•  Future of SLC will ride on the outcome of April 2 election

New govt. must review elected system

By. T.M.K. Samat 

AFTER parliament's shocking dissolution on February 7, it would've surprised no one if the same fate befell Sri Lanka Cricket. After all, the moral right of the present administration to hold office had been seriously questioned for some months, precisely since SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala's alleged infringements of the Immigration and Emigration laws were made public.  So, well before Feb. 7, a strong case had been built for dissolving Sumathipala's committee and, as done to two of his previous committees, replace it with an Interim Committee.

But the UNF government wouldn't terminate the Sumathipala administration, as did the previous government did for lesser reasons, in 1999 and 2001. So, after the night of Feb.7, with his protectors rendered powerless, it seemed only a question of time before the present officials would be shown the door. There was reportedly a move to do just that and appoint Arjuna Ranatunga as Competent Authority. Nothing has come to pass, though - and thankfully so.

There's little doubt that had the present situation presented itself at a different time the Sumathipala administration would by now have been unceremoniously evicted from Maitland Place. And in classic Sri Lankan tradition, the new officials would then busy themselves searching for any skeletons left in the cupboard by their predecessors, who, in turn would be talking to lawyers preparing the ground for a comeback. It's the all-too familiar post-dissolution pattern we've seen many times before _ emblematic of the political crosscurrent Sri Lanka cricket swims in.

Knives not drawn

The six-week presence of the Australian cricketers is why a swift dissolution of SLC didn't follow the ending of UNF rule. This doesn't mean it wasn't seriously contemplated _ it was, as much for the harm caused to the good name of SLC by Sumathipala's alleged misdeeds as to exact political revenge. The old PA, now the UPFA, is not likely to have forgotten the part Sumathipala played in toppling their government in 2001. Mercifully though, knives have not been drawn from scabbards.

Nothing could be worse at this point of time than dissolving the Sumathipala committee. You don't have to have exceptional insight to foresee the sort of dither a new administration will be put to, with a six-week tour thrust on them without so much as a day's notice. It would be the height of optimism to think the new officials, all appointed no doubt, would've got a helping hand from their elected predecessors, the ones who had planned the tour up to the point of execution. If anything, they'd rather have kept a safe distance from the old lot out of suspicion of being misled into ridicule. So it was sensible to allow the Sumathipala administration to see out this tour _ and spare a new committee the chaos and confusion in executing a six-week plan they know nothing about.

What after the Australians' tour? The future is filled with all sorts of possibility. But the one that past experience points to as the most likely outcome looks the least likely. Unlike the Sumathipala regimes of 1999 and 2001, this one will survive the full term of a year. After all, it doesn't make any sense to replace the present regime with an interim committee given that SLC's AGM must compulsorily be held before the March 31 deadline - just two days after the Australians' end their tour.

It is no secret that a lot will ride on the outcome of the April 2 general elections. The nominations for the SLC elections yet remain unknown, except that trouble-torn Sumathipala won't be in the race. But his men will. And that means his influence over the game will stay intact. One doesn't have to be a Nostradamus to predict that, if the UPFA wins out, the committee of Sumathipala's men wouldn't be around for long. More than anyone else, his friend-turned foe and now UPFA member Arjuna Ranatunga will ensure that. It would be another story, however, should a group outside Sumathipala's win control.  But the man's support among clubs is so strong, few doubt Sumathipala's loyalists would fail in their re-election bids. That no names other than those from the Sumapthipala camp are being mentioned as candidates is an acknowledgment that Sumathipala's clasp on the administration is so vice-like, challenging him or his men would be an exercise in futility. Ask Ranatunga.

More hopeful

Things, however, would be more hopeful should the UNF retain power. It is his clout with the UNF that safeguards his position at SLC and SLT during the continuing turbulence. In the event UNF wins out there's little reason to believe that patronage of protection won't continue. In that situation, it is not beyond him to maneuver back as SLC chief. That, after all, is the idea of packing the SLC, top to bottom, with his men.

With such apparent near-future scenarios, you need hardly be reminded that cricket administration is up to its nostrils in politics. Clearly, SLC is becoming anything but administrators of cricket. Increasingly it is beoming a permanent pawn on politics' chessboard. Whichever government assumes power in April ought to take a few steps back and see cricket for what it is.

