The Island, Friday 21st July, 2006 Ranatunga gives Zidane and up Ministry for by Rex Clementine Deputy Minister of Materazzi fined Tourism Arjuna Ranatunga relinquished his portfolio Wednesday evening, political sources told ‘The Island’. The former cricket and banned resigned from his post as the Deputy ZURICH (Reuters) - Former France cap- he has no intention of reversing his deci- Minister of Tourism to take up a post in the coun- tain Zinedine Zidane and Italy defender sion to quit the game. try’s cricket establishment, sources said. Marco Materazzi were both fined and FIFA said in a statement: "Zinedine Ranatunga and several other former crick- banned by FIFA on Thursday after the Zidane has also agreed to do community eters last week met President Rajapakse and head-butting incident that marred the service work with children and young- highlighted certain contentious issues leading up World Cup final on July 9. sters. As Zidane has now retired from to the cricket election and the President in turn Zidane, who has retired as a player, international football, the committee advised Minister of Sports Jeevan Kumaratunga was fined 7,500 Swiss francs (3,260 took note of Zidane's pledge to do three to call off the cricket election. Although pounds) and handed a three-match ban days of community service work with Kumaratunga was asked to appoint a fresh by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee follow- children and youngsters as part of Interim Committee with four former cricketers, the ing his red card for head-butting FIFA's humanitarian activities. minister has been delaying the appointment, Materazzi. As he is no longer a player, he "In their statements, both players insisting that he’s not happy with some of the has agreed to undertake three days of stressed that Materazzi's comments had names put forward by former cricketers. community service on FIFA's behalf been defamatory but not of a racist Sports Ministry sources say that the minister instead. nature. in particular is not happy with Ranatunga getting The Italian defender, who has admit- "During the course of their hearings into administration of the sport, whilst holding a ted insulting Zidane, provoking the both players also apologised to FIFA for key political post. Frenchman's head-butt, was handed a their inappropriate behaviour and It was revealed that Ranatunga handed in his two-match ban and fined 5,000 Swiss expressed their regret at the incident." resignation in response to Sports Minister’s francs. Zidane head-butted Materazzi in the refusal to allow him getting into cricket adminis- The bans apply to international com- chest during the closing stages of the tration. petitive matches, even though it is a sym- July 9 final in Berlin, which Italy subse- bolic ban for Zidane who has confirmed quently won on penalties. Davis Cup tennis in Manila India recall Mongia for We are moving in the Sri Lanka ODIs BOMBAY, India (AP) - Star batsman returned to the Indian team Thursday after a four-month break – Mahela forced by shoulder injury. right direction Selectors included Tendulkar in India's actually need to say anything. We all 15-member squad for the Aug. 14-29 limit- know what a marvellous cricketer he is.” “Godda” grinds Viets ed-overs tri-series in Sri Lanka, which Jayawardene also said that he never by Revata S. Silva in Manila also features South Africa. expected this result before the team Sri Lanka, who has been struggling in Group- departed to England and all what he want- Chief selector Kiran More said III and IV for seven years at the Asia-Oceania ed to do was to compete with England. Tendulkar was included in the squad after “When we took off I knew we had the tal- Zone, revived their chances of getting a Group-II being declared fit by the national squad's ent. The experienced guys were hungry promotion this year as they beat Vietnam by 2-1 physiotherapist, John Gloster, in a report and the youngsters were keen. I just want- in this year's Davis Cup being held at 'Manila Polo to the Indian cricket board. ed to compete with England. That’s what I Club' at Kawati, Manila, Philippines, yesterday. Tendulkar recently played a series of told the boys as well. Let’s compete with It was the lanky 20-year-old Harshana charity matches in England for the England and stay in the game. But 5-0. I Godamanna, who is called “Godda” by his tennis Lashings club's World XI. never expected that. It’s proof of the hard friends, who played the key role yesterday while ''Sachin has played five matches in work the players have put in.” playing the first singles, before partnering Rohan England, where he also bowled some The captain also had high praise for de silva in the doubles. He dominated in upstag- overs. There's no question on his fitness,'' coach Tom Moody and the management More told reporters after the selection staff. “The management staff was bril- ing the strong Viets, for the first time in Davis Cup, meeting in the western city of Bombay. liant. Trevor (Penny) and Tom worked to raise realistic hopes of entering the semi-final Tendulkar underwent surgery at very hard with both the young and senior stage of the tournament. London in March to repair a cyst and a players in the side. They did a lot of Godamanna virtually stunned Quok Khan Le tear to his right shoulder, missing the research on conditions and the opposition in his