Sanath Jayasuriya

Two former national captains BandulaWarnapura and SanathJayasuriya are the leading contenders for two key posts within Sri Lanka Cricket as the organization rings in several changes in an effort to improve its overall effectiveness.

Warnapura, Sri Lanka’s first test skipper is tipped to take over the top job of Chief Executive Officer of SLC when the present incumbent AjitJayasekera’s term ends on 31^st March 2013.

Jayasuriya, another former skipper whose sensational batting exploits were a crucial factor in Sri Lanka’s world cup triumph of 1996 is tipped to head the new panel of selectors as its chairman.

The CEO is the most influential position in the SLC and under a new structure will have sweeping powers over all administrative issues. The position is expected to carry a remuneration package of nearly one million Sri Lankan rupees including a tax-free salary of 600,000/- and a range of other perquisites including a car and driver, travelling and petrol allowances, housing/rental reimbursement and unlimited entertainment allowance.

Bandula Warnapura

Warnapura had served the SLC previously as its Director of Operations from 2000-2008 and was a key figure in pressing for radical change within the SLC including the need for greater transparency and accountability in its work.

“My belief is that until SLC is completely transformed into a 100% cricket development base with transparency and accountability cricket will not progress. Today it is not a cricket-development base, but a power-development base” was how Warnapura described the challenges faced by SLC way back in 2008.

Warnapura found himself sidelined by local authorities thereafter but the Asian Cricket Council recognizing his worth immediately obtained his services as their Development Manager and he has served the ACC in that capacity with great distinction.

An opening batsman and a medium-pace bowler – Warnapura hasthe unique distinction of leading Sri Lanka in their inaugural test against England in February 1982 and also opening the batting and bowling in that game.

Warnapura’s test career was limited to just four tests after he was banned from the game for his role in leading a rebel tour to South Africa in 1983.

Jayasuriya was one of the first players from out of Colombo to represent Sri Lanka and has for some time been the face of Sri Lanka cricket as the ‘master blaster’ with his explosive batting.

Jayasuriya played in 110 tests and 450 one-day internationals and represented Sri Lanka from 1989-2011 scoring over 20,000 runs and taking 440 wickets in all forms of the game.

His image took a few dents locally when he attempted to use political influence to prolong his career and then when he finally retired from the game he took to politics and is now a Member of Parliament.

The new selection committee is set to have five members – two full time selectors and three part time ones – all of whom are expected to be former cricketers.Jayasuriya’s political affiliations could lead to a potential conflict of interest and would run counter to the spirit of the independence of the selectors.

One of the selectors first tasks would be to pick a captain for the tests and ODI games following MahelaJayawardena’s decision to quit the role after the recent tour of Australia. Angelo Mathews has already been named as skipper of the T20 side but it appears that SLC may wish to have different captains for the Tests and limited overs games.

The government says it is keen to work with all parties including the TamilNational Alliance in the Parliamentary Select Committee, as early as possible.

External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris says the Government was keen to continue the political reconciliation process through the most democratic means available, the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement today.

The Minister said that the reconciliation process must include restoration of both economic and social wellbeing that would enable affected people to exercise their democratic rights, fully and said that approach of the Government was welcomed by the people on the ground.

He also said that Sri Lanka welcomed constructive engagement with the international community and the support and interest shown by countries involved with Sri Lanka in the post-conflict development process.

The Minister said that 90 member states of the United Nations had spoken at the just concluded Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, and most of them had been very supportive of the approach taken by Sri Lanka in terms of promotion and protection of human rights in the country.

He also highlighted several signal achievements in Sri Lanka this year such as maintaining a high economic growth rate in the country, with the northern province achieving a growth rate of 22 per cent, all internally displaced persons at the conclusion of the conflict being resettled, over 900 Tamil speaking officers being recruited to the Police Force, almost all ex-combatants being rehabilitated and resettled, and the massive infrastructure projects including ports, highways and airports as well as hotels for tourists that were being constructed, with some having reached completion.

The Dead Come Alive For

Fear gripped most parts of the island last week as devils and demons
came alive for Halloween. Party people gathered at Unawatuna
for the Rave Una Halloween fest organized by Party Bees,
while in Colombo Club Mojo gave life to the dead.

CLICK HEAR FOR PAGE ……page 8-9

Union Bank Chairman Alex Lovell at the opening of the Bank’s new premises at Wellawatte.

Union Bank relocated its Wellawatte branch to a new premises at Galle Road, Colombo recently.
The new office was ceremonially opened by Union Bank Chairman Alex Lovell. The new locality offers customers better convenience and an enhanced ambiance.
As a preferred Bank for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and retail sectors, Wellawatte’s residents can now take advantage of Union Bank’s comprehensive product portfolio delivered through exceptional customer service for which the bank is synonymous with. Union Bank has taken the initiative to ensure SMEs’ growth, remaining flexible to their needs.
The Bank’s focus on the SME sector gives it an edge in a competitive market as a Bank small enough to offer flexibility to SME customers’ growing needs and large enough to fuel their growth to greater heights.