It has by far been the country's best image builder. It is Sri Lanka sport's golden goose, earning huge foreign exchange. It is self-financing and places no strain on government coffers, as all other sports do. All this was achieved because it was left in the hands of people with genuine interest in the game _ until, of course, the World Cup was brought ashore in 1996.  Since then the Maitland Place headquarters has been become the residence of Brutuses. Add to that, successive Sports Ministers could scarcely keep their paws off the rich and prestigious SLC. Simply said, cricket administration has gotten far too politicized for its own good.

The temptation of governments to have some sort of control over SLC is understandable, though inexcusable, given the game has a huge following. It is fertile ground for politics and votes. But it is fraught with dangers too. It is obvious that the extraordinary tolerance UNF showed to the multitude of allegations against Sumathiapala is not likely to do its popularity any favours. The then PA Sports Minister, S B Dissanayake's special treatment of Sumathipala gave the then government a bad name.

What is most depressing is that there doesn't seem to be a way out of this quagmire. Unless, of course, our cricket hits the pits, loses its public appeal and coffers get empty. But no one wishes such a fate to befall on the only thing the country can be proud of, though, it is one way of removing the cancer of politics. There are other ways too. The interim committees of Rienzie Wijeratne and Vijaya Malasekera suggested alternatives, which this column has dwelt on more than once before.

At the root of the excessive politicization is no doubt the elected system. Things were a lot cleaner in the spacious, calm days before Test status. The game was administered by generous benefactors, as there was no money to be had from the game. Only those genuine to the interests of the game, with time and money to spare, sought, or persuaded, to office. These days, however, election to the board means quite another thing: money, London meetings, business-class travel, in short, the good life. With such a spread, the invasion of all and sundry is not surprising; neither is it surprising that the game has had to endure quite some unholy experiences, including a violent AGM and now allegations of links with the underworld.

System is flawed

It is thus pertinent to ask if the game has benefited from the elected system. Any claims that it has is more rhetorical than factual. If it had been, then, cricket administration would not have been assailed with the unending problems it has, especially after 1996. But then, any moves to rid the elected system won't get universal approval, though, there's a good case for converting SLC into a incorporated company of nine appointed directors, as recommended by the Malasekera committee. The Wijetilleke committee suggests that, while retaining the elected system, it recommends the introduction of a superior body, consisting of past presidents and Ministry appointees, which the elected committee would have to answer to.

The two interim committee recommendations offer useful food for thought. The government in power after April 2 is advised to think afresh on cricket's future. The present system clearly is flawed. Nor are interim committees the most acceptable. There are many honest and well-meaning officials who sit on the outside because the inside is noxious. Without them, cricket administration will continue to be directed down politics' river of no return.

•  70th Battle of the Saints - 'the Joe-Pete'...

Desperate plea to end 25 - year hoodoo

By Sunil Thenabadu 

The 'Joe-Pete,' the two prestigious Catholic schools in the country, will clash, once again in their 70th inter school cricket encounter at the P.Sara Stadium on 27 and 28 February. The traditional rivals are meeting once again for the Very Rev.Fr.Maurice Legoc Memorial trophy, since its inception in 1933. Play will commence on each day at 9.30 a.m.

Head to head Josephians lead the victory tally with 11 wins to the Peterites 07 with 51 encounters have been drawn. Some of course have provided exciting thrilling finishes. The authorities of both schools in a desperate attempt to end the barrier of the long spate of drawn encounters, since the Peterite victory in 1978 under the captaincy of Suraj Abeysekera, has introduced special playing rules, from the year 2000.

Abiding by these rules both sides in their respective 1st innings could bat only upto a maximum of 60 overs, and a minimum of 105 overs have to be bowled on day one and 110 overs on day two with the mandatory overs to commence at 4.35 p.m.  The umpires would be very strict on wide deliveries and on negative tactics. The side batting second could be enforced to follow-on at the end of the allotted 60 overs if they trail by 100 runs even with wickets intact.

On paper Josephians have a more fancied team, occupying a top position in the points table in the premier school cricket Elephant Lemonade trophy tournament having won four of their matches outright. The Peterites, however, occupy a much lower position with 3 outright victories.  Unfortunately both teams have been deprived of the services of two of the most consistent and experienced players.  Peterite skipper and stumper Gihan de Silva and Josephian key all rounder Angelow Mathew have been picked by the SLC to represent SL under 19 team for the mini world cup, which is currently held in Bangladesh.  Dinesh Panditharatna has taken over the reins as the acting skipper while Dasun Randika is deputising for the skipper as the reserve wicket keeper.

