Wednesday 2nd July, 2008

Recharged India gears up for must-win Pakistan Jayawardene sings match in KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - A rested India will take on neighboring rival Pakistan in a crucial Super Fours match at Asia Cup on Wednesday, with a victory likely Jayasuriya-Murali tune enough to lift the four-time winner into the final against defending cham- paid seriously and we didn't let up time," he said. progress." excited that we are scoring pion . glowing tributes to his two most on the pressure today as well. The Lankan Siddons didn't agree with a around 280 and I am excit- "Hopefully we will play two games experienced performers - We are here to win the Asia Cup said suggestion that no ed that we can make against Sri Lanka," India coach Gary and and we have to keep on acceler- Jayasuriya, who progress was being these totals without Kirsten said Tuesday. "Like Sri Lanka, - after they ating our performances," he celebrated his 39th made by the Ashraful," he said. Pakistan is a tough opponent, but we played crucial roles in their 158- stated. birthday on Bangladesh. run win over Bangladesh. Jayawardene said Monday, remained "That is not the "Murali was too hot to han- Jayasuriya had shown that he a player who strug- way I see it. We dle for Bangladesh and it is still remained a top player after gled if he didn't have some very good to see him among the making a comeback to the team play his natural exciting young once we are in the final since being dropped earlier this game. players and they now. Sanath is absolutely amaz- year from the one-day squad. "That is the way need time. But I ing and he remains hungry for "The selectors took the right he plays and most am excited that of the time he some of these comes off." youngsters scor- Jayawardene, ing hundreds. however, said that "I am his team needed to brush up on its bat- ting as he was not are playing some good ." happy with the India will play its last Super Fours middle order slump game against Bangladesh on against Bangladesh. Thursday, and a victory in either of "We need to be its remaining two matches would be consistent and not enough for them to book a berth in the lose wickets in num- July 6 final. bers. But we are con- Unbeaten Sri Lanka is already fident for the big through to the final with six points games now." after registering two victories - Bangladesh coach against Pakistan and Bangladesh in Jamie Siddons Super Four stage, and carrying for- said at one time ward two points from the group he was looking at a total matches. of 400 or more from Sri Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team got Muttiah Muralitharan Lanka. three days rest after playing three "You can do that on games in four days last week. Dhoni runs," Jayawardene said after decision at that time. They had these wickets but I think criticized the format of the tourna- the match. to take a decision. Sanath had our boys did well to pull ment in which his team had to play The Sri Lankan skipper said not scored a fifty in 20 innings things back and restrict two back-to-back matches in hot and that the 201-run opening stand and they had to look for them to 332. I am disap- humid conditions. between Jayasuriya and Kumar younger replacements. pointed with the batting and I "It was important to give players Sangakkara, who also scored a "But when Sanath made have given them a blast because some time off from cricket as three hundred, had set up the big win runs in the IPL they brought we should have made another games in four days in this heat took and a place in the final. him back. I think the right deci- total of around 270 and 280 to its toll on the players," said Kirsten, a "We are taking every match sions were taken at the right move forward with our Sanath Jayasuriya former South Africa test opener. Zimbabwe's cricket future Senanayake to fire without a pistol at Olympics? expected to highlight by Reemus Fernando Beijing recently. Had Beijing event. The sooner Senanayake got the oppor- Senanayake gets the weapon, better Now that is something that tunity to take part he would the prospects for the Beijing event. divide within ICC will never happen. Who can fire have got the much needed Time is running out. without a weapon? But at least exposure at the same venue DUBAI, United Arab Niranjan Shah, the sec- that is how the authorities think. he would be shooting at in Emirates (AP) - The retary for the Board of Olympic shooter, E. M. the Olympics. Senanayake qualified for International Cricket Control for Cricket in India Senanayake is capable of. Arms and ammunition are not the Beijing Olympics when Council's fragile unity (BCCI), has said that his strange to Sri Lanka. While gov- he aggregated 553 points in looks set to crack if the organization "would like to ernment imports arms legally Free Pistol Shooting, finish- four-nation Asian bloc, as fully support Zimbabwe there is a flow of arms in the ing among the first expected, comes out in sup- Cricket" in its retention of black market as well. It is said 10 shooters at the port of Zimbabwe retain- full member status within that buying a pistol from an Asian the Sri Lanka Army (6th Singha Championship in ing full member status at the ICC. underworld gang is as easy as buy- Regiment) and after engaging in Kuwait last year. an executive board meeting "We are aware that ing a loaf of bread. Legally, the country spends millions of rupees many military operations in the Incidentally, that was his this week. some member boards want on arms and ammunition a year. country’s endeavour to curb terror- fourth meet outside South Asia Outgoing ICC president Zimbabwe's membership Despite depending heavily on for- ism. since he took to sports shooting Ray Mali placed the issue taken away, but we are eign aid, Sri Lanka has shown its Senanayake is no mere shooter. in 1990. After qualifying, his on the agenda of the two- with Zimbabwe on this," capability of purchasing multi bar- He will go down in Sri Lanka histo- coach, Brigadier K. W. Edema has requested only for a few things, day ICC meeting Shah told the Cricinfo Web rel rocket launchers for fighter jets ry as the first ever shooter to have in record time to fight a deadly ter- earned qualifying standards in air which he believed were essential for Wednesday and Thursday site. "However, we also the shooter to compete for a medal. rorist outfit. pistol shooting to represent the as his native South Africa understand the positions Among them were the request for a But buying a sports pistol for country at an Olympics. Already, he new weapon to replace the Air and England severed all taken by the England and Senanayake for use at the Olympics has been at the receiving end of Pistol which is four years old. Many cricketing ties with Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has taken months ‘The Island’ step motherly treatment on many of his requests have fallen on deaf Zimbabwe in protest at and Cricket South Africa learns. And there is a possibility occasions. After achieving qualify- ing standards and the support he ears, with an ill-functioning Sports what many Western states (CSA) as they were prompt- that Senanayake would not get the Shooting Federation to be blamed say was the lack of free ed by the advice of the gov- requested pistol in time for his has got from the Sri Lanka Army, he didn’t get the opportunity to take for negligence. However, neither and fair elections that ernments in those coun- flight to Beijing. Even if he gets it part in four pre Olympic interna- Senanayake nor his coach point fin- at the eleventh hour, he might not gers at anybody. What they want is allowed Zimbabwe tries. We do not blame tional meets where the world’s top be able to use it as he would not be to do their best at the Olympics at President Robert Mugabe them as they are bound by shooters flexed their muscles for the accustomed to the new weapon. Senanayake’s debut. to win a sixth term last what their governments Beijing event. Incidentally, one such Ironically, Senanayake receives step There are 37 days to go for the week. decide. motherly treatment after serving in international meet was held in E. M. Senanayake

Wednesday 2nd July, 2008