Lanka will battle for supremacy

By Point

World Cup runners up and the Asian champions Sri Lanka will resume their battle for supremacy with the touring Indian team with the third one day international scheduled for today under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Khettarama.

The five match series is level 1-1 after both teams won one match each at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium earlier. Sri Lanka took the opening encounter by a convincing margin of eight wickets before India hit back strongly with a thrilling three wicket win in the second one dayer.

Both teams will be hoping for an improved performance in the conditions after they had struggled for runs at the slow turning wicket at Dambulla. In fact no team managed to score more than 150 runs on both occasions which should be a major concern for the batsmen.

Sri Lanka will be strengthened with the return of their premier fast bowler Chaminda Vaas who was rested for the second one day international with a hamstring injury. The left arm seamer is in fact on the verge of setting up a record of becoming the fourth bowler to join the 400 wicket club in one day internationals.

Vaas needs just a solitary wicket to complete this milestone and would all probably share the new ball with Nuwan Kulasekera. Sri Lanka will go in with five bowlers with Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis forming an effective spin combination.

Mystery spinner Mendis has already struck form in the opening two matches and looks set to continue with his excellent form in the remaining three games. Paceman Dilhara Fernando is likely to be left out for today's game after failing to make an impact in the second one day international on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka will be looking for a better performance from their top order batsmen after their debacle where the team collapsed for just 142 runs in the second one dayer. They will need to concentrate more and put their heads down if they are to post a challenging total.

The major threat will be the Indian opening bowler Zaheer Khan who had an outstanding game while bagging the man of the match award for his four wicket haul in the second one dayer. India in fact will field four fast bowlers with Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan and Praveen Kumar in the line up with the back up support coming from veteran Harbhajan Singh.

The teams:

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardena (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilina Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Udawatte, Malinda Warnapura.

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Gautham Gambhir, Virat Kohil, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Patahan, Yuvraj Singh, Subramaniam Badrinath. Praghyan Ohja, Rudra Prathap Singh.

Singer, SriLankan Airlines pledge to stay with International Sevens;
Landmark 10-nation event kicks-off Sept. 5

It's time players pay back title-sponsors

THE promise of continued support from the title-sponsors was perhaps the best tenth-birthday gift handed the Singer/SriLankan Airlines International Rugby Sevens. Consequent to IRB revoking its four-year sanction, as well as the ending, last April, of Emirates' management of the national carrier, there were serious concerns over the future of the popular event, the country's solitary yearly international.

Any reservations the title-sponsors might've had about future investments in the event are understandable. The two corporate bodies, after all, have been involved since the event's birth in 1999 - been long enough in it to be excused out of it. They saw it grow from an inconsequential fun-event, of which there's plentiful in the world, to a serious international competition, sanctioned by the world-body, no less.

From that rank of importance to have to return to its past insignificance is, to say it mildly, disappointing. On top of all that, these haven't been the best of times for business either, given a languishing economy.

Loss of IRB status

Just how willing the title sponsors were to accept the disappointment of the loss of IRB status at a time when companies' No.1 priority is cost-cutting, is something corporate ethics disallows us from knowing. But this much is fairly certain: quite some boardroom-time might've been given to the subject of investments beyond the event's tenth birthday.

So the thumbs-up verdict given by the title sponsors, Tuesday in the Galle Face Hotel ballroom, surely came as welcome relief. Hemaka Amarasuriya, Chairman of Singer (SL) Plc, provided the most reassuring words: "Whether the tournament has IRB status or not, our commitment is going to be the same in the future" - adding that, at the heart of his company's interest is the development of rugby on a national scale.

And as proof of that pursuit, Amarasuriya cited Singer's sponsorship of rugby-playing school, a scheme that began six years ago with just eight schools now benefits twenty-eight 'A' division teams. As well, it sponsors the 68-team Schools League tournament - all of which adds up to a whopping annual bill of over Rs.10m. Its support of champion club, Kandy SC, since 2000, is of course a separate item in the company ledger.

Not without lament

Amarasuriya was not without lament, though. "A lot of (schoolboy) talent unfortunately is being lost owing to a lack of opportunities at the higher level (meaning clubs). Unless more of those opportunities are created, I am afraid, the future is not going to be too good." As a possible remedy, he spoke of the need to duplicate the developmental success in the Kandy district in other provinces too, like Southern and Sabaragamuwa.

With such a long history of abiding interest in sport, Singer's future involvement with the Kandy Sevens was always a hopeful prospect.

Less certain, however, was SriLankan Airlines' renewal. The Sevens, it must be remembered, was an initiative of the previous management, Emirates - a reason why the new administration might want to detach itself from the event, as it did from the 11-year Golf Classic, another Emirates-initiative, which, it is believed, was more financially rewarding to the airline than its rugby sponsorship. The anxiety of the rugby organisers over SriLankan Airlines' future involvement, so, was very real.

