Thursday 7th April, 2011 BOA suspends legal action against 2012 organisers LONDON (AP) - The British Olympic row with the London organising commit- resolution. tially money-losing Paralympics should Britain’s Olympics minister Hugh Association has suspended its legal action tee, known as LOCOG, over its share of “It has been our desire all along to not be taken into account. Robertson on Tuesday described the dis- against London 2012 organisers and is revenue from the Olympics. resolve this outside the legal process and The International Olympic Committee pute as “an embarrassment.” ready for fresh talks to resolve a messy “We have taken the decision to suspend we are pleased to have this opportunity and LOCOG insist that the cost of both The bitter feud led to London 2012 financial dispute that is marring prepara- the case before CAS, and have notified with LOCOG.” games should be counted, as they have organizers excluding BOA chairman tions for the games. CAS of that,” BOA communications direc- The BOA has been pushing for a been in the past. Colin Moynihan and chief executive Andy The appeal at the Court of Arbitration tor Darryl Seibel said Wednesday. “We greater share of any surplus from the 2012 The BOA took its case to CAS in Hunt from attending board meetings for Sport was put on hold late Monday have requested a meeting with LOCOG Games. The body is entitled to a 20 percent Lausanne, Switzerland when it rejected while “they are individually and actively after the cash-strapped BOA decided to and they have agreed, and the purpose is cut under a joint marketing agreement the IOC’s ruling, but a resolution was not involved in pursuing a dispute against seek a more amicable resolution to the to continue working together towards a signed in 2005, but claims that the poten- set to come until September. LOCOG.”

The national selection their confidence. SLC sends committee headed by for- We have always had a harmonious relation- mer great Aravinda ship with the cricketers, and have been transpar- condolences to de Silva resigned yesterday. ent in all our dealings with them. We appreciate The selectors’ term was to their cooperation. The job of a selector is always come to an end at the end of a challenging one and we were well aware of this Trevor’s family April and with no interna- when we accepted the task. The cricketing public Sri Lanka con- tional cricket left until Sri Selectors and media are most knowledgeable and with veys its condolences to Lanka’s tour of England in every decision we have to make, having so many the family of Mr. Trevor May, the selectors had options, their views were appreciated and taken Chesterfield who passed decided to submit their res- by us in the right spirit. away Wednesday morn- ignations. We wish the very best, as it ing. De Silva’s committee had is an integral part of our lives, and would reas- Mr. Chesterfield, was an excellent record at office sure you, that we will always be available to do instrumental in bringing and was forced to take some service in its development, in any capacity in the in an international tough decisions leading up future. flavour into the local Trevor to the ICC Cricket World resign Thanking you cricket columns. His Cup co-hosted by Sri Chesterfield Yours faithfully years of experiences Lanka. main objectives were to see that Sri Lanka won made his pen, a stronger one and Along with de Silva, the other cricket selec- the World Cup 2011 and also to uplift our world Chairman allowed him to be a sound analyst of the tors who resigned were Ranjit Fernando, Amal rankings in the Test and One Day Cricket. We On behalf of National Cricket Selectors game. Silva and Shabir Asgerally. also paid very high emphasis on domestic crick- The vacuum created by the demise The selectors will address a media briefing at et, T/20 and also on developing the feeder play- of Mr. Chesterfield will be felt very soon, Sri Lanka Cricket’s headquarters today. ers at Academy and A Team levels. While, like everyone else associated with Sri and readers, cricket administrators, The excerpts of National Selection players and the fans will miss his inter- Committee’s letter to Minister of Sports Lanka Cricket we are also enormously disap- pointed at our not being able to annex the covet- esting constructive cricket writing. Mahindananda Aluthgamage. In this moment of deep sorrow, Sri Hon Mahindananda Aluthgamage ed World Cup, which was lost to India in a high- ly competitive final, we are very happy that we Lanka Cricket wishes to convey its sym- Minister of Sports pathies to the immediate family of Mr. Honorable Sir, have been able to meet most of our objectives in a short space of time. Chesterfield and also wish to pay a trib- We were appointed as National Selectors in ute to Mr. Chesterfield for his commit- June 2010 and as you are aware our term ends In view of the fact that some major cricketing decisions have to be taken for the future of Sri ment and dedication to uphold cricket in on 30th April 2011. Sri Lanka. When we took over our assignment our broad Lanka Cricket due to important assignments in goal was always to hand over Sri Lanka Cricket the coming months, we would like to offer to in better shape than when we took over. Our step down immediately from the jobs of National Selectors, so that the group of selectors you may wish to appoint, could be given an opportunity to make short and long term plans, ICC salutes Mahela quits as in the way they think it is best for our cricket. We have had a vey exciting and challenging Trevor vice- time and must emphatically say that we greatly enjoyed the task that we considered sacred, It is with great , who made an entrusted to us. We on every occasion sought sadness that the unbeaten hundred in the finals of the ICC views of the team management and at the same ICC notes the pass- Cricket World, has time maintained the distance that was required ing away of veteran quit as the vice-cap- cricket journalist in such deliberations. The decision was always tain of the national and author Trevor cricket team. independently made without fear or favor and Chesterfield. A Jayawardene, who what we thought was best for our cricket and New Zealander by stepped down as cap- conditions that were to be encountered. birth, Trevor was a tain of the national We wish to sincerely thank His Excellency useful player in his team in 2009 March, the President, and you for giving us a free hand youth and later a was brought back as to always use our experience and knowledge, first-class umpire. deputy to Kumar and for the complete trust reposed in us. A great traveller, he Haroon Lorgat Sangakkara last year. We also wish to convey our appreciation to spent much of his the Chairman and Committee of Sri Lanka career in South Africa and, for the past Mahela few years, was living in Sri Lanka where Cricket for inviting us to play a vital role and for Jayawardene he continued to write for a number of Aravinda de Silva noted publications. Most recently, he covered the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 with his usual irrepressible enthusiasm, astute analysis and good humour. He passed away this morning (Monday) at home in Moratuwa, Law to take over as near Colombo. ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat Interim Coach said: “Trevor was a true lover of the game and a fine writer for more than 50 years. I knew him from his time in South Sri Lanka’s Daniel key post, ‘The Hindu’ reported on Coach Ray Jennings said that Africa and he was always a fair, balanced Assistant Coach Vettori will its website Wednesday. Vettori's core skill of being a left- and fearless journalist with strong views lead Royal Vettori will now step into the arm spinner will also come in Stuart Law will take on the game, underpinned by a genuine desire to see cricket continue to flourish. Challengers enviable shoes of former India cap- handy for RCB. “Vettori is probably over as the national “With cricket being his passion, it was Bangalore in tain , who led the team the best spinner in the world and cricket team’s interim fitting for him to have witnessed a splen- the Indian to the IPL final and semi-final in that will be extremely useful on coach and will be in Premier League 2009 and 2010 respectively. did World Cup through to the end. Indian pitches. We hope that he will charge during Sri Indeed, I met him during the event in (IPL) commencing Kumble, who has now donned the inspire the young Royal Challengers Lanka’s tour of on April 8. The New chief mentor's role, welcomed Colombo and it is a shock to hear about in the upcoming season.” England that stretch- his passing away. I would like to send my Zealand skipper, who Vettori's appointment. “Vettori has Team owners — chairman Vijay es for two months, condolences and those of the ICC to his led his team adroitly to the semi- the unique ability to get players to Mallya and director Sidhartha Nishantha family and friends around the world. His final of the World Cup, was the perform as a unit and deliver more Mallya — welcomed Vettori's front-runner for RCB's top job Ranatunga, the well-considered views and vast cricket- than just the sum of the parts. He appointment and hoped for a “suc- ing experience will be missed. May he though there was speculation that Secretary of the has done this time and again with cessful season.” rest in peace.” , the lone player to be New Zealand and he will be a big RCB will open its IPL campaign Cricket Interim retained by the franchise ahead of asset to any team,” Kumble was with the match against Kochi Committee told ‘The the player auction here in January, quoted as having said. Tuskers Kerala at Kochi on April 9. was also in the reckoning for the Island’ yesterday. Protest puts on hold He fills the void created by compatriot cager final Stuart Law Trevor Bayliss, who BY ROSHEN STEELMAN finished a successful The Under-19 All-island Schools ‘A’ Akmal and Razzaq dropped from West Indies tour four year stint with Division basketball final between St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena and Maris BY RIZWAN ALI Lucia on Apr. 21 with a Twenty20 the national team. Bayliss didn’t intend to renew game. his contract and will fly to his native Sydney tak- Stella College, Negombo which was sched- uled to be held yesterday was postponed ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan The said ing over as the coach of New South Wales. due to a protest made by St. Peter’s cricket selectors on Wednesday in a statement that the squad for two Law, a prolific run getter for Queensland and Test matches, starting May 12, will be College, Bambalapitiya. dropped keeper Kamran the first captain to win the Sheffield Sheild for Akmal and all-rounder announced later. Maris Stella College won their semi- for this month’s one-day series Khan said fast bowler his state, broke into the national side in 1995 final encounter by one point against St. against the West Indies. and former captain were against Sri Lanka, but due to a strong Australian Peter’s College, but St. Peter’s College has Akmal was heavily criticised for rested for the first leg of the tour, but middle order in the 90s his opportunities were made a protest to the Technical his poor wicket keeping after drop- didn’t say whether the duo will return limited. He also played the 1996 World Cup final Committee of the tournament that the duration of the match had been shorten ping several crucial catches and for the two Test matches. against Sri Lanka and was appointed as Bayliss’ Gul had already informed the PCB by five seconds. St. Peter’s College has missed stumpings during the World assistant after the departure of . that he needed some rest after the made this protest and claim to have video Cup, in which Pakistan was beaten by Law is one of the five coaches shortlisted to India in the semi-finals. Abdul Razzaq Kamran Akmal World Cup. evidence. Razzaq took only five and The selectors have included rookie take over the head coach position of the national However, when The Island contacted made 104 runs in eight World Cup Khan told reporters. wicket keeper Mohammad Salman, team in a long term basis along with fellow Ajith Kuruppu, Vice President, Sri Lanka games. Pakistan will play one Twenty20 middle-order batsman Usman Australians John Buchanan and . Basketball Federation and also a member “At the moment there’s no place match, five one-day internationals Salahuddin, fast bowler Aizaz The others shortlisted are Englishman Mathew of the Tournament, Technical Committee, he said final decision will be announced for Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal and two Test matches against the Cheema and all-rounder Hammad Maynard and Zimbabwean Trevor Penny. in the team,” chief selector Mohsin West Indies. The series begins at St. Azam in the 16-member squad. this morning (Thursday).

Thursday 7th April, 2011