Tuesday 31st August, 2010 President Mendis leaves as CEO Dictatorial Nishantha wants eyes top post Former Sri Lanka Zimbabwe Duleep Mendis, who held the position of CEO at Sri Lanka Cricket for the last report six years will leave the job Sri Lanka Cricket officials are today after a successful time under fire to reveal certain incidents running the sport. Duleep during the national cricket team’s was harshly treated by the tour of Zimbabwe where a police current Interim Committee, complaint had been lodged by a who virtually sidelined this woman against a senior player for much respected cricketer alleged sexual assault. due to what could be seen as Top cricket officials had tried to personal gains and last Mendis Nishantha sweep the incident under the carpet, month the Interim but The Island learns that President Committee decided that his cricket governance is that Mahinda Rajapakse called Interim services were no longer he is supposed to have the Committee Chairman D.S. de Silva a required. right political connections. few days ago and requested to submit Nishantha Ranatunga, Apparently some of the a report on the alleged incident. the Secretary of the Cricket moves that he did, like the Sports Minister C.B. Ratnayake Interim Committee, who removal of Mendis, wasn’t has been asked to look into the mat- played a key role in sidelin- even consulted with the ter. ing Mendis is now said to be Minister of Sports, who not Sri Lanka under the leadership of eyeing the post of CEO of too long ago after calling Tillekeratne Dilshan went onto win the board. Ranatunga and co. corrupt, the tri-nation championship in From total obscurity, reinstated them in their Zimbabwe where India were the third Ranatunga rose to be one of positions participant. the powerful cricket admin- So we presume that istrators in the country and Ranatunga may have politi- if someone analyzed the cal connections beyond the way he operates, it could be Minister of Sports, but what Right of reply clearly seen that he’s build- we can’t fathom is, ing up his own empire that Ranatunga having sided ‘Sex and SL would be rock solid. with former President Some always suspected Chandrika Kumaratunga that Nishantha Ranatunga lead up to the 2005 Cricket’ eyed the post of CEO at SLC Presidential Election when for a while now. In the Sri he was the Chairman of – SLC responds Lanka Cricketers’ Rupavahini where he did The above article appearing in the Association when several irreparable damage to sports page of The Island on the 30th of bankrupt cricketers were President Mahinda August 2010 is noted with regret. Our taking up positions Rajapakse’s campaign, how Vice-Captain Mahela Jayawardana, Ranatunga opted for the he could end up in the good who was one of the best captains Sri post of CEO. books of Rajapakses. Lanka has ever produced, has been Then he parachuted into We have throughout accused unfairly in your column. the cricket administration pointed out that unlike the Mahela has done yeoman service to and from thereon, manipu- secretaries of previous Sri Lanka cricket. He has brought lated and maneuvered Interim Committees like K. glory to our mother country; hence it is things to oust Mendis from Mathivanan, S. very unfair to his position. Skandakumar, Mohan de mislead the pub- We would like to point Silva and the late Tryphon lic. out here that the termina- Mirando, Ranatunga is not a Mahela is an tion of services of Mendis person who championed the important cog in Pakistan’s cricket captain Salman Butt, center, leaves the team the CEO and Charith cause of club cricket unlike the wheel for hotel in London, England, Monday, Aug. 30, 2010. Police ques- Senanayake, the Marketing the gentlemen mentioned Manager, came at the same above. The cricket loving our World cup tioned Pakistan players on the weekend after Britain’s News of team. This is a point. Since, SLC has adver- public and the media only time we should the World newspaper alleged that bowlers Mohammad Asif and tised for the post of knew him as a brother of encourage our were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls during Marketing Manger, but has- Arjuna Ranatunga and what players and not Thursday’s opening day of the fourth Test that England went on n’t done so for the post of damage he has gone onto do CEO. We wonder why? to the iconic name of Sri discourage to win by an innings and 225 runs. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) them, instead If the argument of SLC is Lankan cricket, who lifted lift their sprits that they have an additional the sport beyond expecta- so that they can CEO, Ajith Jayasekara and tions. face the big chal- that he would succeed Now having got there lenge knowing Mendis that’s fine as through the backdoor, we for certain that he has the blessings of Jayasekara is an efficient can sense that Nishantha the media and the public. We fixed Asia Cup and honourable man. But let Ranatunga putting all We request you to look at our objec- SLC give us the assurance efforts to remain there on a tive positively by encouraging our play- that from hereon, it will be permanent basis. ers and dwelling upon the past taking Jayasekara who will attend One of his prime targets into account that the World Cup is an the ICC CEO meetings and has been to remain in the important event for Sri Lanka, and it is not Ranatunga, who had good books of India with match against SL: pocketed millions of rupees whom Sri Lanka previously the players that can bring us this glory. We take full responsibility with as revealed by the media adopted a no-nonsense regard to our sponsor sourced by our over the past months while approach in cricket related right holders Somerset Ventures going on those overseas matters. Reports from Entertainment for our provincial team assignments. Zimbabwe where Sri Lanka Wayamba, who will take part in the Arrested bookie We have heard several won a tri-nation series three forthcoming Champions League. stories of Ranatunga’s dicta- months back, suggest that The scandal against Sri Lanka in the Asia