Friday 11th December, 2009 Murali says Warne has better D. S. appoints nephews for lucrative jobs ‘cricket brain’ The Island Sports Desk for many. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has The Chairman of Cricket The Interim Committee passed the buck, saying that Interim Committee, D.S. de Chairman has come in for they did contact a couple of Silva has controversially heavy criticism for not follow- former administrators to take appointed two of his nephews ing protocol in making these on the position, but they for the Secretariat two above mentioned high pro- declined the offer. However, the now running in Colombo over- file appointments. His nephews fact remains that the SLC seeing the administrative Suraj Dandeniya and Kapila never advertised for the post duties of the 2011 Cricket Dandeniya are holding posi- leaving the cricket chief ’s World Cup to be held in the tions at the World Cup accountability and transparen- sub-continent. Secretariat earning lucrative cy questionable. De Silva (67) heads the third salaries. At the point of D.S. de Cricket Interim Committee The Island learns, while Silva’s appointment as appointed by the government Suraj earns a monthly salary Chairman of Cricket Interim Shane Warne (L) with Muttiah Muralitharan since it sacked the elected body of US$ 5000 (approximately Rs. Committee, questions were running cricket in 2005. 571, 350.00, his cousin Kapila raised about his suitability for Muttiah Muralitharan has hailed Although there were doubts earns a monthly salary of US$ the post. De Silva, early last Shane Warne's superior "cricket about D.S. de Silva’s compe- 2000 (approximately Rs. year took over the post as brain" despite the Sri Lankan tence to handle the administra- 228,540.00). School Cricket Consultant for a approaching the landmark of 800 tion of the sport, he has contin- Questions have been raised tune of Rs. 300,000, a salary on D.S. de Silva (left) has appointed his nephew Suraj Dandeniya Test wickets. ued for several months unper- whether it’s ethical for the par with the Chief Executive (right) to the World Cup secretariat for a lucrative salary of over The two spinners, considered the turbed, but the latest develop- Cricket Chairman to appoint Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket at Rs. 570,000 while another nephew of de Silva, Kapila Dandeniya, greatest of their era, have competed ment at Maitland Place has has also been appointed for another cool sum of over Rs. 220,000. two of his nephews for the that time. come as a bitter pill to swallow posts? for the world record for dismissals in Tests for much of their careers - a race which occasionally led to acri- mony. Under-13 cricket Australian leg-spinner Warne, New coaching who has often implied Muralitharan boosted his figures with wickets against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, programme a Wadduwa defend 53 runs eventually retired with a record 708 wickets, but Muralitharan went past School Under-13 Division I quarter final Dalpadadu 25, Trishan Gunawardena 22, by Reemus Fernando the mark in December 2007. success – Maxwell match played at Ananda Mawatha yes- Akalanka Palihena 31 n.o, G.S. After being shot out for a paltry 53 "Warne was a fantastic bowler by Revata S. Silva runs, Wadduwa Central ‘B’ managed to terday. Vimarshana 2/22, M.J. Dharani 2/29) record a thrilling eight runs victory over Veluwana MV 153 for 9 in 50 overs and so different from others," Sri Scores: (Nadeeka Piyushan 21, C.N. Mendis 33, Lankan Muralitharan said. In spite of criticism and speculation Zahira College ‘B’ thanks to a fine spell of bowling by Sudaraka Dilshan, who Royal 245 for 9 in 50 overs (Geeshath N.H. Ampitiyage 29; Saveen Gunasekara from various quarters over its smooth "I would say he had a better crick- picked up five wickets, in the Inter Panditharatne 46n.o, Chamika 3/12) eting brain than me. I basically running, the Sri Lanka Tennis Karunaratne 48, Buddhika School Under-13 Division II second depended on my ability to spin the Association (SLTA) President main- round match played at Wadduwa yester- Arsakularatne 39, Hasitha Veyangoda Bandaranaike on nine tains the newly introduced coaching day. Samarasinghe 26; H.H.S. de Silva 3/34, wickets win ball, accuracy and an ability to bowl programme of the SLTA a success. In reply to home team’s 53 runs, U.P.B. Dilshan 2/51) Bandaranaike College, Veyangoda marathon spells without tiring. Maxwell