The Island, Friday 1st September, 2006 Darrell Hair in big trouble, says skipper Inzamam Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan referring to the match and the and then the next day - because we comes up in the end of September. the incident behind them. “The agement has told the players to captain, has claimed that controversial emails that followed had launched our protest,” he “I’m sure 100% because I have team has still not forgotten the try to win the one-day series.” Australian umpire Darrell Hair it. said. “I don’t know why he [Hair] done nothing,” Inzamam said. incidents in the Oval Test,” he The Pakistan Cricket Board was in “big trouble” for his role in Inzamam said Pakistan were was not interested in playing.” “That is why I am doing these wrote in his column in the Daily has written to the International the forfeited Oval Test as well as ready to resume play after a delay Inzamam was also confident things, because I know we are not Jang. “And the players have been Cricket Council demanding an subsequent events. and added that they were even he would be cleared of the guilty and that is why we take this under severe mental stress for the inquiry into Hair’s conduct in the last one week. The fact is the pres- “Darrell is in big trouble, I prepared to continue the game on charges against him - of ball tam- stance.” Test and asked that it be held the fifth day.“I was quite happy to pering and bringing the game into He also confirmed that the sure is there because our team don’t know why he is doing these before Inzamam’s disciplinary things,” Inzamam told Sky Sports play the game after half an hour - disrepute - when the hearing team was still struggling to put has still not been cleared of ball- tampering charges. But the man- hearing. 91st Sri Lanka Moody’s heart Tennis Nationals Easy for very much on ‘Godda’ and Rajiv Sri Lankan job by Revata S. Silva They played in the men’s sin- gles final a day before (29), but on by Rex Clementine things.” World Cup. “The guys are having Wednesday, the two men, Although he’s been short-list- “I’ll try to a couple of weeks lay-off, which Harshana Godamanna and Rajiv ed to take over as Australia’s discuss with we call ‘active recover’. Players Rajapakse, got together to grab cricket coach, Tom Moody insist- the Sri Lankan do individual skill training with the coveted men’s doubles title at ed that his heart is very much in board about the support staff and we’ll slowly the Tennis Nationals held at the Sri Lankan job. Australian the future increase the workload by Colombo’s SLTA courts. newspapers this week quoted maybe next regrouping in a few days time,” cricket officials in Australia say- year, but at the he added. Godamanna (‘Godda’) and ing that the former all-rounder is moment my Moody took over the Sri Rajiv, the current national cham- among those short-listed to take focus is on the Lankan job from compatriot John pion and the runner-up respec- over the Australian coaching job Champions Dyson last year and after a shaky tively, had no serious hiccups in from John Buchanan. But Moody Trophy that’s coming up,” Moody start as the national coach, he has the doubles, but for the challeng- insisted that at the moment, his added. come up with excellent results ing start their opponents came After Buchanan announced focus is very much on the Sri during Sri Lanka’s recent tour of up with. Lankan team and even hinted his desire to step down after the England. His biggest plus point Myanmar-born Zaw Zaw Latt that he might opt to stay on with World Cup, Cricket Australia during the period has been to and young Dinusha Wijesuriya them, after the 2007 World Cup, Chief Executive James mould some talented young play- couldn’t keep up the tempo and when his contract ends. Sutherland was quoted by the went down 6-7, 3-6, 2-6 against the Australian media, saying that ers into match winning ones and “To be honest with you I am fancied Davis Cup reps, in Rajiv not looking too far ahead. along with Moody, former Sri there has been speculation within and ‘Godda.’ There’s a commitment to be Lanka coach Dav Whatmore, Sri Lankan cricket circles that his The losing pair had a fine involved with the Sri Lankan India coach Greg Chappell and contract could be renewed after start leading 4-1 and then 5-3 in side until the World Cup and my West Indies coach Bennet King the World Cup. heart is very much with the Sri were possible candidates to take Moody was also in line to take set 1 and lost it in a tie-breaker. Lankan team.” Moody told ‘The over the Australian coaching job. over India’s coaching job and There was no more “hanky- Island’ on Wednesday. “The newspapers have been there has been talks of him even panky stuff” from the winners “There’s a long process ahead doing the talk all this while. I replacing England coach Duncan after that, though they weren’t of us. I am thrilled about what haven’t heard anything official Fletcher. still seen playing at their best, we have achieved and excited or they haven’t gone through for- Before taking over the Sri probably because they were not about what we can achieve. malities.” Moody added. Lankan job, Moody was in charge dragged to extremes by their There are a few areas that we Starting with the Champions of English county opponents. need to address at the moment Trophy, the Sri Lankans have a Worcestershire, where he was Latt, who claims he was like the ‘A’ team, the Academy, hectic schedule leading up to the Director Coaching. Harshana Godamanna (front) and Rajiv Rajapakse in action at the Tennis Myanmar’s No.1 last year, now and I am focussing on these Nationals on Wednesday. (Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha) coaches at St. Peter’s College. Sri Lanka Rain hits Pakistan after impressive bowling satisfied by Andrew McGlashan is allowing Pakistan a signifi- return catch to Mohammad Pakistan were denied the cant hold over England’s key Hafeez, who bowled his 10 overs chance to press home a match- batsman. Asif ’s first spell ended straight through maintained with SAG winning position when rain with the fine figures of 8-3-19-3. control for Inzamam. In all, 18 arrived at Sophia Gardens. The With England on 51 for 3, Bell overs from the spinners cost 69 A top Sri Lankan sports official said start of their chase was delayed, was left holding the innings runs as the batsmen refused to on Wednesday he was "fully satisfied" leaving a target of 159 in 32 together and showed the same impose themselves. with the just-concluded South Asian overs, but after seven overs form that brought him three cen- Rikki Clarke, playing his first Games that passed off peacefully despite heavy drizzle returned. Their turies in the Test series. He bene- ODI since June 2004, handed security fears. strong position had been set-up fited from a couple of edges - Shoaib his second wicket when S Wirithamulla, secretary in Sri by an impressive performance in included one which burst he scythed a catch to third man Lanka's sports ministry, said that Sri the field with Mohammad Asif through Younis Khan’s hands at and Sajid Mahmood was his Lankan President Mahinda Rajpakse was leading the way by knocking second slip on 9 - but also played third. Darren Gough showed his happy with the organisation of the games, over England’s three main bats- with power through the off side. full range of heaves and drives - held under the shadow of a bomb blast on men. Shoaib Akhtar returned to He reached a well-paced fifty off in a useful final-wicket stand of the opening day on Aug 14 that killed disrupt the lower-order as only 71 balls, but lost Paul 29 with Stuart Broad - but Ian Bell provided an innings of seven people. Collingwood just before the half- Pakistan would have been highly substance with a career-best 88. way mark as he was trapped contended to chase 203. "We did out best, but there might Trinidad and Tobago’s Dwight Yorke during World Cup soccer training, in Rotenburg, There wasn’t much more plumb in front by Shahid As it was they didn’t get the northern Germany, in this June 13, 2006 file photo. Former Manchester United striker have been a few mistakes here and Pakistan’s bowlers could have Afridi’s fourth ball. chance. England will know they Dwight Yorke has been cleared to play in Sydney FC’s season-opening match in there. Looking at the larger picture, we done after a pinpoint display in Bell and Jamie Dalrymple have got away lightly, as they’d are fully satisfied with the games' con- Australia’s domestic soccer league. (AP Photo/Kai -Uwe Knoth, File) the field. After putting England steadied the innings with a shown precious little to suggest duct," Wirithamulla told IANS at the end into bat there was plenty of measured stand of 68, but it was Pakistan could be restricted in of the 11-day eight-nation extravaganza. early movement for Asif and never at a pace to worry their run chase.