Sri Lanka Test squad againstPakistan series (2012)

Sri Lanka names Test squad for Pakistan series 2012


Squad: 

Mahela Jayawardene, 
Angelo Mathews,
Tillakaratne Dilshan, 
Tharanga Paranavithana, 
Kumar Sangakkara, 
Thilan Samaraweera, 
Dinesh Chandimal, 
Prasanna Jayawardene, 
Chanaka Welagedara, 
Suraj Randiv, 
Rangana Herath, 
Nuwan Kulasekara, 
Nuwan Pradeep, 
Thisara Perera and 
Jeevan Mendis.

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Srilanka Cricket has been dissolved

Sri Lanka's sports ministry said Friday it had dissolved the current administration of the national cricket board, which has been tainted by allegations of financial mismanagement. 

No specific reason was given for the move, which was immediately followed by the appointment of a new Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee. 

"The committee was automatically dissolved when the new one was appointed," Sports Ministry spokesman Harsha Abeykoon said. 

The SLC has been run by successive interim committees -- appointed by the ministry -- for the last seven years. 

On Thursday, the ministry said it would abide by a new International Cricket Council (ICC) directive, requiring all national boards to be elected without political interference. 

The outgoing committee was headed by former leg-spinner Somachandra de Silva, under whose two-year tenure the island co-hosted the 2011 World Cup. 

The tournament left Sri Lanka with a $69 million bill, and media reports suggested that mismanagement by the SLC had been responsible for cost over-runs. 

On Wednesday the ICC launched a probe into "black marketeering" of World Cup tickets, after its executive board received a confidential report criticising the handling of ticket sales in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. 

De Silva will be replaced by millionaire businessman Upali Dharmadasa, who has already served one stint at SLC chairman from 1996-97. 

The new committee's tenure will be restricted to six-months with the sports ministry promising to hold elections -- in line with the new ICC rules -- in January next year. 

All member boards have been given until the next ICC meeting in June 2012 to implement the new ruling and a further 12 months -- to June 2013 -- before any sanctions will be considered. 

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Upul Tharanga suspended for 3 months

Sri Lanka opening batsman Upul Tharanga has been found guilty of committing an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code (the "ICC Code") and has been suspended from all cricket and cricket-related activities for a period of three months. 

Tharanga, 26, provided a urine sample as part of the ICC's random in-competition testing programme after the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, held in Colombo on 29 March 2011. 

His sample was subsequently tested by a World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory and was found to contain metabolites of two glucocorticosteroids - Prednisone and Prednisolone. These are classified as 'Specified Substances' under WADA's Prohibited List and are prohibited in-competition 'when administered by oral, intravenous intramuscular or rectal routes'. 

An independent anti-doping tribunal, comprising Mr Tim Kerr, QC, (acting as chairman), Dr Anik Sax and Prof. Peter Sever heard the case via videoconference today and made its determination after considering detailed written and oral legal submissions as well as live witness evidence, including from Tharanga himself. 

The tribunal accepted that Tharanga had ingested the 'Specified Substances' when drinking a herbal remedy given to him to ease discomfort caused by a long-standing shoulder injury. It also found that Tharanga had no intention to enhance his sporting performance or to mask the use of another performance enhancing substance, but that he had failed to satisfy the high levels of personal responsibility implicit upon him as an international cricketer subject to anti-doping rules. 

Tharanga pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage in the proceedings and, as mandated under the ICC Code, the tribunal disqualified the rankings points he earned from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. 

The tribunal also exercised its discretion under the ICC Code to impose upon him a period of ineligibility of three months, which was back-dated, in accordance with the discretion afforded to the tribunal under the ICC Code, to commence on 9 May 2011 and expiring at midnight on 8 August 2011, therefore leaving him eligible to return to cricket and cricket related activities on 9 August 2011. 

In light of the circumstances of this case, the ICC re-iterates its zero-tolerance approach to doping and warns all international players that they remain personally responsible for ensuring that anything they eat, drink or put into their bodies (including any medical treatment they receive) does not give rise to an anti-doping rule violation under the Code. 