de Silva, head of the SLTA, Zahira were 17 for nine wickets at one Dharmasoka 117 all out in 35.5 overs scored a nine wicket victory over Taxila That's how I took my wickets. told ‘The Island’ on Thursday (10) that stage before being shot out for 45 runs. (B.P. Kumara 30, A.M. de Silva 17, J.R. College, Horana as M.S. Godakawela and "But Warne used to plan a bats- the country’s prime tennis coaching Hakindu 18; Minura Punchihewa 5/31, W.L. Ramanayake impressed with an man's dismissal. He would set his programme, which was launched in Lasith Embuldeniya 2/16, Malith unbeaten 93 run stand for the second Scores: own field and then bowl accordingly November by the newly elected SLTA Wadduwa Cenral ‘B’ 53 all out in Kariyawasam 2/18) wicket in their Division II quarter final committee, was “running smoothly” 29.3 overs (Sudaraka Dilshan 12, Yomal played at Moratuwa yesterday. to get the batsman out. He was also a than it had before. de Silva 11n.o; Mohomed Amjad 4/14, Petes end Veluwan’s impressive run Ramanayake cracked his unbeaten 59 very good captain." “Now it (the programme) has started Salman Yahiya 2/11) St. Peter’s College ended the impres- runs in just 48 balls inclusive of five Muralitharan, the world record running smoothly. When we took over, Zahira College ‘B’ 45 all out in 22 sive run of Veluwana College in the fours and three sixes. Godakawela’s holder with 792 Test victims, plans to Under-13 tournament when Saveen unbeaten knock included seven fours. there were a higher number of atten- overs (Mohamed Suhail 12; Sudaraka retire from the five-day version of Dilshan 5/16, Yomal de Silva 3/18, Gunawardena came up with a good dou- dants in the programme but it ran with the game next year, but hopes to get bad debts. Now, you might find a lesser Shehan Tharindu 2/05) ble of 61 runs and three wickets to help Scores: to the 800-wicket mark before he number of participants but it is run- his school record a 55 runs victory in a Taxila ‘A’ 151 all out in 50 overs (S. ning well without being a burden to the Royal record 128 runs win Division I quarter final played at Reid Chathuranga 28, U.H. Subasinghe 33, hangs his boots. Avenue yesterday. SLTA,” de Silva said. Paceman Minura Punchihewa picked H.L. Amarasiri 32, R.M. Kalubowila "I've had a great time," he said. Now Petes will meet Royal in the semi 15n.o; Y.K. Jayakody 2/28, J.A. This coaching programme of the up five wickets to rattle Dharmasoka "In 131 Tests that I've played, I've final. Wijesinghe 2/32, T.G. Lakmal 3/31) SLTA, the main controlling body of College for 117 runs after left hander taken four-wicket hauls in an Bandaranaike Veyangoda ‘A’ 152 for tennis in the island, is the prime pro- Geeshath Panditharatne and Chamika Scores: 1 in 27 overs (M.S. Godakawela 50n.o, innings on 44 occasions and five-for gramme involving participants ranging Karunaratne scored 46 not out and 48runs respectively for Royal College to St. Peter’s 208 for 7 in 50 overs W.L. Ramanayake 59n.o) 66 times. from beginners, intermediate students record a 128 runs victory in the Inter (Saveen Gunasekara 61, Sachin "So, out of 131 matches, I have to amateurs and national level players done well in 110 matches and it at various age groups. The SLTA com- mittee, which was elected early this means I've performed well in about year, abandoned the then existing Billiards and Championship 90% of the matches that I've played. coaching programme, headed by Singapore teen sets new meet "But then records don't matter Chrysantha Perera, and introduced a Sirisoma hot favourite much for there have been some other revamp to it by going into a five-year fantastic bowlers who have done contract with a new coach, Sudantha record in the pool for today’s final very well. Anil Kumble springs to Soysa. by Roshen Steelman mind. The new programme though by Vijay Vijay Joshi ning of the race because all the others are good swimmers," Quah told The "I think we play two Tests against received a lot of criticism, mainly from Sri Lankan number one player K.H. VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) - A Associated Press. coaches of the previous programme, Sirisoma will be the hot favorite to win the West Indies at home. I'd like to reach Singapore schoolgirl set a meet She said she hadn't expected to set today’s Billiards final against Last year’s that mark of 800 wickets and retire whose contracts were terminated on a record in 100 meters freestyle, leading a