GOH half-million bid to protect our HK slot

By T.M.K. Samat

THE Rugby Union has invested Rs.500,000 on the country's preparation for next week's Hong Kong sevens. ''It's the first time the union has spent such a huge sum on preparing a national team,'' said National sevens coach Asanga Seneviratne. ''And the investment is having a healthy impact on the squad.''

For the past fortnight the players have been accommodated and fed steaks and eggs at four-star Grand Oriental Hotel in the Fort, from where they commute to practice and back, twice a day, in vehicles provided by the SLRFU.  ''Modern sevens rugby is all about being stronger and faster than your opponent _ requirements you can't obtain by asking your players to take a bus ride back home or to eat the same the rest of the family consume,'' said Seneviratne. ''Proper preparation is a must. If our approach is going to be half-baked and unprofessional, we're going to be left behind.''

 The union's decision to loosen the purse strings for the preparation of players is, apparently, prompted by fears of losing its invitation to the annual Hong Kong jamboree _ an invitation organizers have handed us since the tournament's inception in 1976. Privately, Hong Kong sources say that Sri Lanka were not on the original list of this year's invitees and interpolated only after appeals by the SLRFU. As the quality of competition enhances, the Hong Kong union periodically reviews the list of competitors to ensure the event's standards are maintained _ more so since joining the IRB's World Series circus in 2000. Consequently, missing from this year's list are such former regulars as Malaysia, Arabian Gulf and Brunei.

 It is fair to say that the writing is on the wall for Sri Lanka: unless they acquit themselves with some distinction this year, the gates to the Hong Kong stadium will be closed to them.

Coach Seneviratne is hopeful of surviving unscathed the Sword of Damocles this week. '' We showed we are another team at the sevens in Thailand and Dubai. We beat Kenya and Belgium _ and they weren't weak teams. And also, performed beyond expectations against Wales, Scotland and Portugal,'' said Seneviratne. ''We lost to Wales only in the last seconds, 28/21.''

He gave further evidence of Sri Lanka's improvement: an aggregate of 196 points from Thailand and Dubai. ''In the 10 tournaments previously, I'll be surprised if we've managed 100 points,'' said Seneviratne. '' That we are now scoring more tries is simply because the players are stronger and faster. Earlier they restricted themselves to defending _ and that by itself is sapping. Now with greater fitness they are able to defend and attack. The result is that the players have now the sort of confidence they never had before.''

Sri Lanka will compete in Group A alongside defending champions, the All Blacks, Scotland and Portugal in the qualifying round. Miracles of the type that helps put us among rugby's second-tier countries in the fray for the Plate don't happen in world-class competitions. So, no one expects a team, with just two wins in 14 years of competing, to topple any of its Group A opponents. The battles to be won are in the Bowl event, a competition begun 18 years ago to sustain the interest of the minnows, who otherwise would be mere punch bags for rugby's big brothers. But the Bowl competition isn't getting any easier either. In the recent past teams of the calibre of Japan, Ireland, Portugal and Hong Kong have figured in this third division competition.

Sri Lanka unfortunately has lost two experienced players, Mangala Ruwanthilleke and Sajith Mallikaratchchi, to injuries. But even so, the selectors have bravely left out a clutch of seasoned players and brought in four Hong Kong debutantes. The most exciting young prospect among the four is 18-year-old St Peters and Havelocks flanker, Dilanka Wijeskera, playing as hooker in sevens. ''You probably could compare Dilanka to Angelo Wickremaratne (of the 80s). He is strong and virile; a superb tackler and fast to the breakdowns,'' said Seneviratne.

The team will be led by Kandy SC wing threequarter, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, easily the country's most prolific scorer in recent times. The 12-man squad has five from Sevens champions Kandy SC, three from Havelocks, the runners up, three soliders and a solitary policeman.

The squad: Sanjeewa Jayasinghe (Capt.), Indrajit Bandaranaike, Radhika Hettiaratchchy, Nalaka Weerakkody and Vithanage, (from Kandy SC), Leonard de Zilwa, Lalindra Rodrigo and Dilanka Wijesekera (Havelocks), N H Karunaratne, Sithara Fernando, Nalin Jayasuriya (Army) and Champika Thushara (Police). Coach: Asanga Seneviratne. Manager: Chaminda Rupasinghe.

Let's stand up for Murali

By T.M.K. Samat

ANY doubts about the legality of Muttiah Muralitheran's bowling arm was answered conclusively in 1999 when an advisory panel, specifically appointed by the ICC to scrutinize and pass judgement on suspect bowlers, ruled that the ace Sri Lankan spinner's action is legal.