Reacting after the tribunal announced its decision, Tharanga said: "I apologise to the fans and followers of Sri Lanka cricket for inadvertently committing an offence. I hope my fellow sportsmen will learn from my experience and be more vigilant when taking medical treatment, so that their careers do not suffer in the way that mine has." 

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, said: "We recognise that Upul has not been found guilty of deliberately cheating, but the ICC maintains its zero-tolerance approach towards doping for the benefit of all its stakeholders. Cases like this serve as a reminder to all players that they must take great care and personal responsibility at all times for the substances that they consume. 

"I am satisfied with the tribunal's decision and pleased at the way the ICC has handled this case with both sensitivity and efficiency." 

All parties with a right of appeal (including Tharanga and the ICC) will be entitled to appeal the decision within 21 days of their receipt of the written decision. 

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Sri Lanka launches its own Twenty20 league / Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL)

Sri Lanka's cricket board on Thursday announced its own glitzy Twenty20 tournament, seeking to emulate the success of the hugely popular Indian Premier League.

The first edition of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) will be played over 18 days from July 19 and will feature teams from the island's seven provinces and big international stars, according to a statement.

"Twenty20?s massive popularity and status as the most exciting and entertaining format of cricket will be further enhanced by this newest tournament to the world of cricket," read a Sri Lanka Cricket statement.

While SLC kept quiet on the international stars likely to take part, local media named the likes of Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Daniel Vettori, Kieron Pollard, Daniel Christian, Herschelle Gibbs and Kevin O'Brien.

The teams will play each other once, with the top four qualifying for the semi-finals. The winner of the tournament will qualify for the Champions League Twenty20, which is jointly promoted by the boards of India and South Africa.

All the SLPL games will be day-night encounters and played at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium. Each squad can have a maximum of five international players but the starting XI can have only four of them.

However, in contrast to IPL's high-profile auctions for players, international stars will be assigned to teams by the Sri Lankan national selection committee.

The seven teams are Basnahira Bears, Kandurata Kites, Nagenahira Nagas, Ruhuna Rhinos, Uthura Oryxes, Uva Unicorns and Wayamba Wolves.

The league will be run by the Singapore-based Somerset Entertainment, who have bought the rights for five years. The global television rights for the 24 matches have already been sold.

The SLPL could come as a particular blessing for Pakistan players. They have been ignored by the money-spinning IPL since the inaugural edition in 2008.

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Lashit malinga test match (record) statistics

Career Bowling Stats

M

Inn

B

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Econ

Avg

SR

5W

10W

Tests

30

59

5209

3349

101

5/50

9/210

3.86

33.16

51.57

3

0

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Lashit malinga retires from test cricket

Lasith Malinga has announced his retirement from Test cricket, saying he wanted to focus on One Day Internationals and T20 matches. Malinga has been at the centre of a controversy after having written to the selectors to not consider him for Sri Lanka's tour of England and with chief selector Duleep Mendis publicly saying it was "awkward" if a player said he was nursing an injury but continued to play in the IPL. 

Though he said in a statement that he is physically fit to play the shorter formats of the game, a 'degenerative knee problem' needed to be managed carefully. This would also allow him to perform at his best for Sri Lanka in the 2015 World Cup. 

The following is the text of his statement released to the media: 

In January of this year I wrote a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket and released a statement to the media confirming that I planned to reassess my Test future after the World Cup. 

After the tournament I decided that I needed to make myself unavailable for Test cricket in an effort to prolong my career as a national cricketer for Sri Lanka. 

Although I am sufficiently fit to play both ODI and T20 cricket, I have a long-standing degenerative condition in my right knee that needs to be carefully managed. 

The condition relates directly to the chronic knee injury I sustained playing for Sri Lanka in Australia back in February 2008, an injury that prevented me from playing ODI cricket for 16 months. 

The injury was a career-threatening injury and my orthopaedic surgeon was of the opinion that given his experience with other professional athletes in Australia I was very fortunate to play again. 

