Selectors Include Minister's Son for England Tour
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Tuesday 6th July, 2010 Vaas bats for paceman to Selectors include Minister’s captain country Ace paceman son for England tour Chaminda Vaas, who has been in ter- BY REEMUS FERNANDO rific form for told ‘The Island’. month tour also including several Youth English county Many who were not in the final Tests, critics argue the wisdom of Northamptonshire Royal College batsman Ramith World Cup squads but later impressed neglecting some contenders who had this season, in an Rambukwella, who was not even in pre- in the recently concluded Inter-School either similar or better performances at interview with BBC liminary Sri Lanka Under-19 squads six Under-19 tournament, including at least trials and many notable players who said that Sri months ago, has been picked for the three batsmen who scored over 1000 were not even called for trials. Lanka’s selectors Under-19 tour of England triggering runs and three bowers who picked up Selectors have often said that mas- should consider fast Chaminda Vaas speculation whether the junior national over 100 wickets, were not even given sive scores and huge piles of wickets bowlers for captain- selectors have been biased towards the trial match opportunities. taken against weaker oppositions at cy of the national cricket team after cabinet minister Keheliya Selection sources say that all good school level will no longer help impress being overlooked for the post in the Rambukwella’s son. According to a players have been earmarked and there them. Incidentally, St. Joseph’s College past. sports ministry official, the sports min- is hardly a chance for a good player to all-rounder Chathuranga Kumara, who Vaas underwent a raw deal when a ister has given his approval to a 15 man be sidelined. Selectors also say that with is tipped to be adjudged the best all player several years his junior was team, inclusive of Rambukwella. the middle order batsmen and a number rounder of the recently concluded preferred for the leadership role and Rambukwella, who was not even in of bowlers selected for the Youth World Under-19 tournament too has been side- eventually when he (Vaas) was named the 98 member pool for the Youth World Cup (early this year) are still in good lined. He is picked only as a standby. as the vice-captain to Marvan Cup early this year, has been picked form and that makes a tough task for a The team: Atapattu in 2005, that same player who because of ‘his impressive performance new player to get into the side. Chathura Peiris (Captain)(St. had already got a taste of the leader- for Royal’ according to junior selectors. A source close to sidelined players Peter’s), Kithruwan Vithanage(Royal), ship role triggered off a revolt. Rambukwella was part of a success- said that the selectors have wasted the Bhanuka Rajapaksha(Royal), Romesh Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, ful Royal team that shared the Limited talents of players who are more athletic Buddhika(Mahinda), Nipun Vaas said the selectors should give Overs Tournament title with Mahinda Ramith Rambukwella on the field than the bulky Royalist. Karunanayake (Nalanda), Ramith bowlers ‘fair opportunities’ and College. He also aggregated over 900 Sunil Wickramanayake, the chair- Rambukwella(Royal), Denuwan should not make the role of captaincy runs in the two day tournament. His ers have been different. man of Junior Selectors defends that Rajakaruna(Mahinda), Danushka an exclusive one for batsmen. century in the Battle of the Blues also “Why couldn’t they invite all those Rambukwella’s performances are satis- Gunathilaka(Mahanama), Akshu “We have seen in the past that so kept him in the focus of selectors. who did well in the Under-19 tourna- factory as a slip fielder. “Being a minis- Fernando(St. Peter’s), Yasodha many captains who led Sri Lanka all While selectors and the coaching ment for trial matches? Like him ter’s son is no qualification to be in the Lanka(Richmond), Charith were batsmen, not bowlers. I think staff influencing selection are of the (Rambukwella), there were many who side. But at the meantime he should not Jayampathi(DSS), Lahiru that needs to be changed. We have view that the Royal opener could be a were not in World Cup pool but later be penalized because he is a minister’s Jayarathna(St. Peter’s), Sanitha de quality bowlers and quality all- handy pick, sources close to players who impressed in the Under-19 tournament. son,” Wickramanayake who defends the Mel(St. Sebastian’s), Saranga rounders who can deliver everything. were sidelined say that the selectors’ Why couldn’t they invite them for tri- selection said. Rajaguru(Nugawela Central), Dinuk So I hope in future this will