singles with a barrage of forehand ground- players and it was great. Basically, the home one-day series against England. strokes and fierce serving – Khan at times just entire support staff from the manager to Selectors sprung a big surprise by watched the ball passing him -- before totally out- masseur were excellent,” he said. recalling left-handed batsman Dinesh He also said that he was proud that he playing the opponent 6-2, 6-1. It was 2-1 and then Mongia, who had been left out of the 3-2 in set-1 for him and “Godda” never looked Tired but happy : Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene and coach Tom Moody during captained the side that eventually broke squad for a year. the world record for the highest total in an back showing a marked improvement and venom Wednesday’s press briefing at Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters. (Pic. Nishan S. Priyantha) India squad: (captain), ODI. in his play and approach. (vice captain), Sachin Sri Lanka captain Mahela the World Cup and there’s not much time “That was an unforgettable game. The match followed the other singles played Tendulkar, , , Sanath was simply sensational. It was sad by Amrith Rupasinghe who started off well but Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, Mahendra Dhoni, Jayawardene and coach Tom Moody held to experiment. So we’ve got to look at the their first media briefing at home since right combination,” he added. that people couldn’t see that game, but I later failed to cope with Minh Quanh Do chal- Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, , tell you what, that was great, great bat- , Munaf Patel, Shantakumaran the team’s successful tour of England Sri Lanka played the entire series in lenge, loosing 2-6, 2-6. Both Le and Do, the top ting. Dilshan batted quite well too. It was- Sreesanth and Rudra Pratap Singh. where they squared the Test series 1-1 England without regular captain Marvan two in Vietnam, are medal winners in the recent and won the ODIs 5-0. Atapattu and most of the ODIs without n’t an easy task with falling at South East Asian Games where all the top Asian Following the series success, chief ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and regular intervals. It was a great job and countries took part. selector Ashantha de Mel spoke on the Jayawardene said that the side will be the boys were over the moon when we got Sri Lanka had to win the doubles in the after- importance of preparing for next year’s even better when the two seniors return. those runs. But then the thing with this 20 World Cup in the Caribbean early and “It’ll be simply great. Marvan will be a noon to sustain their hopes. The Non Playing over Power Play is that now you’ve got to Captain Jayendra Wijeysekara opted for Jayawardene said that the team is cer- great asset no doubt and the team will score 300 in a one-day game. Otherwise, tainly moving in the right direction. have a lot of confidence as well. He’s a Harshana over Rajeev Rajapakse to partner de it’s very difficult to survive and it’ll be “Certainly, we are moving in the right versatile cricketer and he can bat at any Siva in the match. It became a wise move as interesting to see how things go,” he direction. The guys are looking at things position and his presence gives us a lot of added. - (RC) “Godda” again totally dominated the proceedings positively and they are relaxed. We need options. On Murali’s return, well, I don’t gaining high regard from spectators and the offi- to work harder to achieve our goals and cials who watched the match. we’ve got to be consistent,” Jayawardene said speaking to journalists at Sri Lanka Sri Lanka came back from 3-4 to get the first Cricket headquarters. set 6-4. Harshana suffered cramps when Sri “We have to prepare for the World Cup. Sri Lankans leave for Asia Youth Lanka were 2-3 in the second set and had to be We have about 20 odd ODIs leading up to treated for ten minutes. Again they fought back Netball Championship in India from 3-5 to lead 6-5 but then lost the 6-6 tie break by 4-7. Do too suffered a pulled muscle in set-2. by Lakmal Fenando ceremony is scheduled for July 31. Sri Lanka led all the way in set-3 to be 3-0, 3-1 Sri Lanka junior netball team leave Sri Lanka team: Shereen Nugera and then 6-1. the island today to participate in the Asia (Captain), Iresha Koralagodage(V.Cpt.), There was great jubilation after the doubles Youth Netball Championship in India. Gishanthi Jayakody, Priscilla Koch, win that put Sri Lanka close to Saturday's semi- The championship gets underway from Akila Jauawardhana, W.A Sujani,Thilini final. The two players threw up their rackets and July 24. Batagoda, Sheruni Peiris, Semini Alwis, hugged each other before team manager W.D. Shanika Dilhani, Rushika Wijendra, Seven countries, including last year Vasantha Wijesekara, coach Dominik Utzinger Kosala Madushani. champions Malaysia, will take part in the and trainer Wallbank Philip joined in to wish the Officials – Thilaka (coach), Deepthi event. duo. Sri Lanka is expected to meet an easy oppo- Alwis (Ass.Coach), Rio Ramlan Sri Lanka, who emerged the runners- sition, Singapore today. up, last year, will meet India in their first (Manager), Shereen Kumaratunga (Chef A win in this tie will ensure that Sri Lanka is match on the 25. The final and the awards de mission). not demoted from Group-III.

Friday 21st July, 2006