Munaweera's knock ensured Uva were always ahead of the run rate

DilshanMunaweeratrumped an Angelo Mathews special to launch Uva Next to victory in the SLPL, and a Champions League berth, in a rain-plagued final that just about managed to eke out the overs required to constitute a full match. Munaweera clubbed five sixes in his 23-ball 44 to leave Uva 19 runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis par score after 5.1 overs, after they had hurtled to 63 for 1 in pursuit of 137 from 15 overs.
Following a two-hour rain delay earlier in the evening, the match had already been shortened, but when the second downpour came, it left an already sodden field unusable. The weather frustrated the first full house of the tournament, and spectators had already begun filing out when the match was deemed over, and a lengthy fireworks delay went off in the damp. It was a pity, for the on-field fireworks had the makings of a grand finish to the tournament.
Chasing just over nine an over, Uva bludgeoned at least one six from each of the overs they faced to push themselves beyond the Duckworth Lewis score. Mathews perhaps erred by taking the new ball himself and by pushing for wickets, rather than bowling to contain, with the threat of more bad weather looming.
Their opponents meanwhile got their strategy right; attacking from the outset to push beyond the Duckworth-Lewis score. Munaweera strode down the pitch to pound Mathews high over square leg off the third ball of the innings, before leaning back to send ShamindaEranga over the same boundary next over. A four over point, making room to carve a short ball angled into him, and a six over long off, extended the ballistics, before Munaweera effectively sealed the match with two straight sixes and a four off Mendis in the fifth over.
Mathews had earlier performed a stunning resuscitation on NagenahiraNagas’ stagnating innings, with a scintillating 73 from 27. The Nagas were at 48 for 3 from 9.1 overs when the first rains came, but despite a two-hour break in play, Mathews launched immediately after resumption, cracking the offspin of SachithraSenanayake back over the bowler’s head to herald his charge.
Everything short was aimed at the deep midwicket fence, and everything wide, backward of point. The balls in the slot disappeared over long on. A six and a four off Andrew McDonald saw the twelfth over fly for 17, before Dilhara Fernando was away for 22, slower balls and all. Umar Gul did not escape punishment either – his final over went for 17, with two fours pounded square and a massive six over the straight boundary.
Before the rain, Uva peppered the openers with a short barrage, and until Gul pitched three consecutive balls slightly fuller in the fourth over, Nagenahira batsmen had few answers. Imran Nazir and Ahmed Shehzad’s swipes to the legside veered from awful to mediocre as neither managed the footwork nor the timing to make adequate contact. Jacob Oram embellished his reputation for parsimony at the SLPL, conceding only nine from his first spell of three overs, while accounting for Shehzad after Nazir had been dropped off his previous over.
Nazir had provided Nagenahira with several blazing starts earlier in the tournament, but struggled to a laboured six from 16 balls in the final. He became the first victim of an Andrew McDonald double strike in eighth over, having his middle stump pegged back after attempting to sweep a length ball from the seamer. McDonald then removed Travis Birt, shortly before a heavy rain and intermittent drizzle forced the long delay

Ferguson - can’t afford to be complacent again

Sir Alex Ferguson has told his Manchester United players they cannot afford to make the “stupid errors” they committed in Europe last season after the Reds were handed another relatively easy-looking Champions League group.
United are expected to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition after being drawn alongside
Braga, Galatasaray and CFR Cluj in Group H.
The United boss is conscious that his side were predicted to make round two last year after being given a favourable draw against Benfica, Basel and Otelul Galati, however, and for that reason, he insists his squad cannot afford any slip-ups this time around.
Ferguson, who has bolstered his squad since last season by signing Robin van Persie, is also aware that his team will find it extremely hard to come through the test of playing in a very hostile environment in
Turkey when facing Galatasaray. “We have the experience of playing against Galatasaray in the past and we will always remember
the ‘Welcome to Hell’ banners,” Ferguson told ManUtd.com.
“So it’s always a difficult type of match.“We have drawn Portuguese clubs a number of times over the past few years – the likes of Benfica, Sporting [Lisbon] and Porto – so we have the experience of playing in Portugal on many occasions.
“Braga are one of the improving teams in that country.
“Obviously, we’ve never played Cluj before but, after the experience of last year, we don’t want to make any stupid errors this time. We will play our strongest team to make sure we get through.”
While United have an appealing draw, their neighbours Manchester City were handed a tough test.
City, who pipped the Red Devils to the Barclays Premier League title last year, face Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund – all current national champions – in Group D.
The draw also throws up an interesting sub-plot in the return of Real boss Jose Mourinho and former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo to the north-west.Real Madrid director of football Emilio Butragueno says Mourinho’s players will be excited about the prospect of playing in England.
“Playing in England is a great pleasure because the fans are extremely passionate,” Butragueno told Sky Sports News.
“It’s a unique experience so I’m sure they will be excited about it.”

