Practice games for Sri Lanka ‘A’ players

Couple of practice matches will be played from 13^th to 15^th May at the SSC and the Tamil Union grounds as warm up matches before Sri Lanka 'A' team's departure to England next month. Sri Lanka 'A' will play three un-official test matches and five un-official ODI games against the England 'A' team in England this summer. Team 'A' will meet Team 'C' while Team 'B' meet Team 'D'.

Team “A”

Thilina Kandamby(CAPT), Dimuth Karunaratne, Dilshan Munaweera, Sachithra Serasinghe, Roshen Silva, Milinda Siriwardena, Sameera Soysa(WK KEEPER), Sachithra Senanayake, Sekuge Prasanna, Omesh Wijesiriwardena, Nilanka Premaratne, Ishan Jayaratne, Ashan Priyanjna.

Team “B”

Malintha Warnapura(CAPT), Mahela Udawatte, Banuka Rajapakshe, Kushal Janith(WK KEEPER), Kithruwan Vithanage, Sachithra Pathirana, Kosala Kulasekera, Dilruwan Perera, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Tharanga Lasitha, Shaminda Eranga, Isuru Udana, Udara Jayasundara.

Team “C”

Jeevan Mendis (CAPT), Ashen Silva, Yohan De Silva, Ramith Rambukwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Perera, Chathura Peries, Gihan De Silva(WK KEEPER), Malinda Pushpakumara, Chaminda Vidanapathirana, Kanishka Elvitigala, Yasoda Lanka, Lahiru Gamage.

Team “D”

Upul Tharanga(CAPT), Nadeera Nawala, Dhanushka Gunathilake, Chamara Kapugedera, Janaka Gunaratne, Denuwan Rakjakaruna(WK KEEPER), Malinga Bandara, Sohan Boralassa, Dhammika Prasad, Sanitha De Mel, Madura Lakmal, Romesh Buddika, Chinthaka Perera.

Earn money with AlertPay

Cricket Tournament Committee members resign amid controversy

Sri Lanka Cricket Tournament committee chairman Ravi de Silva and another key member of the committee Ashley Ratnayake have resigned from their positions in the key SLC committee.

The reasons for de Silva’s resignation were not available immediately but he had cited the necessity to devote more time to his professional commitments as the reason in his resignation letter, a top SLC official told “Daily Mirror”.

SLC has appointed Gihan Weerasinghe as the acting Chairman of the Tournament Committee to fill the void. Weerasinghe who is the brother of Sri Lanka spin coach Oshadee Weerasinghe was earlier the Secretary of the committee.

Efforts to contact de Silva failed yesterday as his phone went unanswered.

Sources however said that there are more reasons behind the resignations than given officially, and revealed that the Tournament Committee was embroiled in controversy. Another source indicated that Ratnayake had actually resigned during the World Cup tournament but his resignation has been held back secretly, and was not accepted.

The SLC official whom “Daily Mirror” contacted said that Ratnayake has indicated his intention to resign but has not done so officially in writing. Sources claimed that the main reason behind the resignations was the excessive interference by top officials in Tournament Committee affairs and not allowing them to handle their job independently.

“All of them are respectable gentlemen who do an honourary job without any gains monetarily or otherwise, just for the love of the game. When they are not allowed to do their job freely, what more can you expect?” voiced the source with concern.

Murali wants Hashan to prove allegations

Retired Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan wants his former team-mate Hashan Tillakaratne to either furnish proof of match-fixing by the country’s cricketers or stop making such allegations as he might just end up being sued.

“I don’t know why he has said this. If somebody is making such claims, he should first give enough proof to support them, otherwise someone can sue him,” Muralitharan told ‘PTI Bhasha’

At a television chat show last week, Tillakaratne said match-fixing existed in Sri Lankan cricket since 1992 and that he would reveal the names soon. He also expressed reservations about the team selection for the 2011 World Cup.

On being asked whether he had been approached by any bookie during his 18—year career, Muralitharan said he had never been contacted by a fixer.

“In any case, I will tell this to the ICC’s anti corruption unit only. There is a code and all the players follow that,” said the veteran, who plays for IPL debutant Kochi Tuskars Kerala.

He also rejected suggestions that Tillakaratne’s allegations have tarnished the image of Sri Lankan cricket.

“Hashan has made allegations and only he is answerable for that. I don’t know what to say. These are mere allegations which have not been proved yet,” he said.

ICC to reconsider 10-team 2015 World Cup

The controversial decision to restrict the 2015 World Cup to only the 10 full members will be reconsidered by International Cricket Council's (ICC) executive board in June, the governing body said on Tuesday.

“After receiving representations from the associate and affiliate members of the ICC, the ICC President Sharad Pawar has decided to request the ICC executive board to revisit the issue in Hong Kong in June,” the statement read.

“I have given this matter further serious thought and will request the board to consider this topic once more,” Pawar was quoted as saying in the statement.

Ireland felt they had justified their presence in the 2011tournament, where they upset England by producing the tournament's highest ever successful run-chase.

Cricket Ireland cautiously welcomed Tuesday's announcement.

“It's a welcome development but it's still the first step in a lengthy process because after all, it's the same individuals having the same debate on the same issue. So clearly there needs to be some catalyst for a change of heart,” its chief executive Warren Deutrom told Reuters.