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SLC Bans Three Players Gories, Which Will Be Held the As Warned a Few Months Ago, Sri SLC’S Ban Is So Severe That None of Following Weekend

SLC Bans Three Players Gories, Which Will Be Held the As Warned a Few Months Ago, Sri SLC’S Ban Is So Severe That None of Following Weekend

Thursday 17th January, 2008 15

by Revata S. Silva are four other provinces that are Inter-Provincial L/O Review getting away from cricket, the t was a revival of an old tour- ‘unofficial’ national sport of the nament. The only domestic island. Even if we forget the Icompetition where top Sri North-East war and the ethnic Lanka cricketers who have tensions there, provinces like earned a big name as internation- North-Central, Uva and al cricket ‘stars’ mingle with the Sabaragamuwa could be in con- lesser important ‘rustic’ club tention. Isn’t there talent oozing cricketers on the playing field. in those areas? The structure of Did the event fulfill the objectives the Inter-Provincial Tourney this its organisers, Cricket, season means that the game is had in reviving it nearly three popular, while at the same time, years after it took control of the A long way unpopular too. administration of cricket in Sri Still the game is played in Lanka? and its immediate sub- As cricket became highly like Chamara Kapugedera, ciated. Their performance in this urbs like Mount Lavinia, attracted by the international Dilruwan Perera, Chanaka Inter-Provincial Tourney would- Moratuwa, Maharagama, media, especially the television Welegedara and Ishara n’t have made any difference to Nugegoda, Panadura Kalutara, and the internet, global attention Amerainghe made the tourna- their current positions in the Ambalangoda, Galle, Matara, has always been there for the ment an opportunity to enhance national side, yet they never Kegalle, Kandy, Kurunegala, international game. Media cover- their stakes to enter or to con- seemed to lack the thirst to do Negombo, Chilaw, Ragama, etc. age and the resultant monetary firm their places in the Sri Lanka their best. The present squad for the support have been in abundance team before the forthcoming forthcoming Under-19 World Cup in the international arena while Australia tour. As the above play- Public response shows this fact most glaringly. There is only a single outstation the domestic competitions, main- ers were named in the national How can a good crowd atten- player in the squad. All others ly in countries like Sri Lanka, side days after the completion of dance be expected when most of are from prominent and elitist have suffered immensely. the Inter-Provincial Tourney, the matches were telecast live on urban schools. We say we made a Mahela Udawatte and Thilan national TV? It was reported, revolution in player-representa- Yawing gap between club Thushara were named standbys though, that a sizeable crowd was tion after our much-hyped World and National team for the tour and are likely to have present at Welagedara and at Cup win in 1996. The Roy- benefited by their fine perform- Galle to see some of the big crick- Thomian era is over, we assume. The performance level, the ance in the tourney that has et names in action. But, the days Have we seen the real era herald- crowd reaction and the financial earned the attention of the are different. ing where villagers, raw outsta- benefits have been vastly differ- national selectors. Until the ’80s, if at least a few tion players come and play for the ent in the international game and national cricketers came to play (L), was the highest run getter in the inter-provincial country after maturity and good the domestic game. The gap Good interest in any of the outstations, there cricket tournament, while Thilina Thushara was the highest taker. nurturing? A long