That decision by the game's supreme authority should've buried the issue once and for all _ unless, of course, the off-spinner since had dramatically altered his action, warranting a fresh examination. More than a few umpires from far and wide, watching from the closest range possible, detected any change. But a certain Mr Bishen Singh Bedi, no umpire he, from some far-off place in the Punjab, presumably comes out from a long period of somnambulism, rubs his eyes, and, lo and behold, sees ''a javelin thrower'' in Muralitheran. Then, with the sort of logic appropriate to mediaeval times, he argues that, just as the blind aren't allowed inside a cockpit, Muralitheran and a cricket ball should be kept unreachably apart of each other _ because of a slight birth defect to his bowling arm. It all smacks of a man in hallucination, and his remarks deserve to be consigned to irrelevance.

But shockingly, Michael Holding says he is ''110 per cent'' in agreement with Bedi. Then Bob Woolmer joins in, and though not quite whole-heartedly in support of Bedi as the West Indian is, he said enough to snowball the issue. Typical of the English, Woolmer called Muralitheran a thrower without directly saying so. (''I doubt that his disability is the sole cause of his bowling action,'' says he). And more recently Pakistan joined the bandwagon, though this looks to be more a livid reaction (than conviction) to a trouncing they hadn't quite expected in the Asian Championship final in Lahore. The Pakistanis, it has to be remembered, have encountered Muralitheran in more matches than one cares to count, but there wasn't ever even a whisper of suspicion from them.

It is unlikely we would've heard the last of this old controversy  ­- and if that had been the intention is...well, depends on which side your persuasion belongs to.

If anything it's Holding and Woolmer, not so much Bedi, who have put life back to an issue long dead. Bedi is virtually a Mr. Nobody in international cricket. But Holding and Woolmer are. Holding is on the Bowling Advisory panel of the ICC and Woolmer, one of its managers. As employees of the ICC, it's unlikely they are unmindful that they ought not to say or do things that could complicate things for their employer. In expressing opinions which, in effect, are contrary to the ICC ruling of 1999 is a down right flagrant violation of ethics. It compels the ICC to disassociate with the views of Holding and Woolmer. To choose to remain non-commital is inviting the wrath of its critics, of whom there are many especially in the Asian region. None more critical than Indian Board president, Dalmiya, who had once unashamedly called for a united Asian front to fight against what he sees as ICC's ''racial biases''. The resurfacing of the Muralitheran issue is placing another stick in Dalmiya's hands; it has the promise of assuming a far more serious dimension _ beyond the technicalities of off-spinner's action. Of that, later.

The timing of the resurrection does evoke suspicion. One has to go back in time to understand the reasons for the suspicion. At the time the ICC-appointed Advisory Panel ruled in 1999 that Muralitheran's action was fair, Sri Lanka cricket didn't quite threaten other Test nations in the way it does now. In 1999 the Lankans had been bundled out in the preliminary round of the World Cup. After that, though some Test series were won, including a historic 1/0 triumph over Australia, there were losses as well. The series loss at the hands of England on home turf was the most disappointing in a list that also included thrashings by Pakistan at home and South Africa away. Clearly, the consistency which make great teams wasn't achieved between the Muralitheran ruling in 1999 and early 2001.

From then one, however, Sri Lanka has transformed into quite another team, whipping out eight successive wins _ over India, the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. All these wins may have been at home, but not many teams have managed to reel off eight wins-in-a-row _ in or out of their backyards. Sri Lanka's superiority in all these triumphs was utterly obvious, as all eight were won with much to spare. As well, Sri Lanka frequently ran up totals in excess of 500 and littered their long triumphant trail with many a broken record. Clearly, signs of approaching greatness were being displayed by the Sri Lankans. Re-confirmation of that promise came last week when Jayasuriya's young men, playing away from their home shores, hoisted win number 9, ruthlessly inflicting an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Lahore, effectively in four days. And as always, the magical arm of Muralitheran played an influential role in all the successes.

Even if one is inclined to not grant any credence to Dalmiya's claims of racial bias, it isn't easy to ignore it either. That the off-spinner's action is questioned at this point of time may be a coincidence. But critics are unlikely to buy that line. They'll point out Sri Lanka's next opponents: England, South Africa and Australia. The last two nations are in contest for the number one status and the first, long in the dumps, is on a promising recovery course. Now Sri Lanka, in a purple patch, has become a serious challenger. This is not to say that an old can of worms is being re-opened with the mischievous motive of destabilizing the ''upstarts''. But then suspicion lingers.

The next World Cup is just about a year away. It is of no small significance that prior to the 1996 and '99 World Cup tournaments Muralitheran was called in Australia. In the wake of these two incidents the ICC made its ruling in 1999 intending to put a permanent end to the issue. So it was until Holding and Woolmer opted to support the out-of-the-blue view of Bedi. Had Holding and Woolmer not held any ICC appointments, their views could've passed over as individual opinions, over which the ICC has no control. But in this instance they do. Thus, by implication, their views can be construed to be that of ICC's.

