The Island, Friday 20th January, 2006 suspends Test status , Jan 18 (AFP) - Zimbabwe lurched A similar decision was taken in 2004 as results hopes abound for their development into a strong and would have named a new skipper for the team after the the first reaction of the players to the government of into another crisis on Wednesday when Zimbabwe and performances on the field became increasingly competitive performer in the Test arena. resignation, and retirememt from international cricket, taking control of cricket administration Cricket (ZC) suspended its national team from Test humiliating. "ZC are now putting in place a programme to gal- of with Andy Blignaut tipped a favourite was to quit the game altogether, find other jobs or take matches for the rest of the year. "The interim board have decided to suspend vanise the development of the Zimbabwe squads. to take over. their skills to other countries. The shock decision, announced at a meeting Zimbabwe's participation in Test matches until early They will work with other Test nations and the ICC itself But the more dramatic decision to pull out of Tests But after discussions he said they decided to here, means that the planned two-Test tour of the next year," ZC Interim Board Chairman Peter to realise this objective. until 2007 was taken instead and came just 11 days negotiate back pay, new contracts (which were due Caribbean, scheduled for April and May, will now not Chingoka said in a statement. "While the side goes through the programme to after 37 players called off a planned strike. last September) and match fees due from home series take place. "The decision to suspend participation in Test prepare adequately for the rigours of , ZC They gave the ZC's new interim board three against New Zealand and India. It is the second time in two years that Zimbabwe matches was reached by ZC after consideration of the have no doubt the team will be competitive in their ODI weeks to find a solution to an impasse over a long run- The 37 players said in the past that they would Cricket, split by ongoing claims of racism, corruption recent performances by the national and A teams. commitments under the Future Tours Programme." ning dispute over pay and conditions. not play for the country while chairman Peter Chingoka and player strikes, has been suspended from Tests. "The young teams remain full of potential and It had been expected that Wednesday's meeting Players representative Clive Field had said that remained at the helm. Charity match didn’t help – Murali Sri Lankan spinner Muthiah 400,000 people. Muralidaran has accused World Vision of “That is one of the most bizarre com- failing to pass on more than $14 million ments I have heard in my life,” Mr raised at last year’s tsunami match at the Costello said, when told of Muralidaran’s Cricket assertions. “I was in Sri Lanka just Ground.Muralidaran, who narrowly before Christmas and saw the work we escaped the tsunami and fronted World were doing myself.” Vision initiatives in its aftermath, said Sri Lankan Government spokesman the devastated southern region of Sri Nimal Siripala de Silva said he could not Lanka had not received any donations. comment on the dispensation of tsunami “We haven’t seen records of them funds by World Vision but confirmed doing anything in Sri Lanka,” he said. “I there had been concern about recon- don’t know where the money has gone.” struction by some foreign charities. Muralidaran did thank . A diplomatic source, who spoke on “He has given 10 houses,” he said. condition of anonymity, said: “The per- World Vision’s chief executive, Tim ception is that World Vision is not per- Costello, denied Muralidaran’s claims, forming on the ground, particularly in saying he had seen work completed by the area of housing reconstruction. Not the charity in Sri Lanka. one single permanent house has been Figures released by World Vision yes- built.” MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA: Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt hits the ball during an Australian Open tennis tournament second round match against Argentina’s terday showed that money raised from A World Vision spokesman last night Juan Ignacio Chela in Melbourne, yesterday. Chela won 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2. – Pic. by Mark Ralston, AFP. the charity one-day cricket match was said construction on 2000 permanent distributed to countries hit by the tsuna- houses was under way and 2200 tempo- mi, which killed between 220,000 and rary shelters had been built. – The Age Isipatana too much Money brought disaster for Lumbini Mixed reactions from Sri Lanka and – Arjuna by Reemus Fernando to cricket Right arm off spinner Sachith Jayasinghe with a “We had tough times prior to the World Cup win in ticular class manipulating cricket those days. A true match bag of nine