ARJUNA Ranatunga's off-the-cuff opinions might raise the hackles of many, but that doesn't mean all what the man says is intemperate drivel, like his exotic comparison of Twenty20 to "instant noodles," was. His distaste for cricket's current rage is obvious as it is intense, and it's unlikely that he's over and done with deriding the game's newest invention.

 It was, so, no great surprise that he blamed India's thrashing at the hands of Sri Lanka in the first of three Tests last week on the country's obsession with T20. He told the Indian Express "They (India) dealt with this (the first Test) like a T20 game. I think they were not prepared for Test Cricket." He warned "Focusing on Twenty20 is a short-term thing . and if the game is not protected, we are in for a major disaster."

It doesn't need much prompting for one to conclude Ranatunga's opinion on India's defeat is coloured by his prejudice against T20. True or not, there are however some valid facts that support the opinion of the chief of Sri Lanka cricket. It is difficult to accept that a batting lineup that is arguably the world's best is bowled out twice in roughly four sessions only because of the brilliance of the opponent's bowlers. The two Ms were splendid, but not beyond coping; nor were there hidden demons in the pitch.

Psychological hangover

What then went wrong with India's powerful batting lineup? Mendis' six in the Asia Cup final not many days before probably left the visitors with a psychological hangover. And over-engaged as they were in deciphering the debutante, Tendulkar, Dravid and co. tended to take the old hand for granted - and so got into deep trouble.

To overcome the troubled situation India were in throughout last week's Test required patient resolve, the sort Laxman and No.11 Sharma displayed in holding out together for more than an hour in the first innings. But patience to ride out a crisis isn't a virtue in T20 as opposed to Test cricket, where it is cardinal. Ranatunga, so, is justified in pointing out that India had approached the Test with a T20 mindset and "were not prepared" for the five-day grind. Or to say it another way: undone, responding to T20's natural urgings.

Of India's six specialist batsmen top-scorer Laxman's first innings of 162 minutes was the longest - and that he wasn't a part of the IPL Twenty20 carnival of three months ago tells quite something.  Proponents of T20, however, might point to one of IPL's batting stars Gambhir's 126-minute 43 in the second innings, next best to Laxman in quantum and longevity, to counter the view that T20 corrupts Test cricket, the burden of Ranatunga's song. But the manner of the left-hand Indian opener's dismissal was straight out of T20 - stranded and stumped while making a charge down-pitch to strike the ball back of beyond.

Worst ever defeat 

There's a lot more evidence from the SSC Test to suggest that the instincts of Twenty20 might've caused India's worst-ever defeat on Sri Lankan soil - and that was as good a reason as any for Ranatunga to bad-mouth Twenty20. It was his day.

As chief of the Cricket Board though, he might've exercised the restraint of a diplomat. The BCCI, understandably, doesn't take lightly any criticism of T20 cricket. After all, its hugely successful inaugural IPL has pretty much come to be accepted as the showcase of cricket's newest invention. And the chief of SLC, for the sake of good neighborliness, might've commented more prudently, like dwell on his country's winning performance, MM and all, than to scornfully blame the defeat on the Indians love affair with its T20 IPL, the pride of the BCCI. 

But Ranatunga, as we all know, knows only one way of making his point - bluntly. And as said before, it's unlikely he's spoken his last words on T20.

One wonders, though, if he's overstretching it. In the immediate aftermath of the SSC Test and his sermon to India on the ills of T20, not coincidentally, did he also make a personal appeal to Sri Lankan IPL-contracted players to make themselves available for a Test series in England next May and give BCCI's second T20, also slated for May, a miss. Before we discuss the implications of that appeal, let's ponder awhile on the appropriateness of the time he chose to make his appeal.

Utterly ill-timed

With the ongoing Test barely begun, to have asked the IPL-contracted players in the national team - skipper Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Muralitharan among them - to respond to such a crucial request is, to say the least, utterly ill-timed and insensitive. 

As much as we'd like to think that the cricketers would be too absorbed in the ongoing battle to worry about an engagement of next year, there's no denying that any issue concerning their IPL future is not something they can easily push out of their minds. Said simply, the cricketers' income will be severely curtailed should they opt out of IPL's second season, given IPL earnings far and above exceeds what they earn from traditional cricket. So, at the core of the appeal by the chief of SLC to the cricketers is a moral question: love of country or money? That takes the issue into realms beyond cricket, placing the players in an extremely awkward position. And crafting a response to the boss is going to be a delicate job - all of which make it unnecessary mental baggage to carry through a Test series.

Free of international commitments

That the issue should surface at all is puzzling. It has to be remembered that the interim committee, at a special meeting in early July, had granted Sri Lanka's IPL-players six-week leave from national duty next May. Not that the IPL-contracted players required IC permission at all. Next May had been free of international commitments and the players duly signed themselves in for IPL season 2. But then Ranatunga, out of the blues, foists a tour of England next May, putting the players in a dilemma - and doubtlessly, instigating a sense of resentment among the IPL players, the backbone of the national team.

Resentment, not just among the players but also a majority of the members of IC, who claim their views on the England tour next year was never sought - meaning it was a unilateral decision of the IC's chairman. Had they been consulted, they claim, a decision would've been taken only after hearing out the concerned players' views.

 Unilateral decision

The upshot: a meeting of all IC members to review Ranatunga's unilateral decision. The IC members, by a majority decision, ruled the players can honour their IPL contracts next May, but would have to be available for national duty the year after. As for the Ranatunga-pledged tour to England, the meeting decided to ask the host for a change of dates or entertain a less than full-strength team - two options that won't cut ice with England. A third option, if there's to be one, would be a job for the two Boards to sort out.  

