10,000, Marathon, 100 Hurdles, Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Putt, Javelin Throw.

Entries will close on May 16th at the AAA Office at the Race Course, Reid Avenue.

Memorial hockey

The best hockey playing clubs from Matale, Wennappuwa, Kandy and Colombo, the Forces and the Police will compete in the Charles Robinson Memorial third annual All Island Invitation 7-a-side championships on Sunday May 9 at the Police Park, Bambalapitiya.

This tournament is held annually in memory of late Charles Robinson, Principal of St. Thomas', Matale for the great service he rendered to the college for more than three decades. It will be conducted by the Matale Old Thomians, Colombo Branch.

Sixteen teams will battle it out for supremacy participating in four groups which will be played on a league basis with the winners of each group playing on a knock-out basis thereafter.

The teams participating and their groupings are:

Group A-Air Force, Malays, Old Anandians, CH&FC.

Group B-Navy, Police, Old Bens, Galle.

Group C-Army, Park SC, CR&FC, Wennappuwa.

Group D - Malwatta SC, STC, Matale, BRC, S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia.

A ladies' exhibition match will be played at 5 p.m. followed by the final at 5.20 p.m.

Football Clinics

Football clinics for Youths under 16 will be conducted in six districts by Football Federation of Sri Lanka, and after trials a thirty-member pool will be picked by the coaches detailed by the Technical Committee of the FFSL. Clinics followed by trials will be held in Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Anuradhapura, Badulla and Kandy.

Trials will be held in Galle at the Pattiyamulla ground at 9.30 a.m. and in Colombo at the Sports Ministry grounds at Reid Avenue at the same time on Saturday May 8th.

Trials will be held in Anuradhapura at the Stadium on Saturday May 15 at 9.30 a.m. followed by the trials at Kalutara at the Kalutara Esplanade on Saturday May 29 (poya day) at 9.30 a.m.

Wennappuwa six-a-side

Eight teams playing in the Division 1 premier cricket tournament have been invited to play in the six-a-side championships conducted by the Wennappuwa Sports Club at the Albert Peiris Stadium on Sunday May 9 .

The teams invited to play in this tournament are, SSC, NCC, Colts, Panadura, Bloomfield, Antonians SC Wattala, Singha SC Ambalangoda and hosts Wennappuwa SC.

The champions will be awarded RS 25,000/- and a trophy while the runnersup will be awarded Rs15,000/- and a trophy.

The man of the tournament will be awarded Rs 5,000/- while the best batsman, best bowler and best fielder will be awarded Rs. 2,500/- each.

Cricket World Cup at InterCon

Everyone knows the Cricket World Cup is on from May 14 to June 20. You don't have to feel grounded and obliged to stick by the TV screen at home. You can have more fun over a meal at Hilton Colombo, says a spokesperson, as you avail yourself to a 10% discount on both food and beverage at the Lotus Terrace, Thorana Lounge, Il Ponte Restorante and the Echelon Pub from 1900 hrs onwards.

Large TVs are being placed in the restaurants for your easy viewing, while the Echelon Pub will have its usual giant screen.

A surprise happy hour at the Echelon Pub is also on the cards, while a daily quiz could win you an autographed cricket souvenir. Get stumped with the specially created cricket menus, and just be there. Hilton Colombo's friendly staff look forward to you joining them to face the much awaited series.

Who will win the World Cup?

By Marlon Fernandopulle.

Twelve competing teams, forty two incredibly exciting games. three hundred hours of luverly cricket,. five hundred thousand spectators and a Television audience of over one billion. This is what is in store for the next five weeks when the seventh edition of Cricket's most coveted prize – the World Cup, commences in England this week.

Some of the most colurful and charismatic personalities of the game will be seen in action making this year's competition tough and highly competitive, In addition the structure of the tournament is demanding.

A team that has to qualify to the final will have to play in nine games. Teams will have to play at their best throughout the tournament and cannot afford to relax or lose a couple of games if they are to play in the finals. Thus predicting the finalist would be an awesome task.

However based on the performances of the nine Test playing countries since 1998 and taking into consideration several other factors I would think South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will make it to the last four.

Pakistan

Man to man they are the most talented side. Fortunately or unfortunately due to various differences between players and administrators Pakistan were rarely able to play to their true strength. But with Wasim Akram back in the saddle as captain Pakistan are once again playing as a cohesive unit and slowly and surely matching their talents with their performance.

