Thursday 1st April, 2010 Sanath in, Jeevantha snubbed

BY REX CLEMENTINE running for the tournament, squad along with hard hitting Fernando or Thilan Thushara. but the selectors made a dra- Chinthaka Jayasinghe. and Tisara Perera In a dramatic turnaround, the nation- matic last minute turn- Chandimal, a wicketkeeper are the backup seam bowlers. al selectors recalled veteran all-rounder around at a meeting held yes- batsman, is the only reached the finals of for the ICC T-20 World terday to pick the team. uncapped player in the Sri the tournament last year in England Cup and the brief bi-lateral series Chairman of Lankan squad. and this time are drawn alongside against New Zealand in the United States Selectors Ashantha de Mel makes a New Zealand and Zimbabwe in Group that follows the tournament in the West was not available for com- return to the side along with ‘B’. Indies, but snubbed Jeevantha ment while Nishantha middle order batsman Squad: (capt), Kulatunga, the Player of the Tournament Ranatunga, the Secretary of Chamara Kapugedara. The (vice-capt), in the domestic T-20 tournament. the Cricket Interim selectors opted for three fast , Mahela Jayasuriya’s (40), inclusion in the Committee, who attends bowlers in the squad with Jayawardene, , squad of 15 comes at a time when he has selection meetings, refused to Lasith Malinga spearheading Angelo Mathews, , been snubbed by his Indian franchise, comment. the attack along with left- Nuwan Kulasekera, , in the current Indian Top order batsman Dinesh arm seamer Chanaka Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Premier League tournament. Chandimal, who also had an Welagedara and right-armer Chanaka Welagedara, Chamara Reliable cricket sources told ‘The excellent domestic T-20 com- . There Kapugedara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Island’ that Jayasuriya was not in the petition, was included in the was no place for Dilhara Chinthaka Jayasinghe. Sanath Jayasuriya Jeevantha Kulatunga

Mercantile Services take basketball crown Beckham in Colombo for injury treatment

The of the Mercantile Services team Chamath Danawanse receives the champion’s trophy from B. D. W. Fernandisz, Director Sri Lanka Telecom, after his team beat David Beckham Colombo District 62-53 in the final of the 47th Senior National nternational football icon and for- Basketball Championships played under lights at the Police mer England captain David Park Basketball Courts in Colombo, on Tuesday (March 30). IBeckham will arrive in Colombo Chandana Liyanage, Secretary, SLBA, looks on. (Pix by at 5:30 am today for treatment from a Kamal Bogoda) See report of the finals on page 14 local ‘wonder medic’ for his injured Achilles Tendon, the footballer’s man- ager Allan Bishop told BBC last Government endorses night. “At the moment David has been ruled out of the World Cup and he Good Friday cricket tamasha will do anything to represent England The five star cricket func- attend the function to launch at this year’s World Cup in South tion to be held on Good Friday the World Cup Mascot and Africa. One thing that’s missing in at Colombo Hilton has received Ticket, followed by a banquet his illustrious career is a World Cup the government endorsement dinner. with a VVIP politician expect- On Good Friday,Christians win and he’s willing to take any ed to attend the function. Sri commemorate the suffering chance to achieve that elusive goal,” Lanka Cricket (SLC) has come and death on the cross of Jesus Bishop told BBC. in for heavy criticism for agree- Christ with many Christians Beckham will be treated by Dr. ing to host the event on Good spending this day in fasting, Eliantha White, personal physician of Friday, a day of religious prayer, repentance, and medi- President Mahinda Rajapakse. importance for Christians. tation on the agony and suffer- From 10:30 am onwards today he The Island, learns that SLC ing of Jesus. didn’t object to International The Catholics Bishops’ will sign World Cup souvenir t-shirts Cricket Council’s request to Conference is yet to issue a at Football House, Colombo-7. For host the function on Good statement on the proposed more details please call Football Friday and into the bargain function on the most holy day House on 0777-685 900. (RSS) has requested its top manage- for the followers of ment, most of whom are either Christianity. Catholics or Christians, to Afridi wants review of fine imposed by PCB KARACHI: Pakistan T20 offence,” Afridi said. “I met team Captain PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt wants Rs.3.0 million fine and requested him for imposed on him to be revoking the fine,” he said. reviewed. It was imposed on “I am just lodging a per- him by Pakistan Cricket sonal appeal with the PCB Board (PCB) for biting the Chairman for revoking the ball during the tour of fine,” he commented. “ I am Australia. not challenging PCB author- “Two punishments can ity,” he added. Soccer World Cup 2010: See page 15 not be given for one

Thursday 1st April, 2010