Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lanka captain, has been left out of the 15-man squad for the one-day series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Only nine of the 15 players who travelled to the World Cup have been selected for the three-match series starting May 18. Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas had earlier been released from selection for the series so they could play county cricket in England.Asantha de Mel, Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors, said that Atapattu, who did not play a single game in the World Cup, had been dropped so that younger players could be given an opportunity to perform. “Marvan will be considered in the future, but for this series we thought of going with a couple of young guys,” de Mel told AFP.Among the uncapped players named in the squad is Malinda Warnapura, a left-hand batsman, who turned out a great performance for Sri Lanka A against Bangladesh A in March-April this year. Warnapura’s unbeaten 104, as opener in the second ODI clinched the series for Sri Lanka A. He also made 242 in Sri Lanka A’s 283-run victory in the first of the two four-day games that preceded the ODIs. Warnapura’s team-mate in that A squad, Ishara Amerasinghe, a right-arm fast-medium bowler, has also been named in the touring party. He took four wickets at an average of 30 in the three ODIs against Bangladesh A.”Malinda deserves the break,” said de Mel. “He’s done exceptionally well with the A team and was an automatic choice. Ishara bowls at a good pace and he’s got the talent and we want to see how he goes.” de Mel said Amerasinghe’s action was similar to Lasith Malinga’s, the Sri Lankan fast bowler, who has an unusual side-arm action.Prasanna Jayawardene will keep wickets in the absence of Sangakkara. Middle-order batsman Chamara Kapugedara and legspinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi are also part of the squad.Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt) Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Malinga Bandara, Lasith Malinga, Malinda Warnapura, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Ruchira Perera, Ishara Amerasinghe, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Chamara Kapugedara.
There will be no cricket in Barbados this weekend under the auspices of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).The embattled association was hit with an injunction yesterday, which prohibits the governing body for cricket from starting the 2006 domestic season until it receives an order from the High Court to do so.Following an afternoon hearing in the No.5 Supreme Court, Justice William Chandler granted an injunction sought by attorney Ralph Thorne, on behalf of Bristol Cricket Club and its president, John Greaves.Consequently, cricketers who were getting ready to take the field in the 58 scheduled matches ranging from the Banks Division 1 competition, to the Premier League, Intermediate, Second Division and Schools League, will now have to remain indoors today.The case has been adjourned until next Friday and in the interim, the BCA, through Queen’s Counsel Peter Symmonds, will file an affidavit in response to Bristol’s claim.The Old Coleridge, St Peter-based Oran/Carib Bristol team, who won the Premier League in 2004 and were second last year, are contending they should be promoted to the Division 1 competition.Greaves, also a long-serving player, has made it clear he believes his club has been given a raw deal after the BCA this year promoted the University of the West Indies (UWI) and a second Barbados Youth team to the Division 1 competition.Angered by their omission from the highest division, Bristol, arguably the most successful Premier League team in the past decade, sought a hearing and met with three high-ranking BCA board members on Wednesday when the matter was discussed for the first time.After there was no resolution, the matter was referred to the BCA’s board of management, which held a meeting yesterday morning.However, Bristol’s request for promotion was apparently turned down, and by mid-afternoon Thorne headed a team of lawyers, including Gregory Nicholls and Larry Smith, in seeking an injunction from the Supreme Court. BCA president Tony Marshall, general secretary Vernon Williams and business manager Rollins Howard attended yesterday’s proceedings which were held in chambers.Over the last few weeks cricketers were busy practising for the start of the season with nets and training sessions. By Thursday night, the majority of the clubs had already chosen their teams to play in the first series of matches, but they will now have to wait a while before they can get on the field of play.