I have since been advised by the national team physiotherapist and my orthopaedic consultant that my condition will deteriorate when fielding or bowling for prolonged periods. 

I did try to return to Test cricket after a three-year absence last year following requests from the team management and the selectors, but it left me unfit nursing severe knee pain for two months. 

I have realised that the heavy workload of Test cricket, which requires a fast bowler to be able to bowl more than 15 overs, sometimes on consecutive days, could lead to permanent injury. 

I have carefully considered my options and have decided that not playing Test cricket will help me achieve my goal of representing Sri Lanka in the 2012 World Twenty20 and the 2015 World Cup. 

While representing Sri Lanka in as many ICC events as possible is my priority, I am fully available for selection for all Sri Lanka's ODI and T20 matches. 

I plan to travel to Sri Lanka shortly to discuss my future plans with the selectors. 

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IPL 4 : Sri Lanka allows players to stay in IPL till May 18

A major standoff between the powerful BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket was on Thursday averted with the island nation extending the deadline for its players' return from the IPL till May 18, a compromise which put an end to the uncertainty over their availability. 

Under pressure from the BCCI to extend the original May 5 deadline, SLC relented after a meeting with country's Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and allowed its star players to participate in cash-rich event for 13 more days. 

Sources said according to the revised schedule, the players will now participate in the IPL till May 18 and leave from Mumbai for their tour of England after that. 

The series against England starts May 14 with a practice match against Middlesex, followed by another warm-up game against England Lions on May 19. 

The first Test of the three Tests is scheduled to begin in Cardiff from May 26 which means that those players staying back for IPL would just have about a week to prepare for the series. 

The indications of a compromise came earlier in the day when Aluthgamage said that the players might be allowed to stay beyond the original May 5 deadline. 

"I have received several e-mails from the BCCI and I will meet the selection committee and the SLC officials to discuss the matter. We might extend the May 5 deadline," Aluthgamage said. 

"The players have to leave for England on May 10 and we might consider postponing that too. We don't want to embarrass the BCCI, we have good relations with India and we want to maintain this. We are trying to work out new dates for the players," he added. 

Eleven Sri Lankan players, including Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who are captaining their respective franchises, are currently in action in the cash-rich IPL. 

Their early return would have had an adverse impact on their respective teams' combinations as the franchises were under the impression that the players would be available till May 21. 

There is speculation that Sri Lanka's climbdown came after the BCCI gave them a deadline to sort out the issue and even threatened to withhold the 10 per cent cut from the players' fee which the SLC was due to get after the IPL. 

The SLC stands to earn approximately Rs. two crore from the Rs. 21 crore that the participating players would pocket from the event. 

The controversy began after the Sri Lankan government asked the SLC to direct all its cricketers playing in the IPL to return home by May 5. 

It got murkier after the government and the SLC rejected the BCCI's request to allow its star cricketers to play in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament till May 15. 

Speculation was that the Lankan government's move was in retaliation to the treatment meted out to Sri Lankan minister who had accompanied President Mahinda Rajapakse during the World Cup final in Mumbai on April 2. 

The Ministers were reportedly peeved that they were not allowed sit at the same enclosure and some of them had to buy their own tickets. 

"I know that we had some problems with BCCI because we made request for more tickets (in the World Cup final in Mumbai) because a few cabinet ministers had come. They did not give it. 

"But that is a totally different matter. That is about protocol and the current issue is about cricket. Protocol and cricket are totally different matters," Aluthgamage clarified. 

The Sri Lankan Board's decision to call back its players by May 5 had created a furore in India as the IPL franchises put pressure on the BCCI to extend their stay. 

The Sri Lankan players were repeatedly asked about these developments at their routine post and pre-match press conferences. 

Retired spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan had slammed the SLC for asking the players to return midway through the IPL, claiming that the No Objection Certificate had permitted them to play to till May 20. 

"I think the board (SLC) has given them permission till May 20. I don''t know what happened suddenly. The players were told to come on May 5. It is the fault of SLC because they signed the NOC till May 20 so if they change it to May 5 it is something wrong," Muralitharan, who quit international cricket after Sri Lanka's defeat to India in the World Cup final early this month, said. 

