14 Monday 16th February, 2009

Where professionalism counts and TEN TV scoop South African deal... women beat Sri Lanka , Feb 13: Bangladesh women cricketers beat Sri Lanka by six on Friday in the Mahela showed style Grameenphone Women’s tri-Nation Series. Sending Sri Lanka to bat first, the Bangladeshi bowlers got the Lankans out for 67 in 23.2 overs at the Khulna’s Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Divisional Stadium. second, Bangladesh raced to 71 losing four wickets in 31.3 overs. in his leadership “We all played well and clinched the match,” Bangladesh t was a scene, briefly caught by secure an unlikely draw. details are being shown. But Salma said after the match. the television camera, yet it high- When he received that the neon dollar is more impor- Ilighted as well as reflected the captaincy award, it was not tant to Channel Eye, than Sri Lanka after their third consec- hidden drama of a growing personal about Mahela Jayawardene, informing viewers of facts and utive win, once against Bangladesh dilemma. but all about team effort and figures. and twice against , have There was Mahela Jayawardene’s performance. Recall if you What is interesting is that already moved into the final in the wife, Christine, displaying her will, these words spoken in South Africa have just resigned series. anguish, moments after his dis- Mumbai that November with Ten Sports to extend their Bangladeshi bowler Shamima missal in the triangular final at evening. TV deal for another four years. Akter who captured three Lankan Mipur in Bangladesh last month. ‘(Winning this) means Cricket South Africa, say con- wickets was adjudged the player of Forget that Sri Lanka won a low- the team has done well. As tacts in Johannesburg, were scoring final thanks to Muttiah you all know, the captain is very professional in their the match. Muralitharan’s batting heroics. as good as his team,’ he approach to the negotiations The highest score of 24 for the What that picture represented is explained. ‘The whole team with Taj Entertainment Bangladeshi came off the bat of how Christine Jayawardene, always deserves this award; they Network. It explains a long- Ayesha, while captain Salma was a great supporter, was reflecting her have worked very hard. I am standing relationship of mutu- unbeaten on 22. agonised understanding at Mahela’s still a stand-in captain. al respect and sound business “Bangladesh’s victory against us practice. dismissal. It became more meaning- Hopefully, Marvan Atapattu is a proof that they are improving,” ful in the light of what can regain his full fitness Little wonder that Cricket transpired last week, and take over as captain.’ South Africa are now the top Sri Lanka captain Shashikala said. Yahaluweni, when he In making the award, the Duncan Fletcher ODI side in the world and are Bangladesh now need a win The Chesterfield decided to quit as cap- ICC had designed it to recog- fast closing in on the number against Pakistan to move into the suit the occasion to take wickets tain. There would have nise not only the most successful one Test spot. They have developed a final. Files when none seemed to be on offer. involved long and deep leader. The criteria they used is that very modern and professional My own association with Mahela (Agencies) discussions between the it is also intended to reward the play- approach to the administration of goes back to 1995 and South Africa’s two, as well as with his er who has displayed excellent tacti- the game. Maybe SLC can take a leaf Under-24 tour of the island where he family. cal awareness, has best fulfilled obli- out of their book and move forward, scored a century (160 at Bloomfield), Being as caring as gations to the game as set out by the rather than slip from disaster to dis- after all but quitting the game Pakistan women they are, her display is ICC and the Laws of Cricket and has aster, with no end in sight. because of the death of his brother not an isolated event. As best demonstrated the spirit of Ten Sport, continues to have an Dishal, through cancer. a man who always dis- cricket, during the period under excellent relationship with business Stylish, athletic and a thinking beat Bangladesh played dignity, long review. partners among the major cricket player, his silky skills and stroke before he was handed None of this was mentioned in boards across the world. It is a good play often suggests that he is the captaincy role, he is the fallout when he felt the time had lesson for others to learn how to Confirm final berth inclined to display a too casual a player who, despite arrived to hand the leadership baton develop sound business practices. Khulna Feb 14: Bangladesh criticism to the contrary, to another. As he mentioned once What it means is that TEN will always kept in touch late last year, when it is time to go screen South Africa’s return Test Women lost to Pakistan by nine wick- by Trevor with the grassroots of (as captain), he would know. As has series with , starting on ets in their last league match of the Chesterfield the game. And a street- long been known, he has set high February 26. Along with the five Grameenphone Tri-Nation Women’s wise captain as well. standards. Yet, those past players slogs and T-20s, of course. Having Cricket Tournament at the Bir It had been through His ODI stats for 2008/09 did not and media notables on won the rights, the attraction of the Sreshtha Shaheed Matiur Rahman his leadership skills that in measure up to the levels and the the ICC panel who Proteas/Oz series is going to be as Stadium in Khulna on Saturday. November 2006, he received the reaction of his wife showed her big as are The Ashes later in the By virtue of Saturday’s victory International Cricket Council’s cap- inner anguish. year. judged Jayawardene felt Pakistan moved into the final of the taincy award, which he dedicated to There has never been any of the Remember John Dyson, now the team. And you don’t win such hubris in his approach that local he was better than coach of the West Indies. He was not competition. awards without good reason, as com- (and on occasions) foreign critics so Australia’s Ricky granted a second term because of Sri Lanka have already confirmed petition would be tough. often try to use as part of their local politics with the interim com- their final berth. Yet, those past players and media attacks, or in some cases use other Ponting, India’s Rahul mittee deciding not to renew his con- Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan In notables on the ICC panel who sources to attempt to justify their Dravid and England’s tract. Now the West Indies, after his the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National judged him felt he was better