8 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 SUNDAY MORNING POST

This Week – A giant giant-killer Alvin Sallay

he annual Hong Kong games before coming back from the programme. And the benefits are Sports Stars Awards are far brink and clinching the sixth and being reaped. away, but to save the final spot available in Toronto – you The latest triumph by the judges trouble, here’s my have to look back to when Lal under-19s adds to Hong Kong nomination for the Best Jayasinghe was coach and give him ’s long list of TTeam of the Year in 2009 – the Hong praise for shepherding these accomplishments in the past year. Kong under-19 cricket team. players through the formative Not only are the senior team the It’s a no-brainer. The teenagers, years. men’s champions of – among led by Jamie Atkinson, returned on Jayasinghe was involved with the associate countries – in the one- Tuesday from Toronto after most of these players as they came day game, the women are also qualifying for the ICC Under-19 up the ranks. He instilled skills and reigning Asian champions. World Cup in New Zealand in nurtured them. It is no coincidence ex-England January. It is a momentous Former Dutch and Hong Kong international Habib has been achievement. international Steve Atkinson, the behind these successes. He can be What Atkinson and company proud father of Jamie, said it was regarded as a lucky coach, one who have done is crossed boundaries Jayasinghe’s involvement at the has providence bestowed on him. and gone where no Hong Kong very outset that had nurtured his Just look at the campaign in team have gone before. Cricket isn’t son, as well as the others. Toronto. Hong Kong were down in the Olympics and a World Cup is “Lal provided the input at a very and out early on – as was Habib, the pinnacle. Even other sports basic level. He was fantastic with who missed the first couple of regard a World Cup as bigger than the kids and set everybody off on games due to a bout of tonsillitis – the Olympics. Football for instance. the road,” Atkinson said. “A lot of but came roaring back with wins Taken in this context, it is a huge credit should go to Lal.” over Uganda and Vanuatu, the triumph for Hong Kong. Many people might not know it, latter bowled out for a record 28 The Hong Kong Cricket but Jayasinghe’s contribution was runs. That win boosted Hong Association can now proudly boast not only about instilling the basics Kong’s run rate and it served them of becoming the first in the players but also taking them well at the end, for despite losing to from Hong Kong to play in a World on a life-changing journey of the United States, they still edged Cup. Neither of the two other most discovery. out the Netherlands and Uganda to popular team sports in this town – Take Hong Kong international clinch the final berth, after the other soccer and rugby – has even come Nadeem Ahmed for instance. The results went Hong Kong’s way. close to achieving this at any level. elder brother of Irfan started out as But luck had no role in the As such, it is worthwhile a paceman. Jayasinghe insisted he triumph, insists Habib. And we mentioning the names of the would be better off bowling spin. agree. South African golfer Gary Towering above. Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro stuns world number one Roger Federer in players who created a little piece of Today Nadeem is one of the best Player once said “the more you history in Toronto. Apart from left-arm spinners in Hong Kong practice, the luckier you get”, and it the US Open final and is then handed the keys to his home town of Tandil, 350km south of Atkinson, the others are vice- and is plying his trade in league was this mantra that Habib instilled Buenos Aires. More than 40,000 people, a third of the population, welcome home the 1.98- captain Irfan Ahmed, Niaz Ali, Aizaz cricket in England. in the players. Khan, Zuaid Khan, Ashish Ghadia, It goes to show the importance “A lot of it was down to metre 20-year-old, who became the first South American to win a US Open since compatriot Aditya Kanthan, Nizkhat Khan, of having a strong development determination. They believed in Guillermo Vilas in 1977. Photo: AFP Waqas Barkat, Shivang Baid, Vihash themselves,” said Habib, an out- Gope, Gurjant Singh, Asif Khan and and-out optimist. “The turnaround Kinchit Shah. They believed in in our fortunes was due to the They are the future of Hong themselves. The positive qualities they showed.” Monday Tuesday Kong cricket. As HKCA president Atkinson and company now Shahzada Saleem pointed out, turnaround in our stand on the threshold of history. In most, if not all, of these players are January, Hong Kong and the other homegrown. Apart from Atkinson, fortunes was due to five teams that qualified – This is a huge result for Hong Kong. I don’t need to be told when to play they are all ethnic Pakistanis or Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, We have played in the before and when to rest. I am 31, I have Indians. But most were born here the positive qualities Papua New Guinea and the United and have learned the fundamentals they showed States – will join the 10 test-playing but no team has ever played in a played international cricket for 11 years of the game in Hong Kong. nations in the adventure of a “It is not as if they learned the ...... lifetime. Coach Aftab Habib (below) World Cup and know my body’s capabilities game in or and came “It is an opportunity the players ...... here when they were in their 20s,” might never get again,” Habib said. HK Cricket Association president Shahzada Saleem praises the Injury-prone Andrew Flintoff, explaining his decision to turn down a Saleem said. “And it is a great opportunity for Under-19 team’s success in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup new England contract “These are all our own players Hong Kong cricket.” who have come up through the Not only will it be an development ranks. We are proud opportunity to rub shoulders with Wednesday Thursday Friday of them.” the best, but Hong Kong’s presence While coach Aftab Habib must in New Zealand will also raise our take a major share of the credit for profile in the world game. guiding and instilling self-belief in Team award? Just pencil in the It’s as if one of his legs is I was just trying to save That stupid poster was the squad – they lost their first three under-19 cricket squad. an adult’s and the other the team. It’s my duty. arrogance, it was is a child’s, very weak That’s the reason I’ve naughty and showed a WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you agree or disagree with what Alvin has to say? E-mail us at [email protected] ...... Coach Sun Haiping describes former finished cockiness Olympic hurdles champion Liu Xiang’s ...... balance problems as he prepares for his Disgraced former Renault F1 boss Flavio Sir Alex Ferguson lashes out at City before comeback from injury Briatore reveals his motivation for cheating today’s showdown after a poster of Carlos Jason Dasey Tevez was displayed, with the slogan “Welcome to Manchester”