"Players will get demoralised because if they go back on May 5 they play half of the IPL and they are going to miss a lot. SLC should have informed the players earlier, then the IPL franchises would understand and everyone would understand," he added. 

Two Sri Lankans - Sangakkara (Deccan Chargers) and Jayawardene (Kochi Tuskers Kerela) - are captaining their IPL franchises and their premature exit would mean their teams would have to find new skippers. 

Apart from these two, Tillakaratne Dilshan, who has now been named Sri Lanka's captain, Lasith Malinga, Suraj Randiv, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Nuwan Pradeep and Dilhara Fernando are among the other Sri Lankans in action in the IPL. 

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Malinga asked to return home by SLC

Sri Lanka Cricket has asked fast bowler Lasith Malinga to return early from the IPL to undergo a rehabilitation program after Malinga made himself unavailable for Sri Lanka's upcoming Test series in England. Malinga had written to the board to say he was unavailable for the three tests starting from May 26, citing injury. However, he has continued to play in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians - where he is the side's main bowler. 

"It looks a bit awkward when someone says he is injured and continues to play cricket," Sri Lanka's new chairman of selectors Duleep Mendis said. "That is the reason why we have decided to write to Malinga and ask him to return home and undergo a rehabilitation programme. Malinga has specifically mentioned in a letter that he is not available for Test matches right now because he has a nagging knee problem. 

"When the player says that he is injured and he has to undergo a rehab programme what we can do is to tell him to undergo it immediately without continuing to play cricket in the IPL, and then get ready for cricket in Sri Lanka if he is interested in playing for his country." 

Malinga has been a key part of Sri Lanka's ODI and T20 sides, but has not figured in Test matches. He returned to Test cricket last year with two Tests against India where he picked up 10 wickets showing he could be effective in the longer format too. However, those were the only two Tests he has played for Sri Lanka since December 2007. 

Nishantha Ranatunga, the SLC secretary, also expressed concerns over Malinga's absence from the Test team. "We are very much concerned about Malinga because he is an important product in the team," Ranatunga said. "He should be up and running to play in all three formats of the game. In that sense getting him fit and ready to play at full strength is very important." 

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Malinga out of Sri Lanka Test squad against England tour 2011

SriLanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga will miss the three-test series in England which starts next month. 

Chairman of selectors Duleep Mendis said on Wednesday that the Mumbai Indians paceman was nursing a leg injury and had asked to return home for rehabilitation at the conclusion of the Indian Premier League. 

Sri Lanka named four uncapped players in their 16-man test squad on Wednesday -- batsmen Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne, all-rounder Thisara Perera and fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep. 

Mendis said new skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan's predecessor Kumar Sangakarra would act as unofficial vice-captain. 

"In the event Dilshan is unable to captain the side during the tour we have asked Kumar Sangakkara to take over," said Mendis

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Muralitharan will play worldcup final

Despite his knee injury Muralitharan will play the final match on Saturday against India.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara doesn’t know for sure that Muttiah Muralitharan will be fit enough to play in Saturday’s World Cup final, but he’s banking on fate to step in.

The world’s most prolific wicket-taker has sustained hamstring, knee, groin and side injuries in Sri Lanka’s run to the final, and isn’t a certainty to take his place in the team for what would be his 350th and last ODI for Sri Lanka.

‘‘It’s great to have him in the side, it’s great to hopefully have him tomorrow, and to have him play this World Cup final with us because there’s no other way we can have it,’’ Sangakkara said Friday.

‘‘Whatever happens tomorrow we want to play for him and play for each other and do the best that we can.’’

Muralitharan did not train on Thursday but was able to bowl in the nets on Friday, the day before Sri Lanka meets India at the Wankhede Stadium.

Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss had earlier said the ‘‘chances are good’’ that Muralitharan would play after he managed to bowl all of his 10 overs in the semifinal win over New Zealand despite his injury worries.

Sangakkara said the 38-year-old Muralitharan’s various aches and pains hadn’t affected his mood.