No differently than its predecessor

Happily however the new SriLankan Airlines management views the Kandy Sevens no differently than its predecessor. To the question of  whether the loss of IRB status might prompt a rethink on future involvement with the event, Kaushal Seneviratne, SriLankan Regional Manager Far East and Asia/Europe and Americas, said: "Our commitment to the event is the same as that spelled out by Amarasuriya of Singer."

While dittoing the Singer chief's sentiments from the head table, away from it, Seneviratne, in conversation with me, spoke more reassuringly about future involvement.

"We aren't in it to do business - so, we don't look at the event through a profit/loss prism. Rather the aim is to enhance the name and prestige of the airline - and that we've achieved in good measure through the rugby sevens. So, I don't see any reason why we should let go of the event," said Seneviratne not a matter of insignificance.

Not a matter of insignificance 

It is a not a matter of insignificance that, once upon a time Amarasuriya and Seneviratne played rugby. Amarasuriya was a goodish wing three quarter, who won permanency in the Royal first XVs of 1963 and 64. Seneviratne might not have made it to 'first' of Trinity, but he did play as standoff in the second team in 1975 and 76 and was an important member of his Ryde House team.

He is the nephew of one-time Sri Lanka, Havelocks, CR and Trinity hooker, C. H. Seneviratne, as well as brother-in-law of S. V. Ranasinghe, Trinity captain/standoff in 1976.

It is fair to assume that as long as this old boys' network in rugby remains involved in the Singer/SriLankan Sevens, the event's future appears to be in safe hands.

Be that as it may, it must be admitted that the September 5-7 landmark tenth event isn't what it deserves to be. Much of its luster has been dulled by the removal of IRB recognition and the absence of Japan and Hong Kong, respectively Asia's Nos. 1 and three; the latter, also the defending champions.

Second favourties

Just 10 competing-countries do not a star-class lineup make. But you won't hear Sri Lanka complaining, a reduced field bringing us as it does nearer the coveted Cup. The official seeding, in fact, puts Sri Lanka as second favourties for the Cup, an honour it has never been accorded ever. Korea, last year's runner up, is the top seed.

The Koreans have perennially run second-best to Japan in both versions of rugby, and will no doubt be a tough nut to crack. But a Sevens game is pretty much a visit to the roulette table, given that size and strength are virtues secondary to speed - a fact so vividly displayed in the 2005 Hong Kong Sevens when little Lankans out-ran brawny Americans to score a historic first-ever win over US. It would be a mistake, however, to reckon that only Korea stands between us and the Cup. Nothing is further from the truth, given the tougher group from which to qualify. China, though only recent recruit to rugby, is no pushover, and, in fact, has beaten us in fifteens.

Crowded with expatriate players

A majority of their players have the benefit of representing Hong Kong's professional clubs in the former British colony's league tournament, no picnic ground given that it is crowded with expatriate players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji. Chinese-Taipei not many years ago was Asia's No.3 place and displaced by Hong Kong only recently.

And then there's Kazakhstan, Asia's No. 4 in the IRB fifteens rankings. What this means is, Sri Lanka has to wade through some stern opposition before they can confront Korea in the Cup final.

Korea has a more straightforward passage, with perhaps only Arabian Gulf to test them. The rest are relative minnows: Malaysia, Thailand and India.

Coming off a long and taxing league tournament, the match-fitness of the Sri Lankan players won't be in doubt. As well, two newly-contracted South African coaches along with the local Nishantha Chanaka have been put in charge of the 22-member squad. All that plus the advantage of playing in home conditions before home crowds, make Cup glory not such a dreamy prospect. It is, perhaps, now the turn of the players to give Singer and SriLankan Airlines a tenth-birthday gift.

Kandy favorites, but CR has the fire power

By Hafiz Marikar 

Sean Wijesinghe, the Kandy Sports Club skipper and his rival Shamil Mohamed must be in confident of their teams' chances in today's Cup final at Nittawela Stadium.

A record crowd of some 20,000 spectators are expected to invade Kandy's scenic Nittawella Rugby Stadium to watch Kandy Sports Club, the defending champions, taking on their arch rivals CR & FC.

Kandy Sports Club have been christened in Sri Lanka as the 'Blue-eyed-boys' of Club Rugby. To live up to their acquired tag, the ruggerites from the hills are certain to go on a  rampage.

Many good judges of he game feel that if Sean Wijesinghe's boys in the Red , White and Blue play the way they did in the first and second round of the league game against CR, then they will have no problems.

Strangely, some clubs in Sri Lanka rugby have seldom played match winning rugby football on successful weekends. One week a team is seen right on top of the world, killing giants and generally rough and tumbling their way to glorious victory. But in the following week all the fire seems to have gone out of them and they are seen playing like novices draped in cotton wool, but in that case Kandy Sports Club is above all the other clubs; they have been kings from the first kick-off.

For me, going by the form book, a Kandyan victory is quite a possibility. The have a smasher team whose superior forward play has carried very much before them, in the league championship.

But they are also clearly aware that the CR & FC is not a pushover side. The red shirts, they will realize that they are not going to take on the role either by compulsion or desire to be the lambs being led to the slaughter.