Football – Champions League Draw

Ronaldo, who spent six years at Old Trafford before moving to the Bernabeu, admits his team could not have wished for tougher opposition.
“In my opinion, it is the most difficult group and the most competitive. But we are champions of Spain.
We are ready,” he was quoted as saying on City’s website.
City skipper Vincent Kompany said his team-mates should be philosophical about the draw.
“Looks like we’re not going to get any easy games again this year but it is certainly a good group for the fans,” he tweeted.
“I’m looking forward already!” Celtic also face a huge task to make the knockout stages after they were drawn against Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.
Bhoys manager Neil Lennon, who takes his team into their first Champions League group campaign in four years, admits it will be extremely hard to qualify, but is still nevertheless looking forward to travelling to the Nou Camp to take on four-time champions Barca.
“It’s just fantastic to be in a group with Barcelona,” he told a press conference.
“It will be tough but that’s a real glamour game for the club and the other two are huge clubs in theirown countries.
“We are familiar with all three teams. We have recent history with all three.
“Under Gordon Strachan we played Barcelona and Benfica and we also known about Spartak because we beat them in a play-off.
“It is a tough, tough group. All the teams play good football so it should be good to watch.”
Chelsea will have to overcome Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and Champions League debutants Nordsjaelland in Group E if they are to clear the first hurdle on their way to retaining the cup.
Former Blues assistant Ray Wilkins expects the Londoners to top the group despite the difficulty of travelling to Shakhtar and Italian champions Juventus.
“You’d expect them to go through, probably as top of the group,” he said.
“Shakhtar is a difficult game. It’s a great stadium there but it’s a lot of travelling and you don’t want to be doing too much of that and Juventus is a classic game.
“They were undefeated last year, they have their own ground now, which is very compact.
“That will be a very difficult game but Chelsea have a fantastic squad now.”

• West Indies vs New Zealand Teast, Jamaica

Roach grabbed 4/70 as the Kiwis were dismissed for 260

Fast bowler Kemar Roach claimed four wickets as New Zealand were bowled out for 260 on day one of the second Test against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.
New Zealand recovered from a poor start to reach 114 for two but were then pegged back again by the West Indies, for whom Roach finished with figures of four for 70, while Tino Best and Narsingh Deonarine both picked up two wickets apiece.
Martin Guptill (71) and Ross Taylor (60) both scored half-centuries for the Black Caps but the team’s next-best score was the 23 from number nine Neil Wagner as the tourists were dismissed just before the close.
The West Indies, who won the first Test by nine wickets, were 11 without loss off five overs at stumps, with Kieran Powell 10 not out and Chris Gayle unbeaten on one.
After winning the toss and sending New Zealand into bat at Sabina Park, the hosts made two early breakthroughs when Roach had BJ Watling caught by Gayle at slip for two and then, in the next over, Best sent back Brendon McCullum for a duck, caught behind by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
That left New Zealand on 11 for two but in-form opener Guptill, fresh from his 97 and 67 in the first-Test loss, helped stage a recovery along with his captain Taylor, with the pair putting on 103 for the third wicket.
That stand was brought to an end by Best when he had Taylor caught by Ramdin off an outside edge, but New Zealand seemed to be coping with the setback as Guptill and Kane Williamson (22) put on 47 for the fourth wicket.
However, the departure of Williamson, caught at slip by Darren Sammy off Deonarine, sparked a collapse that saw the Black Caps lose three wickets for the addition of just nine runs – including the key scalp of Guptill, who was run out by Best attempting a quick single.
New Zealand’s tail all made starts but the West Indies continued to chip away before finishing off their opponents’ innings just before the end.

Gautam Gambhir's 11th ODI century

Gautam Gambhir struck a brilliant century and Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan maintained the momentum to guide India to a thrilling five-wicket win in the third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday.
Set a daunting 287 for victory, the tourists lost Virender Sehwag cheaply but Gambhir made a magnificent 102 and although he was run out with the tourists still requiring 91 runs, Raina’s unbeaten 65 coupled with Pathan’s 34 not out saw India home. India now lead the five-match series 2-1.
Earlier, Angelo Mathews’ late burst helped Sri Lanka to a formidable 286 for five after they had won the toss and elected to bat first.
The Sri lankan innings was about two century stands between their most experienced duo and the other between two talented youngsters.
Mathews struck an unbeaten 71 off 57 balls to build on the foundations laid by Kumar Sangakkara (73) and captain Mahela Jayawardene (67) after Sri Lanka had collapsed to 20 for three.
The two veteran batsmen put on a stand of 121 for the fourth wicket while Mathews and Jeevan Mendis (45 not out) added an unbroken 104 for the sixth wicket.
While Sangakkara and Jayawardene steadily accumulated, between them hitting just 10 fours, Mathews and Mendis put India’s bowling to the sword, with the former striking five fours and a six in an impressive innings.
In response, Gambhir was the anchor of India’s innings, which included a stand of 105 for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (38) although Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga then took the wickets of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in successive balls.
Gambhir reached his century off 96 balls but was then run out after attempting a quick single shortly after.
With the game in the balance at 196 for five, Raina and Pathan put on an unbroken 92 for the sixth wicket to steer the World Cup winners to victory with just two balls to spare.
The fourth game in the series will be played on Tuesday 31 July at the same venue and the hosts need to win the game to stay in contention to clinch the series.