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ADELAIDE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday it had postponed its hearing into allegations of misconduct against Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga. ICC match referee Peter van der Merwe said in a statement the hearing was adjourned after two hours and would be reopened at a date to be fixed. Van der Merwe was later quoted as saying on Australian television: "Certain points were raised by Mr Ranatunga’s legal representatives and I thought that was the best thing to do." Ranatunga was ordered to appear before the disciplinary panel after he was cited during Saturday’s controversial limited-overs match against England. Ranatunga was charged with conduct unbecoming an international player, showing dissent, intimidating an umpire and using abusive language, local media reported. A charge was also added by van der Merwe relating to a captain being responsible for upholding the spirit of the laws. Ranatunga led his players off the Adelaide Oval in protest after Australian umpire Ross Emerson called Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing. Play was halted for about 12 minutes and a visibly angry Ranatunga and Emerson could be seen pointing fingers at each other. Ranatunga also pointed his finger at van der Merwe during the delay. Ranatunga declined to speak with local media after Tuesday’s hearing was postponed. Sri Lankan team manager Ranjit Fernando also refused to comment when the team arrived in Perth ahead of Friday’s limited-overs match against England. "Our lips are sealed," Fernando told reporters. Asked when the hearing would be, he shrugged his shoulders and said: "Ask the match referee." Throwing row umpire Emerson stood down On Tuesday, Emerson was stood down by the Australian Cricket Board when it was discovered he was on stress leave from his regular job. ACB chairman Denis Rogers said the board had decided to replace Emerson from Friday’s limited-overs match between England and Sri Lanka after they discovered he was on stress leave from his regular job. But Rogers insisted his sacking had nothing to do with the Muralitharan situation. "It is the ACB’s position that in these circumstances it is both entitled and required to satisfy itself and the cricket public that his admitted medical condition does not impact on his ability to umpire international cricket matches," Rogers said. "In other words, if he is not fit to be at work, the question has to be asked is he fit to officiate in a cricket match." The chief executive of the West Australian Ministry of Fair Trading where Emerson is employed told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Emerson had been off work for the past month. "Mr Emerson’s doctor, while indicating that he’s not able to work, has indicated that he believes that cricket umpiring is within his present capabilities," Pat Walker said. Neither Emerson, a former police officer, nor the Sri Lankan camp would comment on the situation when approached by journalists on Tuesday. Emerson had been due to umpire in Friday’s limited-overs match between Sri Lanka and England in Perth even though the Sri Lankans had complained at his appointment after Emerson no-balled Muralitharan during a match in Adelaide last weekend. Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga threatened to abandon the match after he was involved in a heated argument with Emerson. He led his players to the boundary in protest but after 12 minutes agreed to continue the game after speaking with team officials. Ranatunga was later charged with breaching the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct on player discipline after arguing with Emerson on the field. But his hearing into allegations of misconduct was adjourned indefinitely on Tuesday amid fears about Sri Lanka’s participation in the rest of the series. Although the Sri Lankan camp said they were committed to playing in the rest of the tournament, there were concerns they might consider quitting the competition if Ranatunga was suspended and Emerson was allowed to continue umpiring. The Sri Lankans believe Muralitharan’s action is legal and Emerson is unfairly singling him out. Emerson was one of three Australian umpires who called Muralitharan for throwing during Sri Lanka’s last tour of Australia in 1995-’96. Muralitharan’s action was cleared by the ICC and no other umpire from around the world has ever called him since. PR firm in UK contracts three top Lankan