‘‘It’s hard to shut Murali up, whatever his mood is,’’ the captain said. ‘‘He’s pretty upbeat. He’s always talking, laughing and annoying most of the other players in the dressing room. Today’s been no different.’’

On Thursday, Muralitharan was spotted at the ground jokingly trying to persuade passing officials into giving him passes for Saturday’s sellout final at the 33,000-capacity stadium.

Sri Lanka also has an injury worry over all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who strained a quadriceps muscle in the semifinal. Sangakkara said a decision will be made on both players by the end of the day.

Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv have joined the squad on standby in case either player should be ruled out.

‘‘Angelo is one of our very important players,’’ Sangakkara said. ‘‘We’ll make an assessment today but if he’s not there he’s not there. The player who replaces him will consider it a big opportunity to do well for his country on this magnificent occasion.’’

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Chaminda Vass recalled for India vs Srilanka final

Sri Lanka on Thursday called-up 37-year-old seamer Chaminda Vaas and all-rounder Suraj Randiv as World Cup final cover for injured duo Angelo Mathews and Muttiah Muralitharan. 

"Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover for the injured (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Angelo) Mathews," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement. 

Vaas, 37 and Randiv, 26, were due to fly out to Mumbai later Thursday ahead of Saturday's title match against India. 

Muralitharan, who turns 39 next month, has played through the six-week tournament despite being afflicted by hamstring and groin injuries, a side strain and a troublesome knee. 

All-rounder Mathews, 23, picked up a right-side strain while fielding during Tuesday's semi-final win against New Zealand. 

Sri Lanka, 1996 winners and 2007 finalists, want to win the cup for legendary spinner Muralitharan who retires on Saturday after a world record haul of 800 Test and 534 one-day wickets. 

Vaas, who was part of the 1996 winning team, retired from Tests in July with 322 Test and 400 one-day wickets. 

He last played an international when India toured Sri Lanka in August 2008, taking the wicket of Yuvraj Singh for a duck. 

Randiv, who made his one-day debut against India in 2009, has taken 22 ODI wickets. 

He last played when Sri Lanka toured Australia for a one-day series last year. 

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Sri Lanka wants World Cup for Murali

Sri Lanka want to win the World Cup as a farewell trophy for legendary spinner and world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan who will retire from international cricket after the tournament. 

The spinner, who holds the records for Test (800) and one-day wickets (521), is playing his fourth and final World Cup. He retired from Tests in July last year. 

"Muralitharan is a special person, a legend," teammate Chamara Kapugedera said of the wily 38-year-old on Thursday. 

"Everyone in the team wants to give him (Murali) a good send off. We want to win the cup for Murali. It will be a great tribute," added Kapugedera, during team practice at Colombo's renovated R. Premadasa Stadium. 

Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup winners and 2007 runners-up, are also keen to lift the trophy for the legions of home fans who treat the sport like a religion. 

"The Sri Lankan crowd have been very supportive of us, even in bad times. So we are working hard to bring the Cup home again for our supporters too," the right-handed batsman said. 

Knicknamed "Kapu", the middle-order batsman managed only two runs in Sri Lanka's first game in their opening Group A match against Canada on Sunday. 

A tougher test awaits on Saturday when Sri Lanka meet South Asian rivals Pakistan in Colombo. 

Pakistan, the 1992 winners, won Tuesday's opening game against Kenya comfortably and have never lost a World Cup match against Sri Lanka in six previous meetings. 

Kapugedera said Sri Lanka are ready to meet the "fiery Pakistanis" on home soil in front of a supportive home crowd. 

"I think our top order is prepared for the challenge," he said, referring to facing key bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi. 

Kapugedera said "Our top-order has faced good fast bowlers before. We have had a very good stint in Australia too (last year). The guys are up for the challenge and we are looking forward to delivering the goods." 

He also added "Pakistan are a good team. A good combination of bowlers and batsmen. Yes the pressure is there when we play them. But then again, we are also a good team with a good combination. Saturday's game should be good," 

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