Peterite left arm orthodox leg spinner, the unassuming Sohan Borelessa captured all 10 Wesley wickets for just 30 runs in 19.3 overs this season which was an extraordinary bowling feat in the annals of inter school cricket. An all-10 wicket, haul was previously taken by Benedictine Lionel Fernando in the late 1950's against St.Anne's Kurunegala. Mahindian skipper Somasiri Ambawatta also achieved this feat bowling left arm orthodox leg spin in the big match against Richmond College in the early 50's.  It is pertinent to mention that Lionel Fernando completed an impeccable double by scoring 204 n.o. while Ambawatta followed his all ten wicket haul with a ton.

In this series of big matches only the celebrated Peterite cricketer Clive Inman has scored a double hundred.  His hurricane knock of 204 n.o. in 1954 is still the highest score which is yet to be beaten for five decades.  Another noteworthy feat worth recalling is the twin centuries made by the Peterite batsman Rohan Buultjens in 1979.  The highest partnership of 219 runs is held by the Josephian ninth wicket pair of Fred Perera 114 n.o.and D.Arndt 110 as far back in 1934 exactly 69 years ago.  In the long history of this series S.Warnakula of St.Josephs has recorded the best bowling analysis of nine wickets for 41 runs in the recent encounter in 1997.  In this match Warnakula had a match haul of 14 wickets for 113 runs.  In this long series only 24 batsmen have scored centuries, 14 of them being Peterites.

It is regretful to note that even in spite of introducing new playing rules by the related authorities of both schools, with a view to producing a result since year 2000, still the spate of drawn games has continued in the same vein. Hence the captains of the two teams should deploy positive innovative strategies to end the 25-year hoodoo of drab drawn encounters at-least in this year's big match.

Malaysia, Sepang Formula 1 Circuit official test days 

A hot and humid environment greeted the Porsche Carrera Cup teams at tne Sepang circuit in Malaysia for the officiai test days of Carrera Cup 2004. There were 17 cars lined up with their official sponsor logos and with many exciting designs and various coiour combinations.

A brand new car entered with a cost of Rs. 55 miilion of team IWS sponsored by IWS Holdings was one of the best looking cars with blue strips IWS logos and the Sri Lankan flag with the Sri Lanka logo.

Dilantha Maiagamuwa, the racing driver drove the car on tne track for the first time and obtaineci a timing of 2.23.528 and returned to the pits to adjust the technical settings for his requirement. Thereafter he was in and out of the track completing a total of thirty four laps for the first day's official test practices gaining a best time of 2.20.079. The best timing of the day was 2.16.682 of Charies Kwan from Hong Kong who was also last years Carrera Cup Asia Champion.

Day 2

On day 2 Dilaritha was more confident in handling the car and further he lowered the suspensions for more groups and still continued with the previous day's tyres and the morning session ended with an excellent timing of 2.19.009. The afternoon session commenced at 9.30 pm and Ditantha was out on the track with a brand new set of tyres and a very well balanced.,car, Dilantha ended the fast day's session completieng 14 laps gaining a best timing of 2.17.832 concluding the second day of official tests at Sepang.

Dilantha was the fourth faurest out of the 14 drivers who took part in the official two days of testing. First race for the season 2004-will be held on 20-21 March together with the Formula 1 at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Sri Lankans must go for the jugular 

By Mahinda Wijesinghe 

Today, 22 years ago - 22 February 1982 - should have been the fifth and final day of Sri Lanka's inaugural Test match, played against England. Instead, the match was lost on the previous day by 7 wickets when Sri Lanka, in their second innings, lost their last seven wickets for eight runs off 68 balls. Incidentally, this game was the last of England skipper Keith Fletcher's 59 Test appearances and the only victory under his seven-match tenure of captaincy. Though it is water under the bridge, it still is a mouth-watering dream if only Sri Lanka, having dominated that Test, did not lose the grip on the game at the crunch. A win in the first-ever Test - what a feeling to savour! No doubt inexperience was the crucial factor that cost Sri Lanka a well-deserved win. Hopefully, the Sri Lankans are now a hardier lot.

People in glass houses

Today, however, the Australians, the best side in the world in both forms of the game, are our guests and the home team will need a lot of experience and skill to stall the tourists. As you read this the first of the five One-day Internationals would already have been completed at Dambulla. Beating the currently high-riding Australians is the ultimate for any team. The advantages Sri Lankans have are home conditions and crowd support not forgetting of course the absence of the Australian media that would normally blow/create situations to upset the morale of any touring team to their country. No wonder Muralitharan once swore he would never tour Australia. If it is not about illegal actions they are bound to rake up an issue concerning the umpiring. They have conveniently forgotten that 'chuckers' such as Meckiff, Burke, Rorke, Tretheway, Hitchcox et al, and umpires Mel McInnes, who almost ruined the 1960-61 West Indies series and Steve Randall, jailed for immoral conduct, are Australians. People in glass houses should not.