Gloucestershire 221 and 145 for 5 (Spearman 66, Weston 55) need another 107 runs to beat Hampshire 197 and 275 (Tremlett 64, Warne 62) Scorecard Billy Taylor (3 for 40) and Shane Warne (2 for 27) grabbed five late wickets to give Hampshire the edge after Gloucestershire had seemed on their way to victory when they reached 129 for 0 chasing a target of 252. But Taylor removed Spearman for 66, and in the final hour Gloucestershire lost five wickets for 26 runs before bad light brough a premature end to a day so cold that Warne shuddered in the slips in a layer of sweaters and a fetching bobble hat. It was Hampshire’s second fightback of the day. Resuming on 111 for 6, only 88 runs ahead, Warne’s 62 and a career-best 64 from Tim Tremlett enabled their last four wickets to put on 181 runs. Scorecard Only 13.3 overs were possible at The Oval before the rain set in, with most of the excitment for the day centred on the fox which was trapped on top of one of the gas holders outside the ground. When play was possible Richard Clinton and Mark Ramprakash were in the process of seeing off the Sussex new-ball attack, as James Kirtley continued his impressive spell from yesterday evening. Mark Ramprakash broke the shackles with a brilliant cover-drive off Kirtley but in the most part the bowling demanded respect â” Sussex had obviously learnt the lessons from watching Surrey waste helpful conditions over the first two days. But the light soon closed in, soon followed by the rain, and the umpires called play off shortly after tea. For a report on Surrey’s fox click on Roving Reporter Scorecard Ian Bell followed his good performance with the bat yesterday by grabbing three wickets in nine balls to rip the heart out of Glamorgan’s top order before bad light ended play shortly after tea. Matthew Elliott (69) and David Hemp (96) had taken the visitors to 169 for 1 when Bell struck. First he trapped Elliott leg-before attempting an ambitious pull, and in Bell’s next over Hemp lost his middle stump and three balls later Matthew Maynard chopped into his wicket. None of the strokes were what the situation called for and left Glamorgan facing a daunting challenge to save the game tomorrow. In the morning, Warwickshire resumed on 415 for 4 and immediately cut loose, cracking 149 runs in 24.4 overs. Dougie Brown completed a breezy hundred, and then Heath Streak (41*) and Neil Carter (39) put on 77 for the eighth wicket before Nick Knight declared half an hour before lunch.
Khaled Mahmud has left the international cricket scene a bitter man after finding himself surplus to requirements in his very own team.Mahmud led Bangladesh in three Test series, after being appointed as captain last April. But he realised that the door to Test cricket was shut forever after losing his job to Habibul Bashar, and his place in the 16-member tour party bound for Zimbabwe.”I believe this is the right time to say goodbye to international cricket,” said an emotional Mahmud. “It is not only because I’ve been dropped from the Test squad, but also to avoid further embarrassment. I love this game very much. But I have placed self-respect above everything throughout my career.”Mahmud announced his retirement as soon as the squad had been revealed, although his mind had been made up for some time, after sensing something was not quite right in the behaviour of his team-mates.”I was not getting enough chances to bat in the nets and also I noticed that the bowlers were acting funny whenever it was my turn,” said Mahmud. “This is not the way to behave with a captain who should always command the respect of his team-mates. And if this trend continues, Bangladesh will never get a good captain in the future.””I admit that I have shortcomings. But tell me how many consistent performers are there in the team right now? I have failed in the home series against England but it is unfair to pass judgment on one player when everybody should be sharing the blame.”Mahmud made his one-day debut in 1998 but had to wait until November 2001 to play Test cricket. His finest hour came at Northampton in the 1999 World Cup, when he bowled Bangladesh to that famous victory over Pakistan.
BRISBANE, Jan 21 AAP – Makeshift opener Clinton Perren posted the highest Pura Cup score of the season today as Queensland left South Australia struggling to avoid defeat at the Gabba.At stumps on the third day, South Australia was 2-46 in its second innings in pursuit of a victory target of 409.The Redbacks lost openers Ben Johnson (seven) and David Fitzgerald (nought from 34 balls) during a 22-over stint before stumps as they tried to repair the damage inflicted by Perren.The right-hander scored 224 – the 10th highest total by a Queenslander in an interstate match – as the Bulls surged to 8-487 declared in their second innings.Perren batted for 501 minutes, justifying the decision of selectors to promote him to the opening spot vacated by Australian one-day players Matthew Hayden and Jimmy Maher.With Stuart Law (72) and Wade Seccombe (70) posting half-centuries, the Bulls continued the fightback which seemed unlikely when they crashed for 129 on the first day.South Australia claimed first-innings points but the visitors finished the day in desperate trouble, plenty of hope riding with captain Greg Blewett (21 not out), who has made centuries in his last two first-class matches at the Gabba.Johnson fell to Joe Dawes (1-19) before Fitzgerald was given out LBW to Adam Dale (1-11) without playing a shot.The Gabba wicket held up well for batting but the Redbacks’ confidence won’t be boosted by some low bounce late on the third day.