Monday Tuesday Wednesday very day, after announced it first-class debut in 1995, and stood thinks about the morning six would not take part because of in his inaugural one-day months ago when he was security concerns, which had earlier international in Sydney in January certain his life was about to been voiced by England, Australia 1999 as Australia played . end on Sri Lanka’s cricket and New Zealand. He was just 28, younger than some Etour of Pakistan. That was seven months before of the players but 10 months older On the way to the Gaddafi the shocking Lahore shooting, than his former schoolboy Stadium in Lahore for day three of which was the first attack on a teammate, Gilchrist, who scored a the second test in March, the world’s national sports team since the century in the match. A decade later, number-one was travelling massacre of 11Israeli athletes and Taufel now has 59 test matches and in a mini-bus behind the Sri Lankan coaches by Islamic militants at the 139 ODIs under his belt. team when a dozen gunmen 1972 Munich Olympics. “I’ve got too much on my plate to opened fire on the convoy, killing Despite his brush with death in be worried about a potential cricket eight people. The driver of Taufel’s Lahore, Taufel says he actually feels career that never took off so I don’t vehicle was one of those who died, sorry that Pakistan will miss out on think about what might have been,” while seven Sri Lankan players – and cricket’s “mini-World Cup”. Taufel said. “I’ve been able to fellow umpire Ahsan Raza – were “I go where the games are but I achieve so much more as an umpire wounded. feel sad for Pakistan losing an than I ever would have as a player.” “I know I’m lucky to be here and important series,” he said. At the ICC Awards night on still on the planet,” Taufel said. “We “However, I understand the reasons October 1 in Johannesburg, ahead of were isolated, left alone and more than most. I’m grateful that the Champions Trophy semi-finals, unaccounted for. I can’t explain why South Africa can now host it and Taufel has again been shortlisted for I’m still here.” pleased that we have a packed Umpire of the Year, an award that The players’ injuries were minor, cricketing calendar in 2009.” he’s won for the last five years. but Pakistani Raza – the TV umpire Hailing from Sydney, Taufel was Despite his longevity and excellence, working with Australians Taufel and once a promising fast bowler who 38-year-old Taufel is still easily the in the test match – played in the same state schoolboys’ youngest of the 12-member elite US Open champion Kim Clijsters and her Chelsea’s Florent Malouda executes a Riders line up in single file during the 17th underwent emergency surgery to team as future Australian players panel, with nine members aged 50 husband, Brian Lynch, share a kiss after bicycle kick in their Champions League stage of the Tour of Spain from Ciudad to repair a collapsed right lung and Adam Gilchrist and Michael Slater and above, including 60-year-old the women’s final in New York. Photo: AFP victory over Porto. Photo: AFP Talavera de la Reina. Photo: AP damaged liver. As the minibus came before a back injury effectively South African . under attack, match referee Chris ended his playing career. He didn’t The frightening experience in the Broad bravely threw himself over plan on an alternative cricket career mini-bus forced Taufel to re-assess Thursday Friday Raza to protect the umpire from until he agreed to help out a friend his priorities. A year earlier, he’d further injury once he realised his by going on an umpiring course. toyed with retirement because of the colleague had been shot. After passing the exam, Taufel many months spent away from his On the Sri Lankan tour coach started officiating in 1991, made his young family back in Sydney. And ahead of them, there were 25 armed then there’s the inescapable scrutiny police commandos, but the match and criticism of umpires – including officials were left on their own in an There have been the “Awful Taufel” headlines in the unprotected minibus, just like British tabloids a few years ago “sitting ducks”, according to former positives to come out during a rocky spell in an England v England test batsman Broad. of Lahore. I have a New Zealand series – that also must “We are determined not to be wear on the mind ever put in that position again,” greater perspective But Taufel has decided to soldier Taufel said. “I was critical of what we on, with no set timetable for were promised in terms of on life and on what is retirement. Ahead of his upcoming protection and safety and what was assignments in South Africa, Taufel then delivered in our hour of need. really important had also officiated this year in I’m confident the ICC and home ...... Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Simon Taufel boards now understand their duty to , and, of course, Pakistan. care over everyone who participates “I’ll continue to officiate while in the game, not just players.” I’m finding it challenging, rewarding This week, Taufel and other and that I’m wanted,” he said. members of the cricket’s elite panel “There have been some positives to England captain Andrew Strauss is struck by a bouncer from Rugby union great Jonah Lomu performs in the New Zealand Body of umpires will be in South Africa as come out of the Lahore experience. Australia’s Brett Lee during the sixth ODI in Nottingham. Photo: AP Building Championships in Wellington. Photo: AFP the ICC Champions Trophy “I have a greater perspective on belatedly gets under way. It was life and on what is really important. originally scheduled for September One thing I would say to anyone: 2008 in Pakistan but was called off give your loved ones a huge hug two weeks before the opening game while you still can.”