way to go, it between the international vs. would have been absolute pande- seems. domestic has been yawningly The top national cricketers, respective Provinces in this sig- eters playing alongside the 16 of monium! Grounds were surely widening and it affected the up- starting form Mahela nificant tournament. There were the present SLC contracted play- packed. Nowadays, of course, the and-coming player. Jayawardene to Kumar 75 players featuring in five ers. A rare occurrence in deed. charisma of the national crick- Results in Brief In the mean time, such sce- Sangakkara, former Captain Provincial teams, Basnahira The interest shown by national eters is likely to have gone for a nario created an unnecessary to Muttiah North, Basnahira South, players like Jayawardene, six. Players too have destroyed 1. Wayamba bt Basnahira South by 127 greed for national level represen- Muralitharan, to Wayamba, Kandurata and Sangakkara, Vaas, Maharoof and their reputation, by appearing in runs at RPS on Dec 29, 2007 tation. Described through a cine- , to Farveez Ruhuna meaning there were 59 Dilshan for their participation in numerous commercials to pro- 2. Basnahira North bt Ruhuna by 7 wkts at Maharoof to , all mote various commodities rang- matic analogy from the 1970s, key national and club level crick- the tournament should be appre- Galle on Dec 30 playing club cricket let you be these players represented their ing from hand phones, milk pow- 3. Kandurata bt Basnahira South by 5 wkts one Amarasiri Kalangsooriya der to mosquito coils. at SSC on Jan 2, 2008 whereas playing for Sri Lanka And the spectators aren’t iden- will make you another Shahrukh Top 5 Batsmen tifying themselves these days as 4. Basnahira North bt Wayamba by 100 Khan! The plight of this situation supporters of such and such club runs at RPS on Jan 2 Player (Team), Mts, Inns, NO, Runs, HS, Ave, 100s, 50s is that the undying hunger for or province. Such unity in divi- 5. Wayamba bt Ruhuna by 39 runs at money, nakedly for money, sion cannot be found these days. Kurunegala on Jan 5 1. Kumar Sangakkara (Kandurata) 5, 5, 1, 264, 109, 66.00, 1, 1 became an overt characteristic of Such a set up would have attract- 6. Kandurata bt Basnahira North by 192 2 (Wayamba) 5, 4, 1, 183, 57, 61.00, 0, 1 the national cricketers. ed a big gathering for any domes- runs at RPS on Jan 5 3. Ruwin Peiris (Bas. North) 4, 4, 0, 153, 77, 38.25, 0, 2 The Inter-Provincial Tourney, tic encounter. The SSC vs. 7. Basnahira South bt Basnahira North by 4. Chamara Kapugedera (Kandurata) 5, 4, 1, 152, 63, 50.66, 0, 2 Bloomfield match those days was in such a backdrop, provided a 6 wkts (D/L Method) at SSC on Jan 8 forum for over fifty top local 5. Mahela Udawatte (Wayamba) 5, 5, 1, 145, 55, 36.25, 0, 1 as popular and entertaining as a 8. Kandurata bt Ruhuna by 43 runs (D/L domestic players to have a rare Sri Lanka vs. Australia match, Method) at RPS Jan 8 shoulder-to-shoulder experience Top 5 Bowlers until the mid ’80s. with their idols, role-models and Player (Team), Mts, Wkts, Best, Ave, Econ 9. Basnahira South v Ruhuna at Galle on beyond that, to prove them how 1. Thilina Thushara (Kandurata) 5, 11, 4/10, 8.00, 3.56 Other Provinces? Jan 11 - Match abandoned capable you are and how quali- 2. Ajantha Mendis (Wayamba) 5, 10, 4/50, 8.50, 3.66 The fact that there were only 10. Kandurata bt Wayamba by 8 wkts at fied you are to play in the biggest 3. Kaushalya Weeraratne (Kandurata) 5, 8, 3/29, 17.12, 5.70 five Provinces in this main Kurunegala on Jan 11 league when your day comes. 4. Akalanka Ganegama (Kandurata) 5, 8, 3/66, 21.87, 5.67 domestic Limited-overs Tourney Final: Kandurata v Wayamba at SSC on Jan In fact, some of the players 5. Sachithra Senanayake (Ruhuna) 3, 7, 5/59, 14.57, 5.88 is indicative of the fact that there 13 - No

