Wednesday 30th April, 2008 15

Letter

Udawatte. It will not be sur- prising to see if Mahela drops Udawatte if he fails to score in his next series Should Mahela and replace him by Upul Tharanga or Jehan Mubarak. Though Mahela says that new comers should get an extended run he doesn’t do it Jayawardena be axed as practically and give an extended run only to cricketers like Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubark and Chamara Silva. Mahela has created problems Sri Lanka's ODI ? in the team especially amongst sen- iors and lacks initiative. This was evident from the 1st ODI that we hould Mahela Jayawardena be Asantha must have thought best for played against West axed as Sri Lanka' ODI captain? Marvan. It was sad to see, the former SThis is a main question that captain, the man who was selected as loving public in Sri Lanka is the best ODI captain by the ICC was discussing these days. First of all I carrying water for the rest of the would like to thank "The Island" team mates. Marvan's replacement newspaper to initiate this vital dis- Upul Tharanga was completely out of cussion among its readers. touch and couldn't even hit the ball Mahela took over the captaincy with the bat properly. (even now it from ever reliable Mravan Atapattu. has not changed and Marvan suffered a back injury and Mahela/Asantha combination is still had to withdraw from the England taking Upul Tharanga for all the tour in 2006. Mahela led the team tours). Marvan is the best technically instead and in the ODI series the correct batsman that Sri Lanka has English team suffered a whitewash. ever produced and Mahela / Asantha All started to praise Mahela for his combination ignored this marvelous leadership qualities though the Sri batsman form the entire World Cup. Lankan team won comprehensively Marvan was our best batsman since due to Sanath Jayasuriya's magnifi- 1997 and there was no valid reason cent comeback. Chairman of selec- given up to now for his continuous tors Asantha De Mel had to intervene omission from the World Cup. This to send Sanath to England (in must have cost us the World Cup. It between that tour) and Sanath some- was pity to see that a former captain time back mentioned in an interview like Sanath was very quiet about this that not a single person was there at injustice to his opening partner and the airport to welcome him. The cap- the deputy for a long time. Sanath tain and the team selectors didn't must not have thought at that time consider Sanath for the second test that he will be the next victim of but had to include him after that due Mahela. He kept quiet and was at the to the pressure from Asanatha de receiving end when they selected the Mel. Sanath came out with flying col- team for the Caribbean tour. Sanath ors in the ODI series and allowed the didn't fight for his longtime partner bat to do the talking. This was the and then couldn't keep his place in Mahela loves to speak to cameras and predict a good fight before the match and when the team looses he talks about posi- starting point of Mahela/Asantha the team even. tives of the defeat. dictatorship. It went well for Asantha Marvan, the gentleman cricketer and Mahela had to be quiet for the kept quiet and was overlooked again moment since Sanath performed well for the Australian tour till the Sports difficult to believe that the captain every tour, continuous omission of Indies. He was a complete failure as a in the ODIs Minister intervened. Asantha didn't doesn't have any say in the selection Malinga Bandara and Thilina batsman too. (in ODIs) Mahela loves Then came the World Cup and want to take him the tour saying that and Mahela was trying to fool every- Kandamby have raised eyebrows of to speak to cameras and predict a Marvan was in the squad. But Marvan refused to meet him. No one one. everyone. It is high time for the selec- good fight before the match and when Mahela and the selection committee can expect Marvan to meet this head Then about his captaincy. Mahela tion committee to give a chance to the team looses he talks about posi- headed by Asantha De Mel didn't con- of the selection committee who acts could not lead Sri Lanka to any Thilina Kandamby based on his cur- tives of the defeat. He has done this sider Marvan for a single match. The like a dictator. After scoring a half series victory after the World Cup rent form. But he should get an for last one year and if we take those man with the best ODI batting aver- centaury in his comeback match (apart Bangladesh) and especially the extended run and not a single match positives now we should have become age had to carry water for the jun- Marvan hit out at the selection com- results of last 20 ODIs are pathetic. and drop him for the rest of the the number one ODI team in the iors. During the initial stage of the mittee with now famous "joker mup- His team selection along with the series if he fails to score in that world. He acts like a dictator it is World Cup Mahela mentioned that pet story". Then Mahela came into selection committee (if he says that match. high time for the selectors to replace Marvan has to play a big role in the the scene and washed his hands off he didn't have a say in the selection) , There are only few plus points in him by a cricketer like Sangakkara. team and carrying water for juniors from the entire selection crisis. He like continuous selection of Upul the last tour. The emergence of Jehan Perera may be the duty that Mahela/ put the entire blame on Asantha. It is Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak for Ajantha Mendis and Mahela Kollonnawa

