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Some of the balls that he bowls look a bit doubtful, says ICC Referee Peter Van Der Merwe
ICC asked to review Muralitharan's actionMELBOURNE, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is to be reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) after further doubts have been expressed about his bowling action.
Muttiah MuralitharanFormer South Africa captain Peter Van Der Merwe, now in Australia working as a match referee for the one-day tournament between Australia, England and Sri Lanka, said he would be submitting a report to the ICC asking them to review Muralitharan's action. 'Some of the balls that he bowls look a bit doubtful,' Van Der Merwe said 'It's not an ordinary action, but whether that's caused by the fact his wrist is extremely mobile or by his bent arm which apparently can't straighten, I can't answer.'
ICC chief executive David Richards, who is also in Australia, declined to discuss the issue on Friday but confirmed he would talk to Van Der Merwe after Friday's match between England and Australia.
'I'm going to talk to Peter Van Der Merwe at the cricket... until I see him, there's nothing to do,' he said.
At least two Australian umpires have expressed doubts about the legitimacy of Muralitharan's action, including Darrell Hair, who no-balled the Sri Lankan seven times during a test match in 1995.
The ICC investigated Muralitharan's action after several other umpires complained but cleared him of throwing.
Four days ago, the ICC announced it was charging Hair under the umpire's Code of Conduct after he criticised Muralitharan's action in a book.
The speculation over Muralitharan's action has angered the Sri Lankan camp. They deny he throws the ball, insisting his unusual style is the result of a double-jointed wrist.
Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga said he was not surprised that the latest incident had happened while the team was touring Australia.
'It started here and we know it will come through here,' Ranatunga told Australian television. 'Nothing happens in other parts of the world.'
Van Der Merwe said at least two umpires had expressed doubts over Muralitharan's action in their match reports but stopped short of taking action against him on the field.
'Umpires are reluctant,' Van Der Werde said. 'They're prepared to do their duty but it's a case of a law that has far more ramifications than other laws.'
Interim Weightlifting Board too much of a weight to carry?
By Shirajiv Sirimane
The interim weightlifting Board, appointed by the Sports Ministry is a total failure and due to its administration lapses the sport is at a stand still.These were the comments made by Sunil Nanayakkara who earned a rare first in the Asian Games by becoming South Asia's 11th and Sri Lankan's first ever referee to hold the international Grade II referees licence.
Sunil who too is a Interim Board member said that the Board has not held more than three tournaments so far. 'If the Federation was in charge of the sport by now there would be over 15 events held during this time,' he said. The former weightlifting Federation Secretary said that time was now right to dissolve this Board and give back the Sport's administration to the Federation.
Sunil who is also Sri Lanka's only Wrestling official to hold the Grade III international Wrestling referees licences said that the international body will not grant permission to Sri Lanka to conduct any international events as long as the Board is in operation. 'The international body only deals with the Federation.'
The Assistant Secretary of the National Olympic Committee, Sunil also disclosed that up to 1995 the Federation owes the International body a sum of nearly three hundred thousand which has to be paid to the wrestling international body by the past administrators. 'This amount has been collected since 1990 and the Sports Minister has promised to pay this up and the sport must be thankful for him,' he said.
Nanayakkara who spoke to this correspondent while officiating a wrestling bout at the Asian Games said that he was not at all pleased with the sports referees set up. 'This aspect has been ignored for a long period and it is high time that some serious thought is given to it.' He said he vowed to form a Referees' Association when he goes back to Sri Lanka. 'This is my first priority.' he said.
Born in Kandy, Sunil got involved in the sport at a very tender age and was the captain of the Walala Central wrestling team. He was later selected to represent the Kandy district in many national events from 1974 to 78.
He also took to sports administration and was elected secretary of the Central Province for a decade from 1974. His full time involvement in the sport also saw him taking up to coaching and went on to guide the Peradeniya University, and YMCA teams.
In 1984 he was a very dejected man since he found out that the sport was completely neglected and the people holding positions were simply doing to gain something in return. This prompted him to quit the sport and he was silent for nearly a decade.
It was back in 1994 that he made his presence felt in a big way once again getting involved in Sport administration once again. He was elected President of the Kandy District Wrestling Federation and later found his way to the Federation as a Vice President. His efficient style made him the Secretary of the parent body from 1994 to 96.
To sharpen his refereeing skill he ventured to Philippines, India and many other countries at his personal expense. His representation of the ASIAD too was at his own expense. 'I've been invited to attend a refereeing conference in Rome in January and it will cost nearly Rs. 75,000. 'The international body FILA will be imposing many new rules and all of them will be spelled out at this event. Therefore my representation will be very important. I hope the Ministry will help me in this regard,' he said.
He also added that with proper guidance the sport has tremendous potential for the future. 'I am not saying that Sri Lanka can win medals at the Asian Games, but medals from the SAF Games in the lighter weight classes are possible,' he added.
Moratuwa cricket stadium neglected
By Reggie Goonewardene, our Moratuwa Corr.
Of international repute is the de Soysa Stadium (formerly known as the Tyronne Fernando Stadium), Moratuwa where many a visiting cricket team had played when Sri Lanka had been successful in many an encounter with the Moratuwa cricket loving public thronging the Stadium to capacity.But since recently the Board of Control for Cricket of Sri Lanka (BCCSL) had considered that the Stadium was not upto the standards of an international Stadium and several visiting teams were skipped out by the BCCSL.