De La Salle unbeaten Inter Clubs Chess Championships - Qualifying (Colombo Zone) The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka will hold the above tour- nament in two sections (Open and Women's) from January 18-20, at Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte. Those who qualify from this Russel Marvan Upul event will proceed along with the qualifiers from Kandy, Galle and Kurunegala Zones to the Inter Club ‘B’ Division finals of their respective cate- SLC bans three players gories, which will be held the As warned a few months ago, Sri SLC’s ban is so severe that none of following weekend . All clubs interested in par- Lanka Cricket has decided to ban all the players who took part in the ticipating are required to be players, who were part of the rebel tournament will even be considered present at the venue by 2.30 pm tournament. for employment at the board, com- on the 18th for registration Accordingly, former Test captain mentary stints, umpiring assign- purposes and are required to and Test stars ments and coaching roles. pay an entry fee of Rs. 1000/- Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana It’s believed that Russel Arnold, per team. The participating will not be permitted to take part in who made an impressive start as a De La Salle College ‘A’, Under-13 basketball team had an unbeaten run in the Colombo North Mini Basketball clubs are expected to bring their own boards and sets. any SLC sanctioned event. commentator was in line to Carnival that was worked off last week by the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association, at De La Salle College They are welcome to bring Cricket, a few days back, sent letters take up commentaries for the recent- court in Mutuwal. De La Salle fielded two teams in the tournament and their ‘A’ team captained by Mohammad their own chess clocks. They to SSC and NCC (the clubs of the ly concluded Sri Lanka–England Fadil beat Ananda College, Colombo in the curtain-raiser of the carnival in a thriller where the final scores were are kindly requested to con- three players) indicating that they series, but was axed keeping in line 14-12. In their next game they beat St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and in the final encounter beat a strong D.S. firm participation by phone, shouldn’t be selected to represent with SLC’s policy. email or fax to Malinda their clubs in any of the tourna- The Indian Cricket League was Senanayake College 16-12. De La Salle ‘A’ under-13 basketball squad: (Standing from left to right) Harsha Seneviratne, Chairman, ments sanctioned by SLC. started in response to BCCI denying Hirantha Appuhamy, Chanaka Maduranga, Yohan Demuni, Mohammad Rifnaz, Mohammad Amzath, Avishka Tournament Committee on or “We had warned the players about its television rights to Zee Telefilms Wijesinghe, Dulan Tisera. (Seated from left to right) Ruvinda Priyankara Perera, Nipun Lakshitha, Mohammad before January 17, 2007: the consequences and we’ll stick to and apart from coming down hard on Fadil (Captain), Mohammad Arshad (Vice-captain), Sanjula Phillips and Dilan Dinushka. Tel: 2368152, 0723-764438 Fax: 2368152 Email: malin- the guidelines,” Duleep Mendis, the the league, the BCCI also introduced (Pic by Dimuthu Premaratne). [email protected] CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, told ‘The its own league called the Indian Island’ on Wednesday. Premier League (IPL). The Indian Cricket League, pro- The Sri Lankan board has Quarter finalists found in under-13 Astra Cup tourney moted by Zee Telefilms and backed approved this particular league and by Reemus Fernando Moratuwa, Royal College, Panadura and St. Wesley Colombo Vs Ananda Colombo by a host of former Indian crick- several top Sri Lankan players are Ananda, St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s and Anthony’s College, Wattala, couldn’t achieve venue not decided (23-24 Jan) eters, including World Cup winning supposed to play in the tournament, Wesley are the only colleges from Colombo to the points needed to book a place in the quar- Division II captain Kapil Dev, was banned by the which is yet to be scheduled. have secured places in the quarter finals of ter-finals. St. Peter’s Bambalapitiya Vs Dharmapala Board of Control for Cricket in India the on-going Inter School Under-13 Division I This year, the tournament was played Pannipitiya at Pannipitiya(19-20 Jan ) (BCCI), and the Indian authorities Marvan Atapattu was named cap- Astra Cup championship which will com- under a new league format which saw each Nalanda Colombo Vs Carey Colombo at have imposed a ban on all their play- tain of Delhi Jets team and did mence its most competitive stage on Saturday. successful team in the first round play in a rel- Nalanda Ground (19-20 Jan) ers who took part in the tournament. remarkably well both as a batsman St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, atively large second round league in several Ananda Colombo Vs Royal Colombo at None of the Indian players will be and captain. Arnold and Chandana, groups. Royal Ground (20-21 Jan) Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda, De eligible for selection for India in meanwhile, had moderate series. Mazenod College, Kandana and Maliyadeva The quarter finals will commence with the Rahula Matara Vs Tissa Kalutara at Tissa international matches. Member asso- While Arnold retired soon after College, Kurunegala are the outstation Division III quarter final between Royal Ground (21-22 Jan) schools who have found spots in quarter-finals College Colombo and Ananda Sastralaya, Division III ciations have asked not to consider the World Cup final, Atapattu in Division I. Kotte on Friday. St. Thomas’ Kotte Vs C.W.W. Kannangara the players for domestic tourna- announced his retirement at the end Meanwhile, all defending champions in Division I at Colombo ments either. of the series against Australia in Division I, II, and III of the Inter School Under- St. Sylvester’s Kandy Vs Dharmasoka at Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte Vs Royal India’s guideline was followed by Hobart while Chandana, after being 13 tournament have failed to reach the quar- Ambalangoda Karandeniya (19-20 Jan) Colombo at Royal Ground (18 Jan) many cricket boards around the repeatedly overlooked by the selec- ter finals. De Mazenod Kandana Vs St. Peter’s P.D. S. Kularatne Vs Siri Piyaratana world and Sri Lanka too agreed to tors announced his retirement mid- Defending champions in the Division I, II Bambalapitiya at St. Peter’s (22-23 Jan_ Zahira Gampola Vs Sandalankava follow the same steps. way through the year. and III, namely, St. Sebastian’s College Maliyadeva Kurunegala Vs St. Joseph’s Gampola 20 Jan at Maliyadeva Grounds (19-20 Jan)

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