and Lakshan Samarasena Bangladesh on Zimbabwe crisis 1996. But the administration in which I was involved in gentlemen like (the late) Gamini Disanayake was the contributing 67 and 34 helped Isipatana carried the game to new heights,” said former Sri real orchestrator behind our success and behind the COLOMBO, Jan 19 (AFP) - And Arjuna Ranatunga, the former Sri College register an outright victory over Lumbini Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala in the World Cup win. The day TV rights came to our game Zimbabwe’s decision to suspend its Test Lanka , said: “I am surprised to College in their Elephant Lemonade inter-school crick- much awaited TV talk show on Sirasa / MTV last night. came robbery and corruption to our game. It brought status for the rest of the year drew mixed hear that and I don’t know what the peo- et encounter concluded at FTZ ground yesterday. “There was no coach, no physio. But our team was disaster,” said Arjuna Ranatunga opposing his arch reaction from Sri Lanka and Bangaldesh ple concerned are expecting by doing so. Lumbini 123 (M.Ashkar 39; Tharaka Waduge 3/29, winning in and in Sharjah (in 1995). There rival Sumathipala. cricketing circles on Thursday. Zimbabwe have always had good players Wadiba Perera 2/19, Sachith Jayasinghe 3/29) and 148 (S. was that Murali issue (him being no-balled for “chuck- Talking about the present situation in cricket, It was the second time in two years like David Houghton, and Nikethana 31, P. Indunil 21, S. Chathuranga 20; Sachith ing” in Australia). But yet the administration that time Ranatunga said it is imperative to take firm decisions that , split by ongoing Heath Streak to name a few and I am sure Jayasinghe 6/59, Gihan Dilruk 2/23) could handle all those issues well and ultimately win to resurrect the game. He also alleged that nobody is claims of racism, corruption and player if the younger players had been given Isipatana 213 (Chirantha de Silva 25, Lakshan the Cup,” Sumathipala said. there today to take the responsibility. (Further analysis strikes, had been suspended from Tests. their opportunities they would have come Samarasena 67, Ramindu Kanishka 56, Sachith “We never played for money. There was one par- of this talk show will appear in tomorrow’s Island) A similar decision was taken in 2004 as through. Jayasinghe 13 n.o; C. Prabath 2/11, W. P. Danushka results and performances on the field “There are a few good young players 2/36,M. Deepal 2/30) and 59 for 2 (Lakshan Samarasena became increasingly humiliating. there and all what it takes is exposure to 34 n.o, Manisha Ayomal 15 n.o) Thilanga Sumathipala, the former make them better ones.” Hewitt and Pierce crash out Sudesh shines in Sumangala win President of Sri Lanka Cricket and Asian And President of Bangladesh Cricket Sri Sumangala College Panadura assisted by the Cricket Council, said: “It’s a sad day for Board Ali Asgar Lobby said the suspen- Melbourne, (AFP) - Third seed Lleyton Hewitt and highest seeded casualty of the first Grand Slam of the women’s fifth seed Mary Pierce were sent spinning season. all-round performance of Sudesh Umayanga regis- cricket. Zimbabwe is a country with great sion of Zimbabwe’s Test status was “defi- tered an outright victory over Sri Jayawardenapura cricket tradition. nitely an internal matter for Zimbabwe”. out of Open Thursday, but an awesome That honour had been Pierce’s for several hours Roger Federer glided through to the third round. after she failed to find the sizzling comeback form that College in their match concluded at Kotte on “They co-hosted the World Cup in 2003 “Their cricket authorities have sus- Wednesday. along with South Africa and Kenya and pended themselves from Test cricket. It is Hewitt’s dream of glory in front of his home crowd swept her to two Grand Slam finals last year, falling 6- was shattered by Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela, 3, 7-5 to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic. Sri Sumangala 332 for 6 (Mohan Fonseka 94, have been a great friend for Sri Lanka. I not the ICC which imposed the ban,” he Sudesh Umayanga 76, Sahan Dilruksha 69, Shanaka who outclassed the Australian 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 6- It was an equally awesome rout by the ‘Fed Ex’, am sad that politics is taking priority said. Lakruwan 57; L.M. Perera 2/84, B.M. Perera 2/118) and 97 with both the administration and the “It’s very much an internal affair of 2. who rolled over Florian Mayer of Germany 6-1, 6-4, 6- for 4 (Sudesh Umayanga 57 n.o, Charith Molligoda 23; M. government and as a cricket suf- Zimbabwe. I don’t think it will have any The former Wimbledon and US Open champion, 0 in just 72 minutes on centre court as his drive for a Wickramasinghe 2/40) fers.” impact on Test cricket in Bangladesh.” who was struggling with a left ankle injury, became