The maintenance body of the Stadium is the Moratuwa Municipal Council and at the very outset of the elevated Council meetings passed a resolution to change the name from the existing name to the De Soysa Stadium giving the deserving place for the philanthropist De Soysa with a brass lettered blue name board.
The maintenance of the Stadium itself is in a state of disrepair with the roofing sheets blown off for the wind. The scoreboard is in a dilapidated state that even the scorers at club matches are in danger of falling off as the wooden structures are all decomposed into constituent elements and pieces of timber fallen off and even the table rack already in a state of decomposed state that it could endanger the life of the scorers.
Meanwhile, the Moratuwa Municipal Council is now contemplating the building of a garage to house the garbage trucks by the other side of the wall of the Stadium.
This will emanate bad smells polluting the environment that even if the roof already blown-off is repaired and if ever a visiting team or a big match is played (generally the St. Sebastian's and Prince of Wales and Moratu Vidyalaya and Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya encounters) the crowds would have to hold their noses to avoid the bad smells emanating from the garbage carriers, as these carriers are generally not washed and cleaned.
Premier League Championship
Bowlers play a dominant rolePulasthi Gunaratne 4 for 66 and Priyankara Wickramasinghe 5 for 66 helped Bloomfield to restrict SSC for 193 in their Premier League Championship cricket fixture worked off at SSC grounds yesterday.
Bloomfield were strongly placed at 135 for one wicket at close. Ranesh de Silva 63 and Sajeeka Abeynayake 30 were at the wickets at close.
Earlier Upeka Fernando (84 n.o.) and Ruwan Galappatti (38) made useful contributions for SSC.
At Sara Stadium Colts made 285 for five wickets at close against Tamil Union. Opener Dulip Samaraweera struck a fine century while co-opener Sujith Janaka made a half century.
Niroshan Bandaratilleka took 3 for 63 for Tamil Union.
At BRC grounds Moors SC were struggling at 125 for six wickets against BRC. BRC made 178 with Indika Batuwitarachchi top scoring with 46.
CCC skipper Bradman Ediriweera made a fine knock of 64 to enable his side total 241 all out in their match against NCC.
NCC scored 82 for three wickets at close.
At BRC grounds
BRC 178 (Mahesh Rajapakse 37, Indika Batuwitarachchi 46, Deepal Madurapperuma 38, Ashan Ranaweera 3/17, Rangana Herath 5/49, Mahesh Palihakkara 2/51).MOORS 125 for six wickets at close. (Ashan Ranaweera 53, Sampath Perera 15, Deepal Madurapperuma 2/44, D. Perera 4/35).
At SSC grounds
SSC 193 (Upeka Fernando 84 n.o., Ruwan Galappatti 38, Priyankara Wickramasinghe 5/66, Pulasthi Gunaratne 4/66.)BLOOMFIELD 135 for one wicket at close. (Ranesh de Silva 63 n.o., Sajeeka Abeynayake 30 n.o., Taraka Gunaratne 26).
At CCC grounds
CCC 241 (Bradman Ediriweera 64, Duncan Arnolda 48, Umesh Fernando 34, Indika Gallage 25, J. Sigera 2/17, L. Hanible 2/32, A. Redeegammanagedara 2/48, M. Bandara 2/30).NCC 52 for three wickets at close. (Kumar Sangakkara 25 n.o., Indika Gallage 3/24).
P. Sara Stadium
COLTS 285 for five wickets at close. (Dulip Samaraweera 101, Sujith Janaka 50, Dulip Liyanage 90 n.o., Bathiya Perera 28 n.o., Niroshan Bandaratilleka 3/63 vs Tamil Union). - (DR)
Nalanda replying to Royal's impressive first innings total of 249 for 6 declared made 40 for the loss of one wicket in their key inter school cricket fixture at Reid Avenue yesterday.
Royal who batted first, did well to pile a score of 249 with skipper Thusan Amarasuriya leading the way with a top score of 84, while opener Ravi Peries made 72. Amarasuriya who came to bat at No: 4 played the Nalanda bowling on its merits in the process smashing 11 fours and while opener Ravi Peries hit 84 was his third successive half century in as many innings. Also made a stubborn contribution of 72 with six fours while Malinda Thotuwilage, also weighed in with a good knock of 57 which comprised 9 fours, as the Reid Avenue school did well to put the game well and truly beyond the Nalanda XI.
For the Campbell Place school paceman Kelum Gangodawila captured 2 for 54, while Pradeep Hadigalle claimed 2 for 17. Nalanda facing a big first innings score batted well to post 40 runs for the loss of Dilhan Jayasundere's wicket for 19. Co-opener Viranga Perera remained unbeaten on 18.
SCORES
ROYAL 249/6 wkts dec. (Ravi Peries 72, Malinda Thoruwilage 51, Thushan Amarasuriya 84, Jehan Mubarak 16, Ruchira Jayasuriya 10, Kelum Gangodawila 2/54, Pradeep Hadigalle 2/17).NALANDA 40/1 wicket at close. (Dilhan Jayasundera 19, Viranga Perera 18 n.o.). - (J.K)