The Australian trump card

The tourists have an awesome batting line-up capable of scoring at 5-6 runs an over in either forms of the game, and therein is their trump card. This not only demoralizes the opposition but also gives enough time for their bowlers to get the opposition out. The batting potential of the likes of Hayden, Ponting, Gilchrist, Martyn, Bevan and Symonds makes the prospect of chasing even a total of 300 plus in a limited-overs game a distinct possibility. Remember the practice game at Moratuwa the other day? They chased and overhauled a total of 283 with 5.5 overs to spare after three batsmen had retired! The bowling of pacemen Lee, Gillespie and Harvey form a lethal trio while Brad Hogg would provide the specialist spin. Symonds, Clarke and Bevan are capable of sharing the balance overs. Their fielding, with skipper Ponting providing the inspiration, has always been impressive though they did falter a bit against the touring Indians in the last series when they were unexpectedly put under pressure.

Go for their jugular

Therein lies the answer. The Australians will, as is their wont, attempt to apply pressure from Day 1 to assert their superiority. Fair enough. The Sri Lankans, in turn, must fight fire with fire. In other words, go into each game with a positive frame of mind - not with only words at press conferences. 'Go for their jugular' should be the motto. At the end of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar series, a patronizing member of the Australian media asked Indian skipper Ganguly: "Didn't your team exceed all expectations?" Pat came the answer: "It depends on whose expectations you are referring to. We had expected to compete." The Indians were expected to surrender meekly in the Australian backyard but their feisty captain showed them the way. For instance, at the end of a rain-affected Day 1 of the First Test, Australia had built an imposing total of 262/2. The local media were, as usual, in their element. One tabloid screamed jubilantly: "Indian Summer Over". But the Indians hit back tumbling the last 8 Australian wickets for a meagre 61 runs. Then the tourists, in reply, were in a flat spin themselves at 62/3. That is when skipper Ganguly (144) pulled them round with an innings of typical skill and courage under fire enabling the tourists to gain a first innings lead of 86 runs. The match ended in a draw but the Indians showed the mettle they were made of, a trait they displayed right through what must be considered the best Test series since the Australia vs West Indies series of 1960-61. The Sri Lankans must draw inspiration from the Indians. That the Australians are a very professional all-round is true but that they are invincible has been proved a fallacy by the Indians in the Australian backyard itself.

Muralitharan, Muralitharan, Muralitharan.....

The tourists would have to contend with the enervating heat and nemesis Muralitharan - as is the international practice - on slow, turning pitches prepared by the hosts. Unfortunately, except for the reliable pace of Vaas there is hardly any paceman and no genuine spinner in support. Haven't you read/heard those lines before?! We hear a lot about pacemen coming down the assembly line, however, hardly anyone seems to be partnering Vaas from the opposite end for too long. Where spinners are concerned the selectors have continued to be quite happy with Muralitharan, Muralitharan, Muralitharan, Muralitharan and Muralitharan.

Banter, yes. Personal abuse, no.

Foul conduct by word, euphemistically termed 'sledging', a practice specialized by the Australians, is bound to occur and the match referee will have his hands full. Players need not conduct themselves as zombies on the field. I am sure the ICC did not draw up the 'The Preamble - The Spirit of Cricket' in the Laws of Cricket to prevent players from having a bit of banter. It is the foul, personal abuse that they are attempting to eradicate; professionals should not transgress their code of conduct and thereby bring disrepute to their chosen profession.

Lalith Kumara reigns supreme 

Top Lankan Amateur BG. Lalith Kumara turned in a dominating performance to demolish the promising South African Matthew Kent in the final of the Eveready 103 rd All India Amateur Golf Championship, the second oldest golf tournament in the world after the British Open which concluded at the par - 72 Royal Calcutta Golf Club recently

The 25 year old Lalith Kumara was in amazing form, winning by seven holes with six to spare in the gruelling 36 hole final to reclaim the premier Amateur title of the region, which he last won in 2001 at the Chandigrah Golf Club.

Despite making a double bogey, Lalith Kumara was five under for the 30 holes he played at the tough Royal Calcutta lay out. He received the trophy for the second time in his career from B.M. Kaithan, Chairman Eveready Industries, the title sponsors of the tournament.