athletes Management Plus Limited, a Public Relations company based in Essex, United Kingdom has signed a contract with three of Sri Lanka’s top athletes. They are Asian Games stars Damayanthi Dharsha, Sugath Tilakaratne and Sriyani Kulawansa, who also won a silver at the Commonwealth Games. National athletic coach and Director, Sports Ministry, Derwin Perera signed the terms of agreement on behalf of the athletes on 21 August, 1998 with Management Plus. This agreement is effective from 1 January 1999 for a calendar year. According to the agreement, the trio have appointed Management Plus as their sole and exclusive agent to negotiate competitions, sponsorship and any other commercial contracts. They will be required to pay 45 per cent of their earnings to them. Twenty per cent from athletes sponsorship and 25 per cent of all income from meets have to be paid to Management Plus. The coach will get 10 per cent if the athletes win prize money from any championships. Tilakaratne’s coach Anura Bandara who was given the cold shoulder for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games last year will get the opportunity to tour with his charge. Asked why Susanthika Jayasinghe was left out for this lucrative contract, Perera said it was because she did not compete in international events last year. "But Management Plus has indicated that she too will be invited to be a part of this contract as soon as she competes in an international event," he said. In addition to the following international events in which they are scheduled to represent Sri Lanka, Management Plus will line up more international events from May 31. SCHEDULE April 9: Asian Cross Country — Iran (2 athletes) May 22-23: First Selection trial at Stadium. June 5-6: National Sports Festival, Marathon, Cycling and Race Walking events at Wennappuwa. June 12-13: Second Trial for SAF Games at Stadium. July 16-18: IAAF World Youth Championships in Poland (5 athletes) July 31-Aug. 1: Senior Nationals at Stadium. August 12-14: National Sports Festival in Kandy (Bogambara). August 20-25: IAAF World Cup in Spain (6 athletes) August 26-28: National Disable Athletic Meet at Stadium. September 24-October 4: SAF Games in Nepal (60 athletes) September 8-12: Asian Junior Championships, Japan (10 athletes). September 15: IAAF Perost Meet in Fukuoka, Japan (6 athletes). Raddoluwa MV coast to third win Raddoluwa MV gained their third successive victory when they defeated Sri Sumangala College, Panadura by 10 wickets in their inter-school cricket fixture yesterday at Raddoluwa. Sri Sumangala batting first were dismissed for 162 with N. Pannilavithana and Nisal Gunetilleke claiming four wickets each. Raddoluwa MV replied with 221 with D. A. Marage and Dinesh Perera cracking half centuries. D. Perera was the most successful bowler for Panadura school claiming four wickets. Sri Sumangala lads failed to cope with the bowling of Sanjeeva Arangalla in the second essay and were shot out for 114. Arangalla had five wickets conceding only 13 runs. Raddoluwa MV had to reach a target of 56 runs for an outright victory which they achieved facing only 10.4 overs without losing any wickets before the tea interval. Scores: Sri Sumangala 162 (N. Dilshan 55, J. Sadikeen 22, N. Pannilavithana 4/49, Nisal Gunetilleke 4/63) and 114 (D. Perera 20, N. Quintus 33, G. Chathuranga 20, Sanjeeva Arangalla 5/13, N. Pannilavithana 2/26, Nisal Gunetilleke 3/60). Raddoluwa MV 221 (Dinesh Perera 55, I. K. Kumara 32, D. A. Marage 67, Nisal Gunetilleke 25, G. Chathuranga 3/60, D. Perera 4/28, N. Quintus 2/52) and 56 for no loss (Dinesh Perera 28 n.o., I. K. Kumara 20 n.o.) Kuruppu sails into third round Ravi Krishan of India edged out his compatriot S. Sudhakar after a 7-6, 6-2 to enter the third round of the ITF Ranking under-18 Tennis championships sponsored by Ericsson Communication Ltd at SLTA yesterday. Sri Lankan-born Rishan