Wednesday 19th May, 2010 decides to skip hockey tourney in trouble hit Thailand BY RUKSHAN RAZAK players had undergone exten- Sri Lanka’s national he Sri Lanka Hockey sive training for a month and team came under a terrorist Federation took a deci- made many sacrifices at their attack when they were touring Tsion at its council meet- work places and at home. They Pakistan. ing not to field the national further state that had the play- Gamini Jayasinghe, women’s hockey team at the ers gone, they would have qual- Secretary SLHF, told The Asian Games Qualifying ified for the Asian Games. Island that he had already Hockey Tournament in The hard work put forth by written to the Thailand Bangkok, Thailand, from May the players and their strong Hockey Federation informing 22 to 30. This is despite protest against the SLHF deci- about Sri Lanka’s decision. He encountering stiff opposition sion seems logical, hockey ana- also said that he had proposed from influential parties in the lysts say. But given the cur- that the tournament be post- England cricket with the trophy poses with British Airways staff as the sport who wanted the team to rent political developments in poned. team arrive back at Gatwick Airport, Horley, England, from the Caribbean after winning the ICC take part in the tournament. Bangkok, many believe the Jayasinghe said that even World Cup, Tuesday, May 18, 2010. (AP) Considering the present decision by the SLHF is quite Pakistan had backed Sri political climate and turmoil prudent since it will not be Lanka’s proposal to request in Thailand, the SLHF took a sensible to risk the safety of for the postponement. Flower warns against complacency bold step in deciding against players. Besides Sri Lanka and sending the players to this It is also reported that hosts Thailand, the other England coach Caribbean. pointed Flower’s influence, country where there is unrest. many countries and independ- teams that earlier confirmed insists his team “have a long way And while Flower is reluc- Yardy’s selection and England’s Interestingly, among those ent travel assessment agencies their participation are to go” despite becoming ICC tant to predict more glory for strength in depth as key to their who opposed the officials’ deci- have issued travel advisories Pakistan, Hong Kong (China), World Twenty20 champions. England in 2011’s Cricket World World Twenty20 success. sion to scrap the tour include to citizens to avoid Bangkok Kazakhstan, Singapore, England beat Australia by Cup on the sub-continent, he also “We’ve simplified things,” players. Those who wished the due to escalating violence. It Chinese Taipei and seven in Sunday’s final, admits that the lessons learned Swann told BBC Radio 5 live. tour to go ahead argue that the was just an year ago that Uzbekistan. but Flower is keen the signifi- in the West Indies will stand “They’ve picked people who like cance of a first global one-day tri- them in good stead in the 50-over hitting massive sixes and said umph be put in perspective. game. ‘go and hit massive sixes’. We “This is one form of the “This is only one tournament have the people with the skill to game. If we talk about the do it and they’ve been England team we talk about given the licence to do that. all three forms,” he said. “It’s important to have “We have got huge scope a couple of spinners in the for improvement in various middle of the . areas. We will be working has come in hard to get better and better.” and been exceptional and England ended a 35-year he’s one of the main rea- history of failure in the limit- sons why we have done so ed overs international arena well. with a superb display of bowl- “Jimmy Anderson is ing, fielding - limiting the one of the best bowlers in Australians to 146-6 - and fear- the world, but he isn’t in less as a 111-run stand the team. That speaks vol- from and umes for how well the team sent Flower’s we have dominated,” added is playing and how good a squad men on their way to victory with Flower, who has led England an that we have in that the four three overs to spare. Ashes victory and a Test series guys on the sidelines are all A combination of daring draw in South Africa since for- world-class.” selection choices - the likes of mally taking over from Peter Skipper Paul Collingwood , Michael Yardy Moores in April in 2009. does not want to return to the and Kieswetter - a more aggres- “I think one of the greatest 50-over captaincy, meaning sive defence, a clinical, adaptable things we will get out of this is will lead attack who all chipped in with growth in our self-belief. The England in the World Cup, big wickets, and increased ath- players should believe in them- which starts in India, Sri Lanka leticism in the field all con- selves - because they have played and Bangladesh on 19 February tributed to England’s six wins in some outstanding cricket.” 2011. the tournament in the Spinner pin- (BBC)

Kandamby and Kapugedera Michael to captain SL ‘A’ to Australia Tissera’s wife Thilina Kandamby and , Kosala Chamara Kapugedera will Kulasekera, Nuwan passes away lead the Sri Lanka ‘A’ teams Pradeep, Dinesh for two four-day and three Dharshanpriya, Isuru Junette Tissera, wife of Michael One-day matches,in Udana, , Tissera, former Australia, Sri Lanka , captain, passed away, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a media and Cricket said in a release. Her release yesterday. Mahela Udawatte. remains lie at No.03, Sudharshana Sri Lanka ‘A’ squads for Stand-byes (6): Mawatha, Nawala. The funeral will the forthcoming tour of Sachithra Serasinghe, take place at the Anglican Section of Australia have been grant- Kaushal Janith, Janaka the Borella Cemetery at 4 pm, today. ed approval by the Gunaratne, Malinda Minister of Sports C. B. Warnapura, Jehan Ratnayake. Mubarak and Tharanga The 15 player-squad for Lakshitha 4-day tournament: Schedule: Fernando was a , June 13 - AIS V Sri Tharanga Paranawithana, Lanka ‘A’ (3-day warm–up Lahiru Thirimane, Thilina match) in Brisbane tennis stalwart Kandamby (Capt.), Dinesh June 18-21 - Australia ‘A’ BY REVATA S. SILVA Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, v Sri Lanka ‘A’ (4-Day) at The General Committee of the Sri Jeevan Mendis, Kosala Allan Border Field in Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) Kulasekera, Nuwan Brisbane officially conveyed their sympathies Pradeep, Dinesh June 25-28 - Australia ‘A’ to the family of the former Sri Lanka Dharshanpriya, Dammika v Sri Lanka ‘A’ (4-day) in tennis stalwart Lasantha Fernando Prasad, Chaminda Townsville who passed away on May 7. He was 70 Vidanapathirana, July 02 - Australia ‘A’ v years of age at the time of death. Sachithra Senanayake, Sri Lanka ‘A’ (T-20) in Fernando once became Sri Lanka Seekkuge Prasanna and Townsville National champion by defeating Nadeera Nawela July 04 - Australia ‘A’ v Indian National player C. G. K. The 15-squad for One- Sri Lanka ‘A’ (OD) in Bhupathi, father of present Indian Day tournament: Townsville Grand Slam winner Mahesh Dimuth Karunaratne, July 07 - Australia ‘A’ v Bhupathi, in 1975. Dilshan Munaweera, Sri Lanka ‘A’ (OD) in Lasantha appeared in seven sin- , Townsville gles and two doubles rubbers for Sri Thilina Kandamby, Dinesh July 10 - Australia ‘A’ v Lanka in Davis Cup, debuting in 1964. Chandimal, Chamara Sri Lanka ‘A’ (OD) in Allan Kapugedera (Capt.), Border Field in Brisbane.

Wednesday 19th May, 2010