Akram's boys signalled their comeback by taking the Asian Triangular and the Sharjah Championship with little sweat. The two trophies in a short period of three weeks is a clear indication of the team form. The advent of speedster Shoaib Akhtar has further strengthened the team

Pakistan have two of the greatest fast bowlers in world cricket today, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Speak of spinners and they have the best(or one of the best) off spinner and leg spinner in Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Mohamed. Pace, spin and variety all in abundance and in fearfuil proportions and to top it all is the experience these bowlers have in English conditions-All seasoned county campaigners. -What more does a bowling attack need to instil fear in the opposition?

Their batting has class, stability and depth. Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahamed and Inzamam ul Haq at the top makes the batting classy.

Salim Malik in the middle adds stability while Azhar Mahmood, Moin Khan and Wasim Akram in the tail too add depth. All this in addition to a ferocious striker of the ball Shahid Afridi as a pinch hitter to give the team a flying start.

With batting and bowling resembling world class Pakistan look clear favourites for this year's World Cup. However it is their fielding that has proved to be their downfall and obstacle in reaching greater heights in the game. If they could sharpen up their skills in this area then Wasim Akram and company will have the best chance to repeat what Imran Khan did in 1992.

Australia

With their far sighted policies and professional approach to the game the Australians took a bold step forward by selecting separate teams for Test and one dayers. . The new approach was criticised by many at the initial stages but paid off for the Aussies in the long run. Today not only has their team settled to a definite eleven but their batting positions within the team are also defined.

Like what most other countries were doing, sending a pinch hitter to open the batting the Australians also knew that they had to adapt a simillar approach if they are to succeed. The fact that they had to show the door to two of their long standing and experienced players did not stop them.

They ditched Mark Taylor as captain and removed Ian Healy to bring in Adam Gilchrist to open the batting as a pinch hitter. The results Australia achieved after this speaks volumes for themselves.

The strategy succeeded despite so many being critical of the move. They have won 12 of their last 18 games and are certain to make it to the last four at the World Cup.

However what the Kangaroos miss is the leadership of Mark Taylor. Taylor was a brillaint captain in both forms of the game, and his shrewd tactical brain will be wanting for the Australians. Another factor that must be haunting the Aussies is the Warne syndrome. The champion off spinner was dropped from a Test match a few weeks ago and is struggling to regain his form. If Warne can find his lost touch it will no doubt help the Aussies to be strong favourites for the championship.

Sri Lanka

They have reached a point of no return after losing 15 games in their last 20 outings. No wonder the World Cup campaign is believed by many to be a make or break situation and the turning point. As one senior cricketer put it if we can win the opening game against England we are bound to be a contender for the trophy.

A victory in the lung opener of a tournament is no doubt a morale booster for any team. But for Sri Lanka it will mean much more. It will signal their end to their dismal performances in the recent past and put their cricket back on rails. In addition a victory will lift their spirits for the rest of the tournament and help them to believe in themselves and play to their true potential.

Remember in terms of experience and talent the Lankans are second to none. They are right up there. No wonder other countries fear the islanders despite they not being in the best of form.

The reigning champions will be at full strength for the first time this year. Burdened by a catalogue of injuries from time to time Sri Lanka were never at full strength. Come 14th May and the world champions will see the return of Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Aravinda deSilva (all fully recovered) all ready to perform on one stage which makes the Sri Lankans firm favourites to make it to the last four.

If there is one area of concern for the Sri Lankans, it's their fielding. Without a shadow of doubt it could be said that the fielding standard has slipped to a level that even a school team would be shameful. But if the 11th hour arrival of Trevor Chappell has helped raised the standard a few levels Sri Lanka will certainly be a contender for the semi-finals

South Africa

After their return to competitive cricket, South Africa have made their mark in both Tests and one dayers winning some important tournaments. However they have still to win a World Cup and this year they have the best chance of achieving that honour. In 1992 a stupid run rate system robbed them from victory in the semi-final and in 1996 they lost in the quarter-final stage.

Eager to erase the memories of the two previous World Cups and displaying a hunger for success Hansie Cronje's men have had a highly successful run-up to the World Cup winning 19 out of their last 25 games and boosting of a spectacular (76%) success rate.

Their brilliant fielding is a cut above the rest and has more often than not proved to be the difference between South Africa and other teams. In batting and bowling they could be in the same league as the best countries but very often have lacked the ability to come from behind especially when the chips are down.

This could be attributed to the fact that they do not have brilliant individual players.