The Interim Committee of the BCCSL will be justified in questioning whether the view of Holding and Woolmer represents the ICC's? If not, then haven't the two acted unethically by contradicting the ICC's 1999 ruling since no umpire has reported any doubts on the bowler's action? Is there any loss of validity to ICC's ruling of 1999 in the light of comments made by its two employees? If not, then compel the ICC to declare thus to the world before Sri Lanka undertakes its next round of international engagements. It is only fair that Muralitheran and indeed the team should go out for the major battles ahead without fears of being dealt a kidney-punch by some ICC official.

All this, I grant, looks to be heavy-fisted in a sport that resides in a world of decorum and dignity, and where harsh words of controversy are anathema. But then it's only a clear articulation of a justifiable grievance that can defend our cricket and cricketers. Any pussyfooting in the cause of maintaining decorum is only inviting the issue to be tucked under the carpet. It's better to resolve the issue in the privacy of the boardroom than allow it to explode before a crowded stadium. The scenes at the MCG in 1995 and in Adelaide in 1998 and the wrangles that followed didn't do any good to cricket's image.

Said simply: the ICC has to clear the pervading air of suspicion, thanks to the indiscretion of two in its fold. The subject of Muralitheran's bowling action is not the main issue. Rather it is the duo opposing an ICC ruling, accepted universally since 1999. Now that's something more serious than a misdemeanour. This is perhaps the most demanding test the Interim Committee of the BCCSL has had to face_ far more important than explaining why the Taj TV deal is more profitable than WSG Nimbus' or absolving itself of any blame for the t.v. blackout on Sri Lanka's triumph in the Asian Test final. This is a matter of protecting a national treasure.

Khalid conducts grading test

Internationally popular martial arts expert, grandmaster. M. Hassen Khalid, founder of Fei Quan Do Martial Arts conducted a grading test for Orange, Green Blue, Grey & Brown Belts recently, at the St. Josephs College Sports Complex cum auditorium. A large number of members from several clubs, institutes, schools, international schools participated in this event. The grading test was a test in skills, fitness, will power, self confidence, courage and endurance. The participants were tested in exercises, punches, kicks, combination punches and kicks. Free fighting, techniques, katas (Ti-Vous), endurance etc.

The results are as follows.

Brown Belt 1 - M. Nuzky Khalif (Zahira), Brown Belt 3 - A. Usama Naufel (Zahira), Brown Belt 4 - M.R.M. Nihmatullah (Hameed. Al-H), Brown Belt 4 - Chalitha Irandika Mudalige (St. Josephs), Brown Belt 4 - David Carvalho (St. Josephs), Brown Belt 4 - Mrs. K. C. Sudarshnie Gunaratne (Attorney-At-Law-Fort Magistrates Court), Brown Belt 4 - M. Firnaz Basheer (D.S.S.)

Grey Belts.

Miss. Denooja Undupitiya (Colombo International School), Miss. Sithmi Guneratne, M. Raza Najeeb (Zahira), Sheyhan Dunushka Jayawardhana (D.S.S.), Miss. Dorothy Flavia Stanley (J.A.B.), M. Ilyas.A.Irshad (Amal International School), B.H. Amjadeen, S. Bavithran (Hindu College), P. Suntheranathan (Golden Key-Ceylinco), Shafraz Ahamed (Hemas), B.K.H. Wijedasa (Parliament of Sri Lanka), Shifraz Ahamed (Royal College), M. Infas Najeeb (Royal).

Blue Belts

I. Ifthas Ahamed (Zahira), K.L.M. Dharmabandu (Union Assurance), M. Fazil Fariz (Amal International School).

G. Pushpa (Centre for Monitoring Election Violence), M. Tharique Thahasin (Carey), Imthikab Ilyas (Amal International), Hisham Ilyas (Amal International), Isuru Danthila Jayasinghe, (Mahanama), Shehan Pieterz (St. Josephs).

Blue Belts - T. Thineskumar (Hindu College), Chanaka Muththettuwegedara (Royal College Prefect)

Green Belts

Shihan Siriwardhana (Arethusa), M. Sheedh Farook (Zahira), Milhan Ahamed (Amal International School), Danish Yoonus (Amal International School), S. Pandithurai (M.I.C.H.), Miss. Anis Zahida

Orange Belts

Salaf Tegal (Asian International School), Ziharn Refeek, Yitzchak (St. Josephs), Dilip Kumar (M.I.C.H.), Miss. Amanda Dharmabandu (Holy Family Convent), Miss. Manisha Dharmabandu (Holy Family Convent).

According to grandmaster M. Hassen Khalid the National Fei Quan Do Championship Awards ceremony and get-together will take place shortly.

Feik Quan Do classes are held for ladies, gents and children at the C.I.S. 15 A Rohini Road, Wellawatte, St. Josephs Sports Complex cum Auditorium, Darley Road, Maharagama.

