Late City Edition

Tuesday 24th January, 2012

Marsh is the fourth Sri Marsh’s mantra for success of John Buchanan and the late Lankan coach to call it quits was ‘hard work’ and you could . within ten months. As a see him put in hours and Don’t forget that this is Sri popular local saying goes, hours of work with the team Lanka’s best tour of South SLC has been changing pil- in a bid to achieve perfection. Africa. The previous tours in lows to cure headaches. It was thanks to his insistence 1998, 2000 and 2002 (the last SLC owes the public an that bowlers must contribute two under Sanath Jayasuriya) explanation. It has to tell us with the bat in ODIs that the were disastrous. The Sri exactly why Marsh’s con- likes of Nuwan Kulasekara Lankans never were able to tract had to be terminated. and Thisara Perera made a adjust to the bounce on previ- It was the current substantial contribution in the ous occasions, but on this tour Chairman Upali batting department through- despite being shot out for 43 out the ODI series in South runs in Paarl, they performed Africa. fairly well overall. Did Sri Lanka give in Marsh is known for his It’s such a shame that to political pressure to replace quotable quotes. Here is one Marsh had to be hauled up reputed as coun- he came up with on the cur- before the Minister of Sports try’s Head Coach? SLC rent tour: “You can’t improve before the team left for South Chairman Upali Dharmadasa one particular thing by 100% Africa. What a comedown for and Secretary Nishantha in a couple of weeks. But what an Ashes and World Cup win- Ranatunga are seen in this you can do is to improve hun- ner, both as player and coach. picture. dred different things by 1%. Our political nincompoops That can make a hell of a dif- seem to think that they know better than the man who helped Warne, Waugh and the Flower brothers build their careers! BY REX CLEMENTINE The Island also can reveal that Ford met Upali ri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Dharmadasa and his Interim has not yet explained Committee in August last year Swhy it decided to sack the day before the first Test Head Coach Geoff Marsh. But, against Australia. Ford had it is common knowledge he dinner at then Secretary was removed due to political Prakash Schafter’s home and reasons. We are in a position agreed to take over the Sri to confirm that the decision to Lankan coaching job. But replace Marsh was taken even barely 24 hours later declined before the national team had that position. It’s not the first lost the ODI series. had not lost the series by then. ahead with Sri Lanka sched- Dharmadasa, in his capacity ference between winning and time that he has done that. In The announcement from No disrespect to Ford, who uled to host country’s biggest as Chairman Interim losing.” 2005, after agreeing to take up Graham Ford that he was quit- has a proven track record, but sporting event ever; the ICC Committee, who hired Marsh Sadly, Sri Lanka’s crick- the coaching position of the ting as coach in Natal to The Island learns that the World T-20 in September. as coach of the national team eters aren’t fortunate to learn Indian national team, he achieve his dream of coaching new coach is a pet of certain Apparently, one reason why and everyone was over the more from a man who is held turned down the offer at the an international side came influential elements of Sri Ford quit in Natal was too moon at that point because he in high esteem and whose per- eleventh hour. So let SLC be prior to the third ODI in Lankan cricket with political much of politics in the cricket had transformed the Aussies formance compares with that forewarned: Graham Ford is Bloemfontein and the tourists clout and interesting times are administration. into an invincible side. of great coaches of the calibre known for his mood swings.

BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE national champion in both singles and been booked by host China and the other points if she is to qualify for the Olympic doubles. by South Korea. Badminton analysts Games. Mahela appointed Sri Lanka’s number one badminton Achini’s father, K.M Ratnasiri told point out that Sri Lanka has little or no This is the second time that the SLBA player Achini Ratnasiri is likely to see The Island that he believed that her chance of qualifying for the remaining has strewn obstacles on Achini’s path captain, Dilshan her hopes of contesting the Iran Fajir daughter should compete the tournament slot for which there will be stiff competi- with the first being her axing from the International being dashed due to the Sri in Iran because there was a possibility of tion from Malaysia, Hong Kong, China World Junior Championships which was resigns Lanka Badminton Federation (SLBA) not her winning a medal for her country. and Thailand. These analysts also point held in Vietnam last year. showing an interest in sending a partici- Achini contested the last edition of out that Achini’s withdrawal from the Ratnasiri pointed out that the pres- Mahela Jayawardena has been reap- pant for the tournament. ent developments had made her daugh- pointed as the captain of the national Achini has prepared for the tourna- Badminton Federation to call the champion for an inquiry ter disheartened and it was difficult to team after T.M. Dilshan stepped down a ment in advance and is raring to go, but make Achini attend training and think day after the ODI series concluded in the SLBA had other plans for her which about representing the country in the South Africa. was to contest the Uber Cup future. The SLC announced that the sports Championships which China will host Parakrama Basnayake, President Sri minister had approved a squad for the from February 14-19. Achini had con- Shuttler Ratnasiri Lanka Badminton Federation told The forthcoming triangular series in veyed her interest to the SLBA in con- Island that since the SLBA believed that Australia naming Jayawardena as the testing the Fajir International, but the Uber Cup Championships were very captain. The Selection Committee has according to informed sources, the bad- important for the country’s women play- retained Angelo Mathews as the deputy. minton federation had preferred her to ers it took a decision to decline requests The notice of Jayawardena as cap- contest the Uber Cup, with the Sri and SLBA in from players who wished to compete in tain came just few hours after SLC other international tournaments during Lankan team. The entries for the Fajir announced that this period. International close today (Tuesday). The T.M. Dilshan has Fajir International will be hosted by Iran “The SLBA has called Achini resigned as the from February 16-19, hence there will be collision course Achini Ratnasiri for an inquiry to seek expla- captain of the a clash of tournaments if Achini nation as to why she made herself team. received permission to contest both the tournament in 2011 and reached the national team weakens the strength of unavailable for the Uber Cup which is sporting events. However, the SLBA took quarter finals of the women’s open before the team from Sri Lanka which is expect- so important for Sri Lanka badminton. Dilshan a decision yesterday (Monday) not to bowing out. She also contested the ed to contest the Uber Cup. Being the number one women’s player, resigned as cap- send Achini for the Fajir International women’s doubles at the Fajir Ratnasiri said that there was no con- Achini would have earned 1800 points tain in all three in Iran. International combining with Upuli test about the argument that her daugh- just by participating at the Uber Cup, formats of the The latest development on this issue Samanthika and won a gold medal for Sri ter should give priority to represent Sri but now that opportunity is lost,” game just a day is that irate SLBA officials have Lanka. Lanka, but added that the SLBA should Basnayake explained. He added that the Mahela Jayawardena after concluding informed Achini that she will have to Her father queries the purpose behind also consider the glory the country would SLBA didn’t intend on punishing Achini the ODI series in face an inquiry in the future about mak- the SLBA’s decision to send Achini for be bestowed with if Achini qualified for for not making herself available for South Africa with a score line of 3-2. ing herself unavailable for the Uber Cup. the Uber Cup where only three slots are the Olympic Games. He points out that national duty, but wanted her to explain Dilshan took the reins from Kumar Achini is rated as Sri Lanka’s best allocated for the entire Asian region. Achini has to play in many more interna- why she should give priority to tourna- Sangakkara after the ICC World Cup women’s shuttler and is the present From the three slots, two have already tional tournaments and gain rating ments selected by the SLBA. and lead the team on tours against England, Pakistan, Australia and South Africa. Despite losing all Test and ODI Severe blow to junior team’s preparation for ICC Youth World Cup series against them he had the honour of captaining Sri Lankan to its maiden Test win on South African soil. SL Under-19 team training halted for months Meanwhile, the new selection com- mittee has recalled Farveez Maharoof BY REEMUS FERNANDO their tour of Visakhapatnam, India, last yet to take action to help the Under-19 While SLC has done precious little to to the team. Thilan Samaraweera is a October. team recommence training nearly three address the issue, their counterparts stand by for the series. While Sri Lanka Cricket has so far weeks after being elected to office. around the world have kept their Under- Sri Lanka’s preparations for the Team: Mahela Jayawardene forthcoming ICC Youth World Cup has failed to schedule pre-World Cup interna- According to sources close to the team 19 teams busy preparing for the event. (Captain), Angelo Mathews (Vice come to a standstill with players in the tional engagements for the Sri Lanka “the Under-19 issue is listed well down in While England, Bangladesh, South squad remaining in the dark about their Under-19 team, the team’s local prepara- the priority list of the newly elected offi- Africa, Pakistan and Zimbabwe are cur- Captain), Upul Tharanga, T.M.Dilshan, next training programme and the offi- tions too have been dealt a severe blow, cials.” rently engaged in Youth ODIs, other ICC , Dinesh cials keeping mum over the clogged following its failure to pay the dues of No Sri Lanka Under-19 team since full members and associates have inter- Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, training with just seven months to go for several service providers. 2004 has experienced such a dearth of national youth fixtures coming up ahead Thisara Perera, Farveez Maharoof, the world event in Queensland, It is learnt that SLC has failed even to international exposure and lack of of the Youth World Cup. Rangana Herath, Sachithra Australia. pay small-time entrepreneurs and insti- preparation ahead of Youth World Cups. Sri Lanka’s Under-19 squad features Senanayaka, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan According to sources, Sri Lanka tutions, who provided accommodation at And if the trend continues, the team will largely inexperienced players and SLC’s Kulasekera, Chamara Welegedera, Under-19 players have not trained as a low cost, to outstation players, during head to Queensland as the country’s delay in addressing the issue will mean Dhammika Prasad. Stand by: Thilan their training in Colombo. least prepared Under-19 team in nearly a that they travel down under as an ill-pre- team since mid November, while it has Samaraweera not faced any international team since The newly elected officials of SLC are decade. pared team.

Tuesday 24th January, 2012