This is one of the happiest moments of my career. I am very happy to have regained the title. It is even more satisfying for me because I have played some very good golf. I expected it to be a tough fight against Matthew, and he played pretty well. But I think I played much better today." said the elated Colombo based played, who plans to turn pro after winning the 2006 Asian Games Gold Medal for his country.

In the morning Kent began in brilliant fashion when he drilled his second shot to less than three for a birdie on the opening hole to go one- up. But that advantage was negated on the very next hole, the par - 3 where Lalith Kumara sank his ten - feet birdie putt to restore parity.

Both halved the third with bogies, the fourth with birdies and the fifth with pars, before Kent went one - up again on the sixth when the Lankan made a bogey from the greenside bunker. But it was back to all square when he hogtied the very next hole.

The match went all- square till the 12th hole before Lalith Kumara floored the accelerator. On the long and difficult par 3 13th, he sank a massive 35 feet putt from the apron for a birdie to go one up and increased the advantage when Kent bogied the next hole. They halved the 15the with birdies and Lalith Kumara went three - up when he conned a ten footer for birdie on the 16th.

In the afternoon session he increased the lead by two when Kent lost the third and fifth with bogies. A birdie on the sixth virtually sealed the issue for Lalith Kumara on the sixth. Even though he lost the eighth by making a soluble bogey there, Lalith Kumara closed the match in style by winning the tenth and 11th holes with birdies.

Ananda - Nalanda Media clash 

The cricket encounter sponsored by the National Lotteries Board for the fifth Battle of the Maroons for the Premakeerthi De Alwis trophy between the Ananda Mass Media Circle and the Nalanda Media Forum, will be worked out at the Mercantile Service Cricket Grounds Colombo 7, commencing at 9.30 am on Saturday 28 February.

The Ananda Mass Media Circle will be led by Roshan Watawala while the Nalanda Media Forum will be captained by Sarada Nanayakkara. The chief guest will be Mr. Deepal Gunarathne, Chairman of the National Lotteries Board.

The inaugural cricket encounter between the mass media circles of Ananda and Nalanda was in the year 2000, which was won by Ananda under the captaincy of Sarath Prematilleke. The next match was won by Nalanda under the leadership of Nalin Aponsu while the third and the fourth matches, which were captained by Sisira Parantantrie and Shan Wijetunge, brought victory to Ananda.

Ananda team: Roshan Watawala (Captain), Upali Arambewala, Sarath Prematilaka, Shan Wijetunga, Sisira Paranatantri, Aruna Kusalasiri, Anusha Sanjeewa, Theja Perera, Sudewa Hettiarachchi, Gayal Buddidasa, Chandima Dharshanath, Sudarman Radaliyagoda, Kingsly Ratnayake and Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

Nalanda team: Sharada Nanayakkara (Captain), Jagath Perera, Prsanna Hennayake, Chatura Vidyaratna, Nalin Aponsu, Kamal Deshapriya, Asiri Mallawarachchi, Dharshana Senaratne, Nilupa Ranaweera, Niroshana Illeperuma and Chamida Roshan.

Sport Fishing Club 

The Sport Fishing Club will be organizing its eighth annual Open Trolling Competition on 21 March. This competition comes on the heels of a very successful competition conducted last year, in which 122 competitors participated in 41 boats with a record catch of over 445 kgs. of fish.

Last year's winners were Shayam Labrooy with a 22.4 Kg. Paraw, second was Shehan Meegama with a 22.2 Kg. Paraw and third Muwazi Thahir with a 17.4 Kg Paraw. This competition is expected to bring in many foreign participants who have shown interest through the club's web site. However, the local anglers will turn out in large numbers to offer stiff competition to their overseas counterparts.

The Sport Fishing Club was inaugurated on 7 April 1989, when a band of ardent anglers got together to promote the sport of angling in Sri Lanka. "Although there had been angling clubs before, no meaningful steps were taken to conduct competitions and evoke the interest of the public. We have now grown to a membership of one hundred and six, and are proud to have been associated in organizing many angling competitions including a "Learn to Fish" campaign, in which our slogan was "Get Hooked on Fishing not on Drugs a spokesman for the club said."

The eighth Open Troll has been drawn up in keeping with international angling rules, and is expected to attract even more competitors than last year from here and abroad. The competition will be flagged off from the Hamilton Canal at 6.30 am on 21 March and all participants must return by 13.30 hrs.

Details of the competition and application forms can be downloaded from the web site www.geocities.com/srilankasport fishingclub or by contacting any of the following.

Dicky Delpachitra 0712-231607, Eraj Fernando 0712-762919, Russell de Rosayro 0712-724844.