M.I.C.H. 115 Dematagoda Road, Maradana with Grandmaster M. Hassen Khalid coaching the students in groups and individual classes.

Bowl was lost and found in '84

By T.M.K. Samat

HISHAM Abdeen well remembers that warm spring evening in Hong Kong 18 years ago. ''I thought we had blown our chances; defeat loomed.'' But as things turned out, Sri Lanka snatched victory from Thailand in the final seconds to take the brand new Bowl trophy, on the prize table for the first time in the 1984 Hong Kong Sevens. It remains the solitary occasion when Sri Lanka entered the winner's enclosure since its participation from the tournament's inception in 1976.  ''I broke out in goose pimples and my feet were above the ground doing the victory lap. The entire stadium stood up and cheered, applauded and threw all sorts of souvenirs at us. It was all so emotional,'' recalled Abdeen, a rugby icon of the 80s and now a garments wholesale dealer.

He picks up the finish of that historic final: ''Thailand was stoutly defending their 10/6 lead in the second half. They had our moves well covered, but Rohantha Pieris managed to break free and was over the goal line. Some of us were already jumping and doing cartwheels in utter joy. But Rohantha, rather than touch down, turned and headed for a spot behind the posts to make for an easier conversion. What we saw next was a nightmare _- a Thai ploughed into him and the ball popped out of his hands. The Bowl too had as good as dropped off our hands, I thought. There wasn't much time remaining,'' recalled Abdeen.

''(But) having smelt victory even for a fraction of a second, the boys were unwilling to accept defeat. Chula Dharmadasa went over for a try (4 points then), but it went unconverted _ 10-all and time was running out. In the final seconds we somehow managed to wrest possession (of the ball) some 40 yards from the Thai goal line and began a move in which at least five players handled the ball. It was all desperate stuff, and CP (Abeygunawardena) finally went over and promptly grounded the ball.'' said Abdeen. ''We had won 16/10, but relief was greater than joy at that moment.''

The celebrations were unbridled. No one kept count of the beer consumed. ''All I remember is that no beer was refused _ San Mig, Carlsberg, Heineken, Fosters, the brand didn't matter, they were all knocked back. And plenty was offered by all and sundry to the first Bowl winners _ not cans and bottles but huge three-litre jugs,'' said Abdeen of the team's doings at the farewell social at the Hilton, then the players' hotel. ''One player couldn't find his way back to his room and unnoticed, sauntered out of the hotel. We realised his absence maybe about 30 minutes later. We dashed out to the streets and found him walking the neon-lit streets of Hong Kong, intoxicated out of his senses. ''

On the field, Sri Lanka had won the admiration of the nearly 20,000 strong in the semifinal of the Bowl when they defeated the big, robust Papua New Guinea team, winners of the Plate competition in 1979. ''The Papuans were extremely physical. They showed a preference to crash through their opponents than run in open spaces. We took the punishment but didn't lose our cool. Our skills and speed won us the game, 10/4 _ and the admiration of the spectators. The stadium were right behind us for the final _ and it would've disappointed us no end had we lost,'' said Abdeen.

The quarterfinal match had been easier: Sri Lanka whipped Brunei, 26/0.

The Bowl event was inaugurated after organisers increased the number of participating teams to 24, from the previously 20. But the qualifying round format was the same: the likes of the All Blacks, Fiji, Wallabies, South Africa are put into different groups alongside the minnows. In 1984 Sri Lanka were drawn with eventual Cup winners Fiji and Asian champions, Japan. ''No one expected us to win and we didn't. But we didn't concede the 60-70 points we do now. We lost to Fiji 26/6 and Japan, 22/6,'' said Abdeen, who led Sri Lanka four times (in 1984, '86, '87 and '93) in his seven appearances at the Hong Kong sevens.  .

His team of '86 and '87, in fact, won through to the Bowl finals. ''In '86 we lost to Papua New Guinea 22/10 and in the next year, Hong Kong beat us, 24/20, in extra time. In those years we were always thought of as one of the favourites for the Bowl,'' said Abdeen. Our performances since have been pale shadows of those during the heady years in the 80s. Since 1987 Sri Lanka has won only two matches, experiencing two long winless spells of six years (88 to 93) and five years (95-2000). The two wins in 14 tournaments came in 1994 over Singapore and 2000, against Arabian Gulf. This dismal record only further burnishes the achievement of Abdeen's team of '84. Old is becoming gold. 

The squad of 1984: Hisham Abdeen (Capt.), Saman Jayasinghe, Chula Dharmadasa, Nalin de Silva, C.P.Abeygunawardena, Hubert Ryan, Rohantha Pieris, Len de Silva and Chandrishan Perera. Manager/Coach: Jeff Ratnam.