Ranatunga's personal appeal might be a way of seeking a third option, but whether the other members of IC approve of it isn't hard to guess. As fellow decision-makers, they naturally would want their boss to treat them more than bits of ornaments in office. But Ranatunga's past of my-way-or-no-way, as head of both the country's cricket team and administration, is not likely to change overnight.

It is not exactly a secret that he and many IC members have long been at loggerheads, and differences at the top, it hardly need be said, can destabilise the team itself, as IPL vs. English tour issue threatens to. It's a serious problem - one that cannot be fixed as easily as a meal of "instant noodles".  These are troubled times.

Gowri, first Lady President

By Hafiz Marikar

Former Sportswomen of Good Shepherd's Convent Kandy, Gowri Rajan becomes the first lady president of the Rotary Club of Kandy. Gowri, Director of Sun and Asoka Group of Companies created history by being elected as the first lady and the youngest president of the fourth oldest Rotary Club of Sri Lanka in its 68 year old history.

Gowri is the eldest daughter of former Trinity College sportsmen late T.R.R. Rajan, who was also the President of the Rotary Club in its 5lst year. Her uncle Suri was the President of the club in the 62nd year.  Her grand father P.T. Rajanwas an Educationist, versatile sportsmen, sports benefactor, philanthropist an above all  a fine gentleman. He was the man who introduced Hockey to Kandy.

While in school, at the Kandy Convent she was a fine netballer and  also played hockey. She was also a fine athelete. Presently she gives a big hand for sports promotion.

She was also an active Rotary Annette, a Rotaractor before joining the Rotary Club of Kandy. She was also  the charter President of the Rotract club of Katugastota.

Victoria Medal Series

Jyothi Haynes  wins July medal

The May Victoria Medal Series round took place on July 31 at the picturesque Victoria Golf course. It was a challenging and enjoyable round of golf for everyone who participated. The July  monthly medal overall winner was 26 handicapper, Jyothi Haynes (70 Nett). 5 handicapper Sujeewa Lankathilake returning a gross score of 77 won the gentleman gross Division. 

Division 1 winner was Sanjeewa  Wickremanayake  with a gross score of 78, and Division 2 Net winner Si Kasturirathne  returned an excellent score of  73.  Some of the striking scores in the gentleman gross division were Sanjeewa Wickremanayake 78. Alain Gyi  80  was 3rd   in count back scores

In the Ladies Gross Division Sonia Boyle  who plays for handicap 16 returned with an excellent score of 89 and was placed first.  Indira Tibblin was 2nd and Linda Harris was placed 3rd .  Ladies Nett Division  went to Indira Tibbling with a score of 71, off a handicap of 20 from count back score.

Stage set for the world's biggest sporting event - Beijing Olympics

By Hishan Welmilla

The stage is set to hold the biggest sporting event of the year  - Beijing Olympics 2008. Beijing has done everything possible to make this summer Olympics  to go down in history as the best ever Olympics, perhaps the best sporting event in  history.

The athletes from all over the world are due to arrive and Beijing International Airport is gearing itself to face the challenge of receiving the thousands of visitors arriving for the games in the next few days.

Everything has been looked into in detail  including the aspect of  pollution in Beijing. China has also unveiled a string of tough new measures to curb pollution if the stubbornly persistent haze hovering over Beijing does not clear in time for the Olympic Games.

Air cleanliness

More cars could be removed from the roads and hundreds more factories closed if forecasts do not show sufficient improvement in air cleanliness over an upcoming 48-hour period, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said.

Since July 20, Beijing has implemented a traffic system  that allows cars onto the roads on alternate days, depending on the odd or even numbers on their licence plates. Now this system could be extended so that vehicles whose  final digit in their registration numbers matches the last number of the date would be banned under the contingency plan.

Meanwhile the loophole in the security measures for the Games also came into the lime light as a  South Korean television station has broadcast footage of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony after a reporter managed to breach security and walk into the Olympic stadium during a rehearsal this week.

Under strict security

Rehearsals for the ceremony, directed by China's best known film director, Zhang Yimou, were meant to have been held under strict security. Design and production teams and thousands of cast members have been required to sign confidentiality agreements, with breaches punishable by up to seven years in jail.

The leak is likely to infuriate and embarrass games organisers and the International Olympic Committee.

On Tuesday, July 29, the International Olympic Committee said it would let Iraq participate in the games in Beijing after Iraqi government officials vowed that its Olympics committee would be independent and free from political influence.

Just before deadline

The lifting of the ban on Iraq's participation in the Olympics came with just enough time to let Iraq meet today's deadline to submit the names of athletes competing in the track and field events. That means Iraq will be sending two competitors to Beijing. Other potential participants in the fields of judo, rowing, weightlifting and archery will have to sit this one out, because the deadline for name submissions for those events passed last week.

The IOC banned Iraq from the games after the Iraqi government dissolved the country's national Olympic committee in May. The government said the committee hadn't had a quorum for several years, ever since several members of the group were kidnapped, and alleged that the committee was mired in corruption.

Unfettered access

The International Olympic Committee failed to press China to allow full unfettered access to the Internet for the thousands of journalists arriving here to cover the Olympics, despite promising repeatedly that the foreign news media could 'report freely' during the Games, Olympic officials acknowledged,Wednesday.

Since the Olympic Village press centre opened, reporters have been unable to access scores of Web pages.