Tuesday 20th January, 2009 Cricketers escape unhurt from SL has more confidence riot in India PATNA, India (AP) - Indian test crick- eters Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir escaped unhurt Monday from a riot during the prize-giving ceremony of a twenty20 tournament. Sehwag and Gambhir were among than Pakistan – Malik the players escorted by police when fans KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan hurled stones during a clash with the captain Shoaib Malik believes Sri Lanka security staff, Press Trust of India news will be at an advantage in their three- agency reported in quoting Patna police match one-day series starting Tuesday chief Anwar Hussain. because it has played more recently. The rioting occurred when fans Pakistan has played just three one- scaled the iron-mesh fence and jumped day internationals against the West onto the field to get near the cricketers. Indies since hosting the Asia Cup last The police used batons to hit the fans, June, while Sri Lanka has hosted India who then began throwing stones that and played Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in resulted in two policemen being injured, the past six months since successfully PTI said. defending its Asia Cup title. “They have an advantage of playing more international cricket and have SL-Pakistan greater confidence levels than us,” Malik said Monday. After back-to-back matches in series on Sirasa Karachi on Tuesday and Wednesday, the The three match ODI series between last match will be played in Lahore on Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be live on Saturday. Sirasa TV.Coverage of the first two ODIs, Pakistan played the West Indies at a played in Karachi, begins at 12:30 pm neutral venue in the United Arab while coverage of the third and final ODI Emirates last November because foreign begins at 11:30 am. teams’ security reservations over travel- ing to Pakistan forced the ICC to post- pone the Champions Trophy in September for a year. Marland to Sri Lanka accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s offer to tour and later challenge Clarke as return for two tests in February after India canceled its tour in the wake of terrorist attacks in Mumbai in which at ECB chairman least 164 people died. India believes LONDON (AP) - Businessman and law- Pakistani citizens were involved. maker Jonathan Marland has announced “It’s good that at least we are playing he will challenge under-fire Giles Clarke some cricket at home,” Malik said. to become chairman of the England and Malik concedes that Sri Lanka has Wales Cricket Board. Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis warms up during training. the best spin attack in the world with Clarke, who has been chairman for Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah “He is an asset of Pakistan,” Malik internationals. Sri Lanka (from): Mahela two years, has been criticized for the tur- Muralitharan, but believes his batting said. “I’m sure you will see a difference “That will be great if he gets to that Jayawardene (captain), Sanath moil surrounding the England team lineup can cope. tomorrow, if he plays.” in three ODIs,” Jaywardene said. Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar which led to coach Peter Moores being Sangakkara, Thilan Thushara, Chamara “I think Pakistan plays better Sri Lanka captain Mahela “There’s no added pressure on him to do fired, star batsman Kevin Pietersen quit- Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina against Mendis than any other team in Jayawardene is happy his team had been it here, but if it happens we will cele- Kandamby, Muttiah Muralitharan, ting as captain and a heavy defeat in the the world,” Malik said. “We have a playing so much in the past six months. brate just like we have celebrated other Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, much-criticized, winner-take-all $20 mil- game-plan for the series.” “For our part, playing on the road is records as a team.” Nuwan Kulasekera, Farveez Maharoof, lion Stanford Twenty20 series in Antigua Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has good,” Jaywardene said. “If they Teams: Dammika Prasad, Angelo Mathews. in November. not played a one-day international for (Pakistan) are rusty then it’s fine, but if Pakistan (from): Shoaib Malik (cap- Umpires: Nadeem Ghouri, Pakistan, The 52-year-old Marland, who said the more than a year due to fitness and dis- they are not we have to be prepared for tain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt, and Nigel Llong, England. image of English cricket had been badly ciplinary problems, is in Pakistan’s 15- that.” Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran TV umpire: Ahsan Raza. damaged during Clarke’s time in charge, Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, man squad. But Malik wouldn’t say Muralitharan needs only nine wick- Match referee: Chris Broad, believes he has plenty of support to oust Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal, England. whether Akhtar will be in the starting ets to break Wasim Akram’s world Sohail Khan, Yasir Arafat, Umer Amin. him in an election, which should take 11 on Tuesday. record of 502 wickets in limited-overs place within the next two weeks. Dialog takes over cricket team sponsorship Federer starts pursuit of by Manjula D. Phillips Dilmah Tea’s crafty marketing strate- 14th Grand Slam gy of becoming the sponsor of the national cricket team for a fantastic sum paid them rich dividends as they were MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Roger flashes went off every time he hit a shot. able to market their product in countries Federer took the first step toward his “Whose house? Roger’s house!” one where cricket was popular effectively. record-tying 14th Grand Slam title with a fan roared. The Sri Lankan tea company caters more 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory Monday over Federer, who has won three titles to overseas consumers and through the Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open. here, was clearly focused on proving that cricket deal, the name Dilmah became Federer, seeking to match Pete fan right. common in many countries. Some say the Sampras’ mark, was at his best on the big The Swiss star fended off all 10 of impact was such that although the points on the opening day as almost all of Seppi’s break points. He had one stretch Aussies, Poms and the Kiwis struggled to the favorites avoided upsets. But it rarely in the first set that had the fans gasping pronounce Jayasuriya and was easy for even the top players in the and left Seppi with a look that said: Muralitharan, they never had an issue year’s first Grand Slam. “What can I do?” with Dilmah. “He is a very tough customer, he Now, Dialog Telekom, the biggest played really well,” Federer said of the mobile operator in the country have 35th-ranked Seppi. “I think I played well, signed up with Sri Lanka Cricket at a too. I had to.” time when they are facing stiff competi- Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, the women’s tion from rival companies and there runnerup here last year, had 10 mistakes couldn’t have been a more effective way just in the first five games but managed to to appeal to the Sri Lankan audiences. advance with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over 107th- Dialog has existing personal con- Nushad Perera, Group Chief Marketing Officer – Dialog Telekom PLC, hands over the offi- ranked Julia Goerges, who was even tracts with Sri Lankan great Sanath cial team jersey to S. Liyanagama, Competent Authority of Sri Lanka Cricket. Gamini more erratic. Jayasuriya and rookie spinner Ajantha Top-seeded Jelena Jankovic, short on Lokuge, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation is in middle. Mendis, but the real bonus is that some- match practice after illness hampered one like Kumar Sangakkara, who has a who will be involved with the board till companies coming forward to sponsor preparations for her pursuit of a first personal contract with a rival telecom- the 2011 World Cup and is expecting a our national team. It’s a shame. We have Grand Slam title, had 27 winners to just munications company too will have to be sum of 4 million US$. a full calendar of games this year,” four for No. 104 Yvonne Meusburger involved in promotional activities by Dilmah signed for a sum of 3.5 million Lokuge said. while winning 6-1, 6-3. wearing match and practice kits that US Dollars in 2001 for a period of three Dialog’s contract with SLC ends on The other Serbian star, defending sport the Dialog logo. years and then renewed their contract for March 31st. men’s champion Novak Djokovic, started The deal is a temporary one that will a further period of three years by paying “We will consider extending the spon- strong then had to rally from service run for three months which will include a sum of 2 million US Dollars sorship if the business climate improves breaks in the last two sets - he was down Sri Lanka’s current ODI tour to Pakistan Minister of Sports Gamini Lokuge, and our team performs well in the 4-0 in the third - to oust Andrea Stoppini and the Test tour later and the home ODI addressing the media thanked Dialog for upcoming tours,” said Nushad Perera, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. series against India and Zimbabwe. coming forward to sponsor the team at a Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Second-ranked Federer is a huge fan Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns the ball According to sources, Dialog paid financially difficult period. “The global Telekom. favorite here, and Rod Laver Arena was during a training session at the Australian SLC a sum of Rs.