Victory celebrations for Women shine in gold for Sri Lanka Joes in Australia Joes tour down under from May 13-27 Sri Lankan women athletes earned Olympic qualification Yasasiri Ajith and S.M. have won the only gold medals has won the Gold in the in the Weerasuriya have won a silver The St. Joseph’s College (May 21) and Fern Tree Gully for Sri Lanka by the end of women’s javelin throw. medal each in the 400 meter Cricketers who won the annual Under-19 team (May 25). There the third day on Monday in Lakmali has cleared a dis- hurdles and 200 meter events Battle of the Saints encounter will be several sight seeing ven- the Thailand Open Track and tance of 54.11 meters to win respectively. against arch rivals St. Peter’s tures during their stay in Field Championship according the first place. While Ajith has clocked College after 30 years will leave Melbourne. to an Athletic Association Along with the two Gold 51.79 seconds to finish his for Australia for a 16 day tour Meanwhile, Harsha de Silva press release. medalists D.D.P. event, Weerasuriya has sponsored by the Old Boys living who coached St. Joseph’s College While Sri Lanka’s high Priyadharshani has clocked returned a timing of 21.36 sec- in down under. to the historic Big Match victory jump sensation Priyangika 24.44 seconds to settle for a onds. The cost of the tour which is is scheduled to leave for Madumamthi has cleared a Silver in the 200 meter dash. Rohitha Pushpakumara well over rupees two million is Brisbane today. De Silva will height of 1.81 meters to win In the 100 meter event she has has won a bronze in the in the solely born by the expatriates attend a coaching course to the Gold in her event, B.L. managed only to finish fourth. 400 meter event, clocking 47.71 who had jumped out to host the obtain his Australian Level to Priyangika Madumamthi Nadeeka Lakmali who has In the Men’s category seconds. (RF) cricketers who qualification. He broke a three will attend the decade old deadlock course from May 4- in the annual battle. 9 at the Cricket St. Joseph’s Australia Centre of has been does have an impact on the team are down to Excellence at banned for the remainder of team now especially consider- play an exhibition Queensland Cricket the current IPL season for his Harbhajan banned for ing Sachin Tendulkar is match on May 16 Head Quarters. altercation with Sreesanth at injured." followed by a felici- The Josephian the end of Indians' Harbhajan also faces sepa- tation for the team cricketers will be match against Kings XI Punjab rest of IPL season rate action from the Indian by the old Joes liv- joined by Harsha on Friday. The ban is for 11 board, which has asked him to ing in New South on May 13 in matches, including last explain, "as a contracted play- Wales. Sydney where the Sunday's game, extendable to 13 the players, shaking hands with been found guilty of a level 2 er", his role in the incident The tour will contingent will if Mumbai progress to the a few players," said Lalit Modi, offence and fined 50% of his which came to light after include sight seeing engage in a sight semi-final and final. the commissioner of the IPL match fee. "Rajput was right Sreesanth broke down in front and a visit to the seeing venture. Sreesanth was let off with a who is also a vice-president of behind Harbhajan when the of the cameras. SCG and the Talking to The warning after video evidence the BCCI. "Sreesanth was the incident took place," said Modi. Niranjan Shah, the BCCI Harsha de Silva Bradman Museum. Island yesterday, de showed Harbhajan slapped him third player that he met. "He didn't take any step to secretary, said on Monday that The team will Silva praised the without any provocation. The Instead of shaking his hand he restrain him. He has been fined Sudhir Nanavati, a lawyer, has reach Melbourne on May 17 gesture of their Old Boys. “I duo embraced at the end of the actually slapped him and con- 50% of his match fee." been appointed to conduct a where Gale De Kauwe will coor- want to thank Michael Berman hearing after Harbhajan tinued down the line, shaking The ban on Harbhajan "preliminary inquiry" and sub- dinate their stay. The old boys of and the rest of the members of offered an apology in front of hands with the other players." comes as a jolt for Mumbai, mit a report "within 15 days" to Victoria will host the team in the organizing committee for all the cameras. Harbhajan will Farokh Engineer, the for- who have lost all four games so Sharad Pawar, the BCCI presi- Melbourne. And several distin- their support and guidance in not be appealing against the mer Indian wicketkeeper who far in the tournament. "We dent, who will refer the find- guished Old boys now living in making our visit to down under ban. was the match referee, fined don't have a say in matter as far ings to the board's disciplinary Australia will host the team dur- a reality. They have shown a "The referee studied video Harbhajan 100% of his match as the ban is concerned," said committee for possible action. ing their stay in Melbourne. great gesture which is true to tapes of the incident and found fee for Friday's game. He will Tushar Pania, head of corpo- Shah also confirmed that During their stay in their Josephian spirit. Their the assault by Harbhajan was now be paid only for the first rate communications at Harbhajan had replied to the Melbourne St. Joseph’s will play backing is a huge boost for the totally unprovoked. The footage two matches of the IPL. Reliance Industries Limited, board's show-cause notice. "He matches against Mentone Josephian cricket,” said de Silva. exactly showed that Harbhajan Lalchand Rajput, the coach who paid US$111.9 million for has given his reply, but I cannot Grammer Under-19 cricket team (RF) went down the line, wishing all of the Mumbai side, has also the Mumbai franchise. "But it reveal its contents."