Any way a thrilling game of rugby is in store for rugby fans when the league and defending champions come out for the triple. In the league, Kandy SC ended on top of the table, while CR & FC were just below them.

The achievements of both teams go to make this Cup final an ideal and attractive one with the entry Red Shirts into the final.

"We have the material to complete our mission and the entire team are in perfect physical condition to last the 90 minutes and play some really hard, attacking rugger for which my boys are reputedly the best today," said Johan Taylor.

They had a light workout, mainly physical jokes, at Nittawela last evening; too keep themselves in trim condition. Malik Samarawikcrema, the king maker of the game, speaking to this writer said that he has no doubt about the Kandy side winning the Cup for the 14th time "Although CR & FC are rated as a hard team to beat, we will persist in playing attacking rugby as we have always been doing, to put our side on the road to victory.

Kandy of course, have been used to winning the cup and will take it in their stride. Their supporters will be seen in a big way egging the 15 on the field to keep home the coveted Clifford Cup.

A ray of sunshine and hope for Galle cricket

Following the Annual General Meeting of the Galle Cricket Club held on June 22, the incumbent President Jayantha Dharmadasa, who hails from Colombo, was re-elected with his team, by hook or by crook.

The crux of the matter was the legitimacy of the re-election of the existing office bearers without submission of any nomination papers and furthermore, a sudden influx of eighty or so life memberships were handed out at Rs.15,000 per member, which went some how unaccounted in the annual accounts. By these seemingly nefarious means, the existing office bearers achieved a narrow victory and the meeting itself resorting to very low levels of behaviour, a reputable office bearer using obscene language in a garrulous fashion.

In spite of all these mind boggling dilemmas, it was tailed as a moral victory for the opposing camp led by Mahendra Wijesekera, and his indomitable character and perseverance for fair play, led to question the unconstitutional issues of the elections at higher echelons of the legal embodiment.

Following this, Jayantha Dharmadasa honourably resigned from the Presidency of Galle Cricket Club and bringing in its wake a ray of sunshine and hope into Galle cricket.

Every cricket lover in the Southern Province, will embrace with great enthuse and vigour, the dawn of a new era into this historical Galle Cricket Club founded in 1876 and sincerely trust Mahendra Wijesekera and his team will be able to unite all cricket loving members of Galle C.C. for the greater good of the game of cricket and produce a team to play in the first division of Sri-Lankan Cricket, sooner than later.

Sadly during the previous regime the Galle Cricket was badly neglected with in the autocratic aura of the International Stadium.

- By Gunasiri Wanigaratne

South Africa won't travel to Pakistan

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has decided not to send a team for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, a huge blow for a tournament that has been mired in security issues. The decision by CSA, which has asked the ICC to reschedule the tournament, is the first such official statement from a participating nation and precedes the ICC board's teleconference on the issue on Sunday, where a final decision on staging the tournament is expected.

South Africa's cricketers and their players' union were among the first to speak out against attending the tournament in Pakistan, citing concerns over security in that country. Players and players' unions in Australia, England and New Zealand have also issued strong statements urging a rethink on staging the tournament in Pakistan.

An ICC spokesperson, responding to the decision, told Cricinfo: "We are aware of South Africa's decision but we will comment only after discussing various aspects of the issue during the ICC board teleconference on Sunday."

The PCB's chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, admitted South Africa's pullout was a big blow. "We are deeply disappointed and when a decision was to be made on Sunday we think South Africa made a hasty choice," he told AFP. "Now it's up to the ICC to take a decision but I would say South Africa's refusal will badly hurt the event. We will still do our best to save the event and host it on schedule."

CSA made its decision following the board's meeting with the ICC task force in Johannesburg on Friday. In a statement, CSA said it assessed the presentation made by the team, led by ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, as well as the information available from a number of other security reports, including one from the South African government, before arriving at a conclusion.

"After extensive discussions and frank exchange of views, the board resolved not to send our team at this time to Pakistan to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy," Norman Arendse, the CSA president, said. "We respect the right of the Pakistan Cricket Board to stage the tournament and we would urge the ICC to reschedule the tournament as soon as possible."

Tony Irish, the South African Cricketers' Association chief executive, said it was a difficult decision, but the right one, keeping in mind the safety of the players. "We appreciate all the efforts of the ICC task team, the PCB, the Pakistan authorities and the security consultants," he said. "The players are naturally disappointed for their fans and the people of Pakistan that they will not have a chance to see them in action in that country in September."

Irish had earlier stated the South African team's reluctance to travel to Pakistan, echoing the thoughts of players' bodies in Australia and New Zealand. South Africa's refusal to travel to Pakistan would increase the pressure on other boards to follow suit, which could leave the ICC in a dilemma over the staging of the tournament. It's learnt that both the BCCI and PCB are firm on going ahead with the tournament in Pakistan, and have even said they could withdraw their teams if the tournament is held elsewhere.

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