Monday 2nd February, 2009 Pakistan stripped of Champions Trophy PERTH, Australia (AP) - Pakistan will not Kandamby says host the 2009 Champions Trophy after the International Council revoked the rights on security grounds. The ICC board announced Sunday that ongoing concerns from several of the eight teams due to compete in the already improved fitness rescheduled limited-overs tournament prompted the decision. The venues in the West Indies for the 2010 World Cup were also con- firmed, but the board deferred a decision on the new host for the Champions Trophy until levels helping him its April meeting. The Champions Trophy, the second biggest limited-overs tournament after the by Rex Clementine in the team. The thing is, I am enjoying World Cup, had been postponed last year for my game a lot now. I am batting the way 12 months when teams including Australia, ith facing a must win I batted for two years,” he added. England and New Zealand expressed con- situation in the remaining , who cerns over traveling to Pakistan. played a crucial part in the Sri Lankan Wthree One-Day Internationals of However the ICC said Sunday that “sev- fightback with his first 50 in 14 ODIs, the five match series against India, one eral members” remained worried about visit- was happy with the team’s fighting issue they will not have to bother too ing Pakistan, so it had no reason but to much about is one of their middle order qualities after a disappointing first ODI switch venues. positions. in Dambulla. “It’s good that we never Pakistan will receive compensation for Thilina Kandamby, occupying the gave up. We made a few mistakes, losing the change, with an ICC statement saying number five position in Saturday’s sec- three early, but we dragged the ond ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium game pretty well. I should have waited “Pakistan would retain the revenue due for top scored for hosting the tournament.” the Sri Lankans “It is unfortunate the ICC Champions with 93 runs and Trophy will not take place in Pakistan due to his unbeaten circumstances completely beyond the control effort carried of the Pakistan Cricket Board,” ICC chief the hosts close to executive Haroon Lorgat said in the state- victory before ment. they eventually “However the board has accepted the lost by 15 runs. need for certainty in planning for and deliver- Kandamby ing a world-class event and will now assess has been in good where the event should be held.” form for Sri The decision brought immediate criticism Lanka ‘A’ in from Pakistan. recent times and “The PCB has not presented its case captained the properly in the ICC meeting,” Senator Enver side in an Baig, a member of the Pakistan Senate’s impressive campaign in South Africa for a bit longer before I started trying standing committee on sports, told The and won high praise from ‘A’ team coach something. It got a bit too much for Chandika Haturusinghe, both for his Kandamby at the end; if we had another Thilina Kandamby, who starred for the Sri Lankans with an unbeaten 93 in the second ODI against Associated Press. batting and commitment. batsman left, we could have probably India at the R. Premadasa Stadium in action. (AP) A member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 done it. That Batting Power Play worked too much cricket had been taxing for am sure Ajantha will bounce back. It’s squad that reached the Youth World Cup for us, but we couldn’t finish things off,” his team. not a huge concern for me, honestly. final in 2000, Kandamby switched to Jayawardene said. Dhoni admits he “I would be lying if I say that we He is still bowling well, creating SSC last season after a long association Sri Lanka opted for the Batting are not tired. But at the same time, we opportunities. He’s not picking up with Bloomfield C&AC. Power Play in the 42nd over and 48 lost cool on his are enjoying the international contest. wickets, probably because people are A burly left-hand batsman, runs came in the five over period, We will see how the guys do. There are not taking too many risks off him. In Kandamby attributed improved fitness which brought them close to the tar- no complaints. India are playing good the situation where they have to score bowlers during levels as the reason for his consistency get. cricket and it’s a nice challenge to do runs off him, let’s see how they man- both at ‘A’ team and domestic levels and The Sri Lankans have played non better than them,” he said. age,” the Sri Lankan captain said. said he hopes to have a longer run in stop cricket since their tour of power plays The focus on the Indian media after The R. Premadasa Stadium will the national team. Zimbabwe, where they played five the second ODI was whether Ajantha host all three remaining ODIs. The “I had to work hard on my fitness. I ODIs and then were involved in a Test Mendis had lost his venom as the two first two games will be day-night have put in a lot of effort during the last and tri-nation series in Bangladesh wickets he picked up came off the last matches while the fifth ODI will be a two to three years. I have to thank my before going to Pakistan for a three two balls of the Indian innings, but day game. Sri Lanka’s first ever trainers, who have pushed me hard and match series. Soon after this series, Jayawardene wasn’t bothered. Twenty-20 International will also be that was something that I lacked earlier Jayewardene’s side will again leave for “We can’t ask a 23-year-old to pick 4 played at the R. Premadasa Stadium on.” Pakistan to play a two match Test wickets in every game. Right now they on February 10, with play scheduled “If I keep scoring runs I will remain series. The captain was asked whether are playing him well. Let him learn. I to begin at 6.00 pm. U-turn for 2006 Oval Test Colombo Super League Basketball