than own comments. Captaincy at any 18 months on the job, have quite hap- Stadium in Mirpur on February 17. Australia’s Ricky Ponting, India’s level is tough; at international level, Michael Vaughan. In pily bought into his way of creating Chasing Bangladesh’s meagre Rahul Dravid and England’s Michael it is the sort of cutting edge which 2006, that was a tough something out of nothing, with a Vaughan. In 2006, that was a tough you either have or do not. template structure that works. total of 94 off 34.4 overs, Pakistan trio to overcome. It also highlighted If he felt that 212 runs in 15 trio to overcome. It also There is a lesson in there some- overhauled the target in 20.1 oves scor- the type of captain he is. innings at 14.13 is a good enough rea- highlighted the type of where, just as there is in what is a ing 96 for the loss of one . During the 12 months under son to step aside, it explains how he captain he is. highly sensible comment made by Opener of review between September 1, 2005 has placed the team first and not car- former England, Glamorgan and Pakistan cracked an unbeaten 41 off and August 31 2006, the ICC panel ried on and batted his way back to During the 12 months Western Province (South Africa) 50 balls including seven boundaries. had much to consider. the sort of Test form for which he is under review between coach as well as consultant to the Qanita Jalil hammered 24 off 25 There was the highest Test noted. It takes a lot of courage to Proteas, this southern summer. balls amid five fours while Fatima innings by a Sri Lankan of 374 take this step and explains how sen- September 1, 2005 and In his autobiography, ‘Behind Abidi remained undefeated with 19 off (against South Africa in Colombo in ior team members expressed sur- August 31 2006, the ICC The Shades’ Fletcher comes up with July), putting together a world Test prise at his decision. Yet, as he the suggestion how a match referee, 48 balls with three fours. record partnership of 624 for the explained in that awards ceremony panel had much to con- as the ICC representative, should Salma Khatun of Bangladesh took third wicket with Kumar in 2006, it is a team game and no one sider. take over the running of the series one wicket conceding 25 runs. Sangakkara in that same game. A is bigger than the team. from the start. It gives more official Earlier, Ayesha Akhter and Salma match-winning century at the As giant West Indian, Ian Bishop recognition to the role of match ref- Khatun added 21 and 18 runs respec- Saravanamuttu Oval against South agreed, Mahela became a clever cap- eree and helps rid the system of tively to the Bangladesh total. Africa in the fourth innings of that tain, one who knows how to exploit such problems that might arise at an game earned a 2-0 series weak areas and develop strong ones. early stage. It gives him a carte of Pakistan grabbed success. He had become thoughtful and creat- blanche control of the Test and ODI three wickets giving away 23 runs approach when seemingly in control. There was the ed bowling venues to be used in a series, over- while bagged a couple of This is an illusion. What is disap- appointment as cap- changes to coming any number of logistical as wickets at the cost of 12 runs. pointing is when his hecklers tain for the 2006 tour well as administrative and political sit through what is a quality half- , Almas Akram and of England when concerns. century or classy three-figure score; Qanita Jalil plucked one wicket each Marvan Atapattu fell According to the Fletcher plan, it they allow their negative opinions to for seven, 17 and 21 runs respectively. injured, and led his is professionalism that counts with surface: more muted perhaps, but Bismah Maroof of Pakistan was side to an impressive the appointed match referee spend- there is this emphasis that he should 5-0 limited overs series ing as many as two weeks checking adjudged the Player of the Match. do it more often. Yet, an examination whitewash of their venues before the Tests and slogs (TNN) of his record suggests otherwise. hosts. No one can start. He would familiarise himself Having experienced the dual cap- ignore, either, his two with anything new and how, if need taincy story first-hand when Hashan remarkable Test be, these can be rectified or Tillakaratne and Atapattu filled the innings at Lord’s: 61 improved to meet ICC standards. It Test and ODI roles, he knew it is not and 119 and crucial as would help him with games to be a sacrificial road he is prepared to part of Sri Lanka’s rear- played at unfamiliar venues and Raul sets new travel. The politics are bad enough guard efforts to retrieve alert the umpires to areas of con- without being encumbered by a match from an cern. such machinations. almost impossible Had this been part of the ICC Madrid scoring Now he heads position to pre-tour logistics scheme, the fiasco for Pakistan on a final tour at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, as captain and with the record where the second Test between Tests being screened by England and the West Indies was Taj Entertainment GIJON, Spain (AP) - Raul Gonzalez has abandoned after ten balls last Friday Network (TEN). It does would have been avoided. It would scored against Sporting Gijon to become away with the tedious have also saved the game further Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer with Channel Eye coverage embarrassment at top administra- 308 goals. with meaningless tive level which had the West Indies The 31-year-old Madrid captain scored adverts cluttering Cricket Board looking more incom- the bottom of the in the 15th minute of the Spanish league petent than they are. screen when match at El Molinon stadium on Sunday If they haven’t learnt anything statistical to surpass Alfredo di Stefano’s previous from the shambles of the CWC07 mark in official competitions. final, it is about time they took a long, hard look at how they again Raul, playing his 15th season at messed up. The game at this interna- Madrid, needed 504 competitive matches tional level cannot afford further compared to Di Stefano’s 401 to set the examples of blundering stupidity. mark. But no one, it seems, wants to It was the Madrid striker’s 215th accept responsibility for the farce. league goal - fifth-best on the all-time list - If the teams as well as and 10th from 18 games this season. Mahela Jayawardene the media covering the game had doubts, so too should have Raul is also Spain’s all-time leading the ICC match referee, Alan Hurst, scorer with 44 goals from 102 internation- about the state of the venue. al matches, and is the all-time leading (email: scorer in UEFA competitions with 66 [email protected]) goals, including a leading mark of 64 in the Champions League.