change,” interests on other outstanding perform- als,” a source critical of the selectors However, with the grueling one Jayasinghe (Nalanda). During the interview, Vaas spoke of other leading fast bowlers who went onto captain their countries with distinction naming India’s Kapil Dev, Pakistan’s Imran Khan and Wasim Irmatov, Kassai Akram and South Africa’s Shaun D.S. Senanayake win Colombo Pollock. Of the four fast bowlers, two of them went onto win the World Cup named to referee for their country. North Zone cager title “I regret that I lost the opportunity to lead my country at the peak of my World Cup semis BY ROSHEN STEELMAN career. But I hope new all-rounder Angelo Mathews will get that opportu- D.S. Senanayake College, nity; he has a bright future,” Vaas Colombo came up with a thor- said, but refrained from referring to ough effort to beat neighbours the suffering he underwent during a Colombo International School by tour of India in 2005 where a batsman 25 points in the final of the aspiring to be the captain of the side Under-17 Colombo North Zone accused him of seeking support from Basketball Tournament worked politicians to be appointed vice-cap- off at D.S. Senanayake College tain. courts in Colombo yesterday. In a well planned operation, the Both schools came in for the British agent of this player, who went final with an unbeaten record onto later captain Sri Lanka, wrote in and a close encounter was world’s number one cricket website Irmatov Kassai expected yesterday, but D.S. that Vaas’ appointment had been a looked to be committing very few political one. JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Kassai, a 34-year-old mistakes and deserved the title. In the T-20 competition this season Ravshan Irmatov and Viktor Hungarian, will officiate the D.S. led 19-17 at the end of the in England, Vaas has scored most Kassai will referee the World Germany-Spain match at first quarter, but that lead runs for his county and taken most Cup semifinals. Durban on Wednesday for his swelled to 39-25 at half-time. wickets as well. While with the bat he Uzbekistan’s Irmatov will fourth assignment. Nafeel Jalaldeen top scored has scored over 300 runs at an average take the Netherlands- FIFA has retained 10 refer- for D.S. Senanayake with 33 of 30:30 and a strike rate of 128:93 Uruguay match at Cape Town ees for the rest of the tourna- points and was named the Best with four fifties, he has claimed 19 on Tuesday for his fifth match ment, including top Player. Raviraj Wickramasinghe wickets in 11 games at 12:63. of the finals. Europeans Howard Webb chipped in with 12 points. The 32-year-old Irmatov from England and Belgium’s Jithendra de Silva (18) and also refereed the Germany- Frank de Bleeckere. Shannen Bartlett (12) shared 30 Argentina quarterfinal on Referees for Sunday’s final points between them for losers. Sri Lanka ‘A’ win Saturday, and the opening and the third-place match Nithesh Ranasinghe of CIS match between South Africa played Saturday will be finished as the Best Offensive and Mexico. named after the semifinals. Player of the tournament while one-dayer against Isira Uthpala won the Best Defensive Players award. Australia ‘A’ Meanwhile in the consolation Culture mix key to German final, St. Benedict’s College, Sri Lanka ‘A’ took a 1-0 lead in the Kotahena beat Gateway three match one-day series against International School 66 points to Australia ‘A’ winning the curtain- success - Beckenbauer 56 after leading 32-30 at half-time. raiser of the series by five wickets at Nafeel Jalaldeen of D.S. Senanayake, who was adjudged as the Best JOHANNESBURG (AP) - All four teams qualified for the Riverway Stadium in Townsville on Player of the Under-17 Colombo North Zone Basketball Tournament, Germany’s blend of players ‘A’ Division competition of the Sunday. After restricting Australia attempts a basket in the final against Colombo International School. from different cultures has under-17 age category. ‘A’ for 197 for nine, the tourists DSS won 87-62. (Pic by Dimutu Premaratne) put it on course for a fourth reached the target with 14 balls to World Cup title, according to spare. former Germany great Franz Tissara Perera was the star for Beckenbauer. the Sri Lankans claiming a five Eleven of Germany’s 23 Europe dominates as World Cup wicket haul. players would have been eligi- In the run chase, Sri Lanka lost ble to play for different coun- born outside Germany had heads into last week Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh tries. brought a different dimen- JOHANNESBURG (AP) - With the powers of Brazil caused by injuries and suspen- Chandimal and Mahela Udawatte They include Polish-born sion to the team’s traditional Uruguay is aiming to keep alive and Argentina eliminated, sions.