Their line-up which includes Kirsten, Kalis, Cullinan, Gibbs, Cronje, Rhodes, Pollock and Donald is enough to make opposing teams have restless nights. One reason why the South Africans have enjoyed more success than any other team is the fact that they have clinically analysed and figured out their opponents. This exercise has helped them to ascertain the strength and weaknesses of their opponents and exploit them successfully.

The team is certain to make it to the last four.

India

It's a pity that the side has to rely on one player to succeed. Sachin Tendulkar's presence and success in the Indian team has determined the country's fate in the one dayers. Sadly for India Tendulkar has skipped a couple of tournaments due to injury and India's success has crumbled. Tendulkar's absence and skipper Mohamed Azharruddin's loss of form in the recent past has been too much for the team to compensate.

The return of the wonder boy should spur the Indians and help the team to be among the best one day teams at the World Cup. Azharruddin who is the highest scorer among the present players should not take too long to return to his best form and will certainly have to play a vital role if he is to see India into the super sixes.

With conditions in England ideal for pace and swing India will have a distinct advantage having medium pacers in the likes of Javagal Srinath, Ajith Agarkar and Venkatesh Prasad. To compliment the frontline bowlers they have Ganguly, Robin Singh and Ajay Jadeja all capable of rolling their arm effectively and posseissng the ability to exploit the conditions in England.

Drawn into the tough group Azharruddin's team will have to battle it out hard to make it to the super six. Their entry into the second round (if at all) is very likely to be at the expense of England.

England

There has been so much talk in the English press that Alec Stewart's team has the best chance to be the first host team to win a World Cup. The prediction is not based on talent and past performance but more due to the fact that England has not won the World Cup since it's inception quarter century ago.

They have been the Bridesmaid thrice but sadly never the Bride. This year it looks to be even worse as England will count themselves lucky if they can go beyond the super sixes. No doubt home advantage will be a major boost for England when the championship gets underway in the early summer. However England will still find it extremely difficult with their limited talents to overcome sides like South Africa, Sri Lanka and India all seasoned oneday teams.

The return of Graeme Thorpe and Nazar Hussain to the England middle order should add the much needed stability to England batting which lately has been very vulnerable and fragile. On many occasions it has been their batting that has let them down and if the Englishmen could buckle down and bat with more purpose Alec Stewart will be able to take his side to the super sixes. Their passage beyond the super sixes will definitely be a tall order. Medium pacers Darren Gough and Alan Mullaly should be a handful on home wickets and are bound to make batting miserable for visiting batsmen.

West Indies

The team has been through a traumatic period losing but are now showing signs of rediscovering their lost form. The last seven match series against the Aussies was a clear indication that the West Indies team is beginning to play the game the way they used to do it in the late seventies and eighties. Their recent performances are not going to go unnoticed by opposing teams who will now fear that the West Indies are a formidable outfit.

In Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose the West Indies have easily the best opening bowlers in the world. Two hostile bowlers with a wealth of experience no other fast bowling pair could match. Walsh and Ambrose will hold the key to West Indies success. Skipper Brian Lara will look to this pair to put the brakes on the early pinch hitters and also inflict as much damage as possible on the opposition.

The batting has very often been the downfall of the team. However lately their top order has shown signs of improvement and it will be upto their batters to show consistency that has been lacking. Skipper Lara will have to lead the way here and ensure that his team will be able to put up a challenging total for his bowlers to bowl at.

Current form will not guarantee a place for the West Indies in the last four, however Lara's team look certain to make it to the Super Sixes.

New Zealand

They have always failed to perform beyond home territory. Most of their successes are at home and can match any side in New Zealand. This they proved in their last home series against South Africa although they eventually lost to the visitors in a 5 match series.

Their current ratings and their present talent will not take them too far at this year's World Cup. New Zealand have shone in patches and most of their players follow a similar pattern. They have a relatively young side and their players lack the experience and thereby do not show the required consistency in their performances. To be a force to be reckoned in the one day game you should have some players who can come up with a few match winning performances. However the Kiwis lack such players,

Within their ranks they have a few entertainers in the likes of Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle but New Zealand are still far away from being a challenging oneday side.

Zimbabwe

They will be hoping to do what Sri Lanka did in 1996. No doubt they are an improved side and are bound to create a few upsets in the first round. Although they will not go beyond the first hurdle Zimbabwe will certainly decide the fate of Group A. They are destined to chalk up an upset victory beating either India, England, Sri Lanka or South Africa. Either of the teams losing to Zimbabwe will pay the ultimate prize and be eliminated from the first round.

Although their batting is not strong the Zimbabweans have an excellent fielding side and a penetrative bowling line up which on many occasions have proved to be match winning.

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