Amla Defies England Barrage

Mendis a threat, but we will read him soon: Ganguly Tuesday 15th July, 2008 SLRFU cracks down on threats Asif named as to Officials It has been said that football is the game of gentlemen played by ruffians and rugby is a game of ruffians played by gentlemen. However, in the Sri IPL drug cheat Lankan context the converse seems to The Indian Premier League has prosecutors opted to deport rather than be true. Kandy hooker Anuranga named Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad charge him, despite alleging he was Walpola is the latest name to be impli- Asif as the player who tested positive for guilty of carrying 0.24g of opium. Asif cated in a line of incidents that a banned substance during random test- refuted the claims, saying the substance includes alleged threats to referees, ing earlier this year. in his possession was from a hakeem, a ‘The Island’ learns. Yesterday morning, IPL commission- traditional Islamic healer. Official D. Nimal, the touch judge er Lalit Modi confirmed that a player “I am ashamed of what happened in during the recently concluded Kandy failed a random dope test during the tour- Dubai and I apologise to the nation,” Asif versus Police match, had made a com- nament but stopped short of naming the said in June. “I was not carrying drugs. I plaint to the Sri Lanka Rugby Football individual - though the league issued a was subjected to two random drug tests Union (SLRFU) after the game citing statement a short time later. in the Indian Premier League. Both were the player. “The Indian Premier League confirms negative. Even in Dubai, the tests con- Nimal had claimed that he was ver- the player in violation is Mohammad ducted on me returned negative. There bally threatened by Walpola during the Asif,” the league said in a statement. was no trace of dope in my body.” game. The captain of Police Sports Asif, 25, played for the Delhi Modi said that the latest allegations Club, Nilusha Fernando also had Daredevils in the Twenty20 tournament against Asif would likely end up with attended the inquiry. He had told the that ran from April 18-June 1 and fea- the IPL drugs tribunal that would consist inquirer that he too had been threat- tured the world’s top players. of a doctor, a former cricketer and a ened by Walpola during the game. Asif, however, has denied any knowl- lawyer. The inquiry chaired by Ibrahim edge of the positive result. Players can appeal the verdict of the Hameed had determined that the play- “I don’t know anything about it. I tribunal in a separate appeals tribunal. er had breached the SLRFU’s Code of have received no information or official In 2006, both Asif and Shoaib Akhtar Conduct. Walpola denied the charges communication on the matter,” said Asif. were found to have taken the banned although SLRFU sources stated that a “I am shocked and surprised because steroid Nandrolone after failing internal letter of apology had been received I was extra cautious and never used any PCB drug tests. from Kandy Sports Club. Sources said banned substances,” he added. The PCB handed the players bans of that Walpola will be suspended for four Asif said he would speak to the one and two years, respectively, which weeks. Pakistan Cricket Board before taking any were overturned on appeal. This episode is the latest in a long further steps. The World Anti-Doping Agency, line of recent incidents involving vio- “I don’t know what to do. I will decide backed by the ICC, challenged the tri- lence against referees with the most the next course of action only after con- bunal’s decision, taking the case to the notable being the assault of referee sultation with the PCB,” he said. Court of Arbitration for Sport. Pradeep Fernando, by Chamara Last month, Asif apologised to his CAS eventually dropped the case in Vithanage, who was also the Sri Lanka country as he continued to plead his July 2007 “with some considerable Sevens captain at the time. Vithanage innocence, after he was released from regret”, after ruling it had no jurisdic- was banned for two years after an In this June 20, 2008, file photo, Pakistani Test cricketer Mohammed Asif is seen at airport in Lahore, detention in Dubai where the bowler was tion. inquiry. Pakistan. Asif has been embroiled in another drug controversy after being identified as the player who detained on June 1 on suspicion of carry- CAS found the PCB did not offer a Kandy SC contested the ban in failed a doping test during the inaugural Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament. ing drugs. right to appeal in their rules and the ICC Court and expects to get the ban (AP Photo/K.M.Chaudary, FILE) He returned to Pakistan after Dubai did not require them to do so. reduced for one year. AR match they dominated for the first three days, signalled their intentions from the Kumble hopes Amla defies start with a sustained burst of intimidatory bowling from the Pavilion End. Tendulkar record will Having instructed Lancashire seamer James Anderson to bowl nothing but short- England pitched deliveries at Amla, England captain spur India to victory Michael Vaughan set a Bodyline-type field India captain Anil Kumble to go out there and ensure we get with several players positioned close to the hoped Sachin Tendulkar’s bid to a series victory. barrage bat on the leg-side. surpass Brian Lara’s world Test “Sachin I’m sure at some point It was intimidatory bowling on a par runs record would spur his side in time will cross the landmark. with anything England suffered against West on to a series win against Sri It will be a huge achievement not Hashim Amla weathered a barrage of Indies 25 years ago, but on a slow pitch Amla Lanka. just for him as an individual, but short-pitched bowling to hit a defiant half- handled it superbly and left Vaughan bereft Tendulkar needs 172 runs to for Indian cricket as well.” century for South Africa and frustrate of further ideas to dismiss him. beat Lara’s mark of 11,953 runs Tendulkar, 35, who holds the England’s victory hopes in the opening McKenzie was a different matter and he with the three-Test series against record for most Test hundreds npower Test. was facing traditional field settings but the Sri Lankans starting in (39), returns after a groin injury The determined South African batsman showing no signs of getting out despite the Colombo on July 23. had sidelined him for a one-day battled through the morning session on the occasional excited appeal from left-arm spin- India have a daunting task in tri-series in Bangladesh followed final day at Lord’s to reach lunch unbeaten ner Monty Panesar. the Tests though, having won by the Asia Cup in Pakistan. on 57 after guiding his side to 312 for one, He seized on any loose deliveries from only one of the four series they India lost both finals. still trailing by 34 runs after being forced to England’s tiring attack, who must all have have played in Sri Lanka since Kumble was confident India follow on. feared a repeat of the Test against Sri Lanka 1985. Their previous trip in 2001 can add to their improving over- Amla, dismissed for six in the first two years ago at Lord’s when they batted for ended in a 2-1 defeat. seas test record in Sri Lanka. innings after a sustained period of bouncers, 199 overs to save the match after following “Every time there is a sense of “As a Test unit we have done was well supported by opener Neil on. South Africa’s Hashim Amla looks back as his achievement not just for the indi- really well in the last two or three McKenzie, who had progressed to 131 at the Brief Scores: helmet comes off after getting a bouncer from vidual but also for the team,” years,” he said. “We’re looking break. England 593/8 England’s James Anderson during the first Test Kumble told reporters. “But the forward to the challenge in Sri England, desperate to claim victory in a South Africa 247 & 312/1 match at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. most important factor would be Lanka. (Reuters) Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Tuesday 15th July, 2008.

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