Mohammad Amir and Mahela Jayawardana, Ajantha torial attitudes while run- one senior player misbe- involving Pakistani cricketers Cup, which was about two Mohammad Asif and - Mendis, Rangana Herath and Jehan ning cricket. Only last week haved and brought the name has begun to reveal more months ago. And you get a keeper as Mubarak attended the Q and A session he threatened a senior of the country into disre- details with the arrested book- script as well, (such as) this cheats who worked with the for team Wayamba at our request. We employee of the board that pute. However, the board ie saying even bowler is going to concede this fixer. assure you that they did not endorse he would sack him when he didn’t penalize the player. the Asia cup match between many runs, this batsman will Salman Butt was bowled for the product which you have termed as reports to work on Monday. However, when the same Pakistan and Sri Lanka in do this,” the match fixer who zero in the Asia cup match by a sex enhancer. Someone needs to remind player was involved in com- June this year was fixed. was arrested yesterday was Lasith Malinga while Sri Lanka Cricket has been accused Nishantha Ranatunga that paratively a minor offence ‘The News of the World’, quoted as saying. Mohammad Asif went for 55 of accepting the sponsorship from an cricket administration is recently, Ranatunga person- which exposed the massive In the Asia cup match at runs off the 9 overs he bowled organization that is marketing sex not his family business. He’s ally called up the Indian match fixing scandal over the Dambulla Sri Lanka and Mohammad Amir 57 runs enhancing products. The product is a just a temporary employee team manager to apologize weekend, has now quoted first scored 242 runs for the off his 10 overs. herbal medicine which has been identi- serving in a committee and the player was handed a Mazhar Majeed as saying that loss of 9 and Pakistan The 35-year-old fixer was fied as an health enhancer by the that’s meant to be interim. hefty fine as well. he usually fixes specific details were bowled out for 226 runs in arrested by Scotland Yard police sports body of the Commonwealth All the more reason for us to Nishantha Ranatunga of a game and not the whole the 47th over and lost the on Sunday after being filmed Games in India and has been recog- believe that he looks for made no impact as an inter- result but the Asia cup match game. accepting 150,000 pounds in cash nized by ISO as a health product. something beyond interim. national cricketer, but in the involving Sri Lanka was fixed. The newspaper named in the undercover sting conduct- Sports Editor’s note As we have mentioned lucrative field of cricket “We don’t do results that Pakistan’s new captain, ed by the News of the World. We totally agree with the quality of time and again, the only administration nowadays, often. The last one we did was Salman Butt, top bowlers Times Now Mahela Jayawardene the batsman and qualification Nishantha he seems to be hell bent on if anyone is capable of providing the Ranatunga has got to be in making a big impact. match winning performances of Aravinda de Silva in that historic 1996 World Cup, it has to be Mahela. However, we maintain that the trend of cricketers putting dollars before the Former ICC chief calls for Pakistan team ban country started in the era Mahela Jayawardene headed the national BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - England went on to win by an innings and it's very graphic." picture," Vaughan said. "We hope to be team. Some of the demands he put up Allegations of a match-fixing scandal and 225 runs. Former England captain Michael able to make a statement within the next while captain to increase the players’ involving Pakistan has the country's Malcolm Speed, an Australian who Vaughan said on Twitter that he antici- couple of days." match fees from 3500 US$ to 5000 US$ future tours in doubt, led to a call by a was the chief executive of the ICC from pated action against the players involved. Any player found guilty of involve- (Tests) and from 1750 US$ to 3500 US$ former International Cricket Council 2001-2008, said Monday he was concerned "I don't see how they can get out of ment in match fixing faces a life ban (ODIs) overnight by meeting President chief for a team ban and renewed suspi- by what "looks a fairly compelling case" this one," Vaughan said. from the sport. Mahinda Rajapakse was in bad taste. cions over a test match it played in of rigged betting and called for a team New Zealand Cricket chief executive Pakistan lawmaker Iqbal Mohammad The issue is not the payment, but the Australia in January. ban. Justin Vaughan told The Associated Ali, who also heads the lower house's manner in which it was done. Mahela Police questioned Pakistan players "I think that's (suspension) an option. Press on Monday his organization could standing committee on sports, called for Jayawardene seeking political patron- on the weekend after Britain's News of It's serious," Speed said. not immediately comment on the allega- the players in question to be sacked from age at the hour of need but at other the World newspaper alleged that "It looks as though it is endemic that tions against Pakistan players or discuss the team ahead of scheduled limited- points getting his agent to influence bowlers Mohammad Asif and several of the team members are ramifications for its future tour schedule. overs games against England. the British media to lambast other sen- Mohammad Amir were paid to deliber- involved and have been for some time. So Pakistan is scheduled to tour New "Whosoever is involved should be ior players when they seek political ately bowl no-balls during Thursday's perhaps they need a rest. The News of Zealand in December. banned for life," he said. "All those who assistance is simply not cricket. opening day of the fourth test that the World do this sort of thing very well "We're waiting until we get a clearer are suspected should be sent back home."

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