the MCC, some of the legal opinions we’ve got, the board was pretty unani- Kapil Dev guides Kandy BC mous in upholding the original umpires’ decision. The original incident occurred took place on the fourth day of the match in August 2006 when on-field umpires to massive win and Billy Doctrove awarded England five penalty runs after ruling that by Roshen Steelman Regiment did well to take a 31-17 lead, M.S. Dhoni the Pakistan team had tampered with the but their tactics fell apart in the second ball to help it swing. After leading by a single point, half as Nugegoda Cagers came from India captain Mahendra Singh Pakistan initially refused to resume Stallions BC completely lost the way and behind to win 76-63. Dhoni on Sunday said he lost his cool play after tea and by the time captain suffered a massive 34 point defeat at the The top scorers for Singha Regiment when his bowlers got confused and did Inzamam-ul-Haq led his players out of hands of Kandy BC in a ‘B’ Division were D.A.K. Dinugala with 18 points and not know what to do during the power the dressing room, the umpires had match of the ongoing Colombo Super T. Koralage with 17 points. plays in the second one-dayer against already called the game off and awarded League tournament at the St. Joseph’s Sri Lanka in Colombo. it to England, the first time a Test has Girls’ School courts in Nugegoda on SL Army win in thriller “I lost my cool especially when ever been won by forfeit. Saturday. The ‘B’ Division match between Sri bowlers got confused with the power Inzamam was subsequently cleared The main architect of Kandy’s win Lanka Army and All Greens was a plays. I was not myself especially in the of the ball-tampering charge by an ICC was Kapil Dev who top scored with 22 thriller with both teams fighting hard second power play,” Dhoni said after his Haroon Lorgat tribunal, but banned for four matches for points. for the initiative and All Greens were side’s 15-run victory to go 2-0 up in the bringing the game into disrepute by refus- Stalliosn were leading 43-42, but leading by a single point at the end of five-match series. The of the controversial 2006 ing to resume play. couldn’t resist the Kandy onslaught in the first. Dhoni said he did not feel the job Oval Test between England and Pakistan Pakistan, meanwhile, blamed Hair for the second half and suffered a 91-57 Sri Lanka Army reversed the for- was done yet despite his team enjoying has been switched back to an England the whole affair and he was dropped from defeat. tunes in the second half winning the a 2-0 lead. win by the game’s world governing body. the ICC’s elite umpiring panel in Apart from Kapil, Cristy game 95-93. “It was tough and we did not have The match was originally awarded to November 2006. Krishanthan netted 17 points for the For the soldiers, U.A.N.K. Perera such a game for a long time. We have to England by forfeit when the Pakistan He responded by taking the ICC to an winners. For the losers, Ruwn Perera scored 28 points while Norman be careful as such wins often make us team delayed play after being accused of industrial tribunal, alleging racial discrimi- top scored with 15 points. Fernando chipped in with 14. Yohan relax a bit. We should remember that ball-tampering by the umpires. nation, but withdrew the allegation after a Danushka was the top scorer for the the series is yet to be won. We want to Last July, the International Cricket week of evidence and the case col- Nugegoda Cagers struggle to beat winners. win the series and for that each of us Council changed the result to a draw. lapsed. Singha Regiment have to give 100 per cent,” Dhoni said. But the ICC board decided to reverse Pakistan later agreed to play a Thivanka Thalagalaarachi scored 19 Abeysekara, Gunathilaka guide He said his team would have to that decision at a meeting in Perth, Twenty20 match in England in 2012 and points while Samitha Samarasinghe and Maroons to victory make improvements in some depart- Australia on Sunday. waive their fee for that match by way of Dulhara de Alwis scored 16 points each Mithila Abeysekara with 24 points ments of the game to win the series. It means that the series result will compensation for the loss of the final for Nugegoda Cagers to beat Singha and Pasindu Gunathilaka with 21 points “Saturday’s game was a tough one once again appear as a 3-0 England vic- day’s play of Test. Regiment in a ‘C’ Division match of the scored 45 points between them and during which we have committed some tory in the record books. Hair was restored to the ICC panel in ongoing Colombo Super League basket- helped Maroons BC to beat St. Peter’s mistakes which we would like to rectify ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat July last summer but only stood in two ball tournament at the St. Joseph’s BC in a ‘B’ Division match on Saturday. before going for the next match,” he said the decision ensured “the integrity of Tests before announcing his retirement in Girls’ School court Nugegoda on The final score was 72 to 71. Jude said. the game”. order to take up the post of executive offi- Saturday. Lakshan with 24 points and Mafaz “We had couple of run outs. Besides, He added: “After reconsidering that cer of the New South Wales Umpires and Playing against a team that had won Ahamed with 11 points were the top the bowlers should maintain line and match, taking into account the views of Scorers Association. the ‘C’ Division previously, Singha scorers for the losers. length in the slog overs,” he added.