Kuruppu now domiciled in Canada too had a good day beating Rahul Rajpaal of India 6-2, 6-3 to enter the third round. Sixteen year-old Rishan is the son of former national badminton champion Ravi Kuruppu. Boy’s Singles (second round) S. Gautam bt J. Jayasinghe 6/0, 6/0, Nona Wagh bt S. Fernando 6/1, 6/1, S. Phadke bt S. Bogollagama 6/0, 6/0, R. Manke bt Rekha Natrajan 6/2, 6/4, P. Ratanakrong bt T. Yamin 6/3, 6/4, Mahesha Seneviratne bt Nadeera de Silva 6/1, 6/2, Cheng Yi Ting bt F. Zeena 6/0, 6/0, Lai Yi Ying bt Olga Dzyu 6/3, 6/4, C. Yun Han bt Umad3anthi Dias 6/0, 6/1, Nida Wasim bt N. Narusi 6/3, 6/1, S. Shellar bt Ishara Seneviratne 6/0, 6/0, R. Tulpulle bt Susan Waheed 6/0, 6/0, Liza Pereira bt R. Hirronot 6/3, 6/4, P. Chaireng bt G. Marriot 6/0, 6/1, V. Kazova bt Denali de Silva 6/1, 6/0, Chang Shin Chian bt Yluxhmi Reddy 6/2, 6/3. Girl’s singles 2nd panel Kedar Tembe bt Shivang Mishra 6/2, 6/1, S. Ratiyawarama bt R. Frankhausse 6/0, 6/1, Hendrick Chasse bt Ivan Kovaler 6/2, 6/1, Mark Weaver bt Amanjot Singh 6/1, 6/3, Ling Liang Ta bt Nipun Gupta 6/1, 6/3, Mohamed N. Fuzi bt Hussain Nesif 6/0, 6/0, Ravi Krishnan bt S. Sudhakar 7/6, 6/2, S. Ratiawatana bt Mithun Murali 6/4, 6/4. A. Watla bt Shoichiro Kaji 6/1, 6/1, C. S. Mohanty bt Saurav Sukul 7/5, 6/4 Rishan Kuruppu bt Rahul Rajkawa 6/3, 6/2, Karen Doctor bt Nishan Mishra 6/4, 6/3, Wang Yeu Tzuoo bt Mohamed Nabhani 6/1, 6/1, Ashutosh Singh bt Kalid Al Nabhani 7/6, 6/3, N. Mukundan bt Alok Bhide 6/2, 6/2, Akshay Vishal Rao bt Pramote Malasitt 6/2, 6/1. Samarasinghe gives top seed a good run Navin Samarasinghe made strong challenge against Malaysian number one and reigning World Junior Champion Ony Beng Hee the 9th Asian Junior Squash Championship held at the National Squash Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. According to the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation, Padmini Samarasinghe who is also with the team in Malaysia, 16-year-old Samarasinghe won a game but was unlucky to lose the match. After losing the first two games 9-2, 9-2, Samarasinghe fought back strongly to clinch the third game after a tie-break 10-9. The Malaysian player tended to relax and take it easy in the third game, but young Samarasinghe played brilliantly to win. In the final game, Samarasinghe tried to draw level but went down fighting 9-4. Meanwhile, other two players Hirantha Gunasena and Kavinda Cooray who performed well on the previous day went down fighting to the two Pakistani player, Mohd Ilyas and Shahid Zaman. (D.R.) St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya hung on grimly to force a draw against Nalanda in their inter-school cricket encounter at Maitland Place yesterday. Chasing 93 runs for victory in 14 overs, St.Peter’s were reeling at 66 for eight wickets at stumps. (A.N.) Ajith - first Lankan international shuttle referee Ajith Wijayasinghe is the first Sri Lankan to be appointed as an International Badminton referee by the International Badminton Federation (IBF). Wijayasinghe was included to the IBF panel of referees in July 1997 and has been appointed referee for the Iran International Open Championships in Tehran from January 28 to February 3. Wijayasinghe is the Secretary of SLBF having come into Badminton Administration in 1978. He was instrumental in the formation of the Mercantile Badminton Association in 1982. The former junior national champion and National player is a product of Richmond and Wesley Colleges. He has been the coach to many leading players. He was the national coach in 1985-86. He has also served as coach cum manager for the Asian Championships. Commonwealth Games and Thomas’ and Uber Cup competitions on many occasions. In 1985, Sri Lanka staged the John Player International Badminton Championships conducted by MBA. Ajith was the organising secretary. This was followed by second John Player International in 1987. Since then he has been the organising secretary for every international badminton event in Sri Lanka, which include the SAARC Air Line Championships, World Air Line Championships, South Asian Badminton Federation Games and the Asian Satellite Championships. |
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