the seventh Grand Slam title revved up. Sri Jayawardenapura 139 (S.A. Boteju 27, H.S. Priyankara 22; Sudesh Umayanga 5/35, Iresh Pushpakumara 2/29, Shammika Heshan 2/26) and 129 all Squash referees’ out (K.M. PErera 20, P.M. Wickramasinghe 26; P. Aussies bring in new blood for South Africa clash Jayawardena 3/21, S. Umayanga 3/22, S. Heshan 2/22) seminar tomorrow MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan 19, was. now has a chance of playing in Friday’s Singhalese Sports Club in Association with the 2006 (AFP) - Australia will bring in “Simon will undergo treatment and match. First win for Kegalu MV Sri Lanka Ladies’ Squash Association (SLLSA) con- two new players for their return tri-series we’ll review the situation ahead of Australian captain by Rukshan Razak, sports corr. ducts a Squash Referees’ Seminar on the rules of limited-overs clash with South Africa Sunday’s game in ,” Alcott said. warned his players to behave themselves Kegalu M.V. beat Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte on squash, including on court practical demonstrations, here on Friday, naming opener Phil Australia take on Sri Lanka in that after the recent citings of bowlers Brett the first innings in their inter-school cricket tourna- at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow (21) at SSC, Colombo. Jaques and bowler Brett Dorey in the match. Lee, Glenn McGrath and Gilchrist. ment match played at Beddagana. Padmini Samarasinghe, former squash national team. Chairman of selectors “There’s been a couple of things on Kegalu Vidyalaya 167. (S.Thennakoon 33, G. and present President, SLLSA, will be the chief was ruled out after suf- said the injury was bad luck for Katich telly, even though they’ve been just chats Jayasundara 31, P. T. M. Karunaratne 29, L. M. S. Liyanage instructor of the course. She is one of the most expe- fering a groin strain in training but it would give them a chance to look at with umpires they just haven’t looked 25 n.o, S. S. Bathiya 3/42, J. Niroshan 4/26) and 170/5 (M. rienced squash referees in the island. There will be Thursday and the selectors announced another specialist opener in Jaques. good,” he said. Marasinghe 58, P. T. M. Karunaratne 32 n.o, P. T. G. an audio-visual session showing the world’s top that Jaques, who made his Australian Jaques has been in top form in the “The perception of it is it’s a blight on Jayasundara 24, S. D. Premaratne 3/58). players in action. Wg. Cdr. Ranjan Samarasinghe, debut against the Proteas in the Boxing domestic Sheffield Shield competition the game, so I’ve just had a chat with the Ananda Sastralaya 79. (D. Saranga 30, C. one of the Vice Presidents of the Sri Lanka Squash Day Test, would be his replacement. but made scores of just two and 28 in his guys ... to make sure we are thinking Premaratne 2 for 8, L. Pathirana 5 for 24, S. Thennakoon 3 for 27) and 105/5 in 28 overs. (D. Saranga 25, D. Federation and its chairman, Coaching Committee, Dorey will replace , Test debut. about when we do it.” Sandagirigoda 28, S. Thennakoon 2 for 32, L. Pathirana 3 who is being rested. South Africa have their own injury is expected to conduct the on-court practical rules for 21). session. Test discard Damien Martyn will open problems with all-rounder Teams: the with Jaques while regular on his way home for treatment on his Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Damien Martyn, Sylvestrians in for a shock one-day opener also takes elbow, joining pace bowlers Andre Nel Phil Jaques, Michael Clarke, , Mike The inter-school cricket tournament match a break. and . Hussey, Brad Haddin, James Hopes, , Brett between St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy and St. Both sides have one win each so far in Inexperienced all-rounder Johan van Dorey, Glenn McGrath, (super sub). Aloysius College, Galle scheduled to be held at the the tri-series and will be playing each der Wath has been called from South South Africa (from): , Boeta Police grounds in Kandy yesterday was not played other for the second time. South Africa Africa to replace Kallis while Nel has Dippenaar, , , as the Galle team did not turn up. won the first clash by five wickets. been replaced by paceman Dale Steyn. , Justin Kemp, , Shaun The umpires and the Sylvestrian players reported Australian team physiotherapist But there was some good news for the Pollock, , Johan van der Wath, Johan to the ground in the morning, but had to turn away Errol Alcott said Katich had suffered a South Africans with fast bowler Charl Botha, Garnett Kruger, Monde Zondeki, Charl disappointed as the Galle lads waited till the low-grade groin injury and would have Langeveldt — who has a groin strain — Langeveldt, Dale Steyn. eleventh hour to inform them their inability to travel to scans to determine how bad the problem able to bowl in the nets on Thursday. He Kandy.