new games record. "I was hoping to short notice when they did not meet the city-state's surge to the top of the do my best," said Quah, who describes National runners-up S.H.M. Aslam in the after the series." with the requirements of the newly medal standings at the Southeast herself as "quiet boring" since "I am ongoing 8th M.J.M. Lafir Memorial Billiards Muralitharan, though, denied laid programme of Soysa. Some par- Asian Games on Thursday. usually swimming or studying." She and Snooker Tournament at MICH in ever having more than two varia- ents were reluctant to send their kids Quah Ting Wen, a 16-year-old high- is competing in seven other events. Maradana. tions. "I just have two deliveries, the to the new SLTA programme fearing its school student, swam the 100 meters Natthanan Junkrajang of Yesterday, Sirisoma went onto show his off-break and the 'doosra'. I never sustainability. in 56.03 seconds, beating the record of - a star of the 2007 games - class during the semi-final encounter 56.05 seconds set by compatriot had the slider or the flipper. Most of “We have entered into a five-year took silver and Lim Xiang Qi, another against T. Samarasinghe as Sirisoma went Jocelin Yeo in 1999. my wickets have come with my stock contract with Soysa. But we’ll review Singaporean, took bronze. onto win it three sets to nil. Aslam mean- The victories have given delivery - the off break. the progress of the programme every Singapore's Zach Ong won the gold while overcame Suresh Hashim three sets Singapore nine gold medals by the in the men's 200 meters backstroke three months. It will slowly gather to one in their semi-final. Muralitharan, who hopes to con- momentum. According to the contract second day of the 10-day, 11-nation with a timing of 2:03.27. In the Games - three ahead of the nearest Meanwhile in the snooker championship, tinue playing one-dayers until the we have with Soysa, no compensation women's 200 meters backstroke, rivals. spectators will have the luxury of witnessing 2011 World Cup, says he plans to has to be given if it (contract) is termi- another Singaporean, Li Tao, won the "I was quite nervous at the begin- one of best Snooker matches when Sri coach young spinners when he nated in future,” de Silva explained. gold with a timing of 2:17.12. Lankan number one player Susantha retires. Botheju and Indian player S.A. Saleem bat- "Kumble is a good friend and we Davis Cup 2010 officials appointed tle each other in the tournament. are both planning to groom young The SLTA meanwhile reported on The two Indian players, namely Saleem Thursday that it has appointed George wants series against ICC World XI spin bowlers," he added. "We want to and Varun Kumar qualified for the semi-final Paldano as the new coach for next KARACHI - Pakistan's cricket Dubai last week, Ramiz Raja, a mem- give something back to cricket. We year’s Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone authorities have proposed a fund-rais- ber of the task force, told Reuters. with an unbeaten run while Susantha lost will travel all over and teach young Group-II against New Zealand. Paldano ing one-day series in next "There was discussion on the need just one match to Varun Kumar in the round kids how to bowl. year against a world XI selected by the for Pakistan to keep on playing inter- robin stage on Wednesday. The second is a renowned coach in the country. "Kumble is a leg-spinner and I'm The SLTA also said Angelo Patrick International Cricket Council (ICC) national cricket and find ways to help snooker semi-final will be worked off after failing to attract teams to play in it raise funds," Raja said, adding that an off-spinner so it's a good combina- would be the Manager of the Sri Lanka between Sri Lankan junior snooker champi- Pakistan because of security fears. the proposed series would probably be tion and we have lot of experience team for next year’s Davis Cup, to be on Ryan Somaratne and Varun Kumar. The idea was proposed by Pakistan discussed by the ICC's executive board between us." held from March 3-5. Irshard Othman The toady’s billiards finals and the snook- Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ejaz when it meets in Dubai, early next © The Telegraph Group, will be the Davis Cup Tournament Butt during a meeting with the ICC year. er semi-finals will get under way from 3.00 London, 2009 Director. special task force on Pakistan in pm onwards at MICH.

Friday 11th December, 2009