All rounder Thilan Samaraweera has been retained as the captain of Sri LankaA team to take on Pakistan A in the three match One Day series, which startsat De Soyza Park Stadium, Moratuwa on Saturday.Samaraweera performed remarkable well in the three Match Test series wherehe claimed 21 wickets at 14.09 apiece. Apart from his impressive bowling thecaptain scored 94 runs in five innings, averaging 23.Other than the captain, Avishka Gunawardene, Chamara Silva, TillakarathneDilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Suresh Perera, Akalanka Ganegama, and NiroshanBandarathillake all have played in the senior side.With the triangular series against India and New Zealand close at hand, theselectors will be keen to pick up few players who could move up the ladder.Suresh Perera, back after a long period of injury, will be keen to press hisclaims for the national team while Avishka Gunawardene is a strong contenderto get back to the side after his powerful batting in the three-Test Aseries. He is though not even in the 24-man training squad for thetriangular series.Jehan Mubarak, who was not selected to play in the three unofficial TestMatches, gets a chance while Muthumudalige Pushpakumara who was the 12th manin the first and the last Test Matches gets an overdue chance.The full squad:Thilan Samaraweera, Avishka Gunawardene, Shantha Kalavitigoda, JehanMubarak, Chamara Silva, T.M.Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Suresh Perera,Sajeeva Weerakoon, Akalanka Ganegama, Dinusha Fernando, Upeka Fernando,Gayan Wijekoon, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Niroshan Bandarathillake.
Wilfried Nancy has become the first manager in Celtic history to lose his first four matches in charge of the club after a dismal 2-1 defeat to Dundee United on Wednesday night.
The Hoops looked like they had turned a corner after they took the lead through Daizen Maeda early on, but the hosts turned it around with two quick goals in the second half to seal all three points.
It is hard to defend the French head coach after such a disappointing start to his Celtic career, but there were several players who could have done more, including the goalscorer Maeda.
How Celtic's attack cost Nancy against Dundee United
The Japan international scored a brilliant goal to put the Scottish Premiership giants in front, as he beat the defender superbly and rifled a shot into the bottom corner.
However, as shown in the clip below, he also produced an astounding miss that truly has to be seen to be believed, as he hit the post from almost on the line.
Maeda was not the worst attacker on the pitch for Celtic, though, as Johnny Kenny missed two ‘big chances’, per Sofascore, including one in the six-yard box that was put on a plate by Maeda.
The Ireland international did provide the assist for the Japanese winger’s goal, in his defence, but his lack of ruthlessness in front of goal ultimately cost Celtic and Nancy, as he failed to convert any of the four shots and two ‘big chances’ that he had.
Kenny and Maeda were far from the only underperformers on the night, though, as Reo Hatate was just as bad as they were with his dismal display.
Why Reo Hatate should be dropped
The Japan international lined up as one of the two number ten options behind Kenny, alongside Luke McCowan, and failed to offer much to the team in or out of possession.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Whilst Kenny and Maeda were guilty of missing big opportunities in front of goal, both of them combined for the goal that Celtic did score, and got into positions to cause problems for Dundee United.
Hatate, meanwhile, did little of note to show that he deserves to keep his place in the starting line-up ahead of their clash with Aberdeen at Parkhead at the weekend.
Per Sofascore, the Japanese central midfielder lost 100% of his ground duels and 100% of his aerial duels, which shows that he failed to match the intensity and physicality that Dundee United brought to the game in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Luke McCowan won five of his 11 duels, Paulo Bernardo won eight of his 11 duels, and Callum McGregor won five of his five duels. Hatate, therefore, was, by far, the weakest link in midfield from a physical and defensive perspective.
Vs Dundee United
Reo Hatate
Minutes
65
Shots
2
Shots on target
0
Key passes
1
Cross accuracy
0%
Ground duels won
0/1
Aerial duels won
0/1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Celtic star also offered little to the team from an attacking perspective, with no shots on target and one chance created in 65 minutes of action before he was withdrawn from the game by Nancy.
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The fact that he was one of the first players to come off as part of the triple substitution suggests that the French boss was far from pleased with what he was delivering on the pitch, which is understandable when you look at the statistics behind his performance.
He was just as bad as Kenny and Maeda because they, at least, offered some quality for the goal to go along with the errors they made with their wayward finishing. Whereas the midfield flop simply offered very little at either end of the pitch.
That is why Nancy should ruthlessly drop him from the starting line-up for the clash with Aberdeen, because he was ineffective in the number ten position and another player, whether that is Arne Engels or Benjamin Nygren, should be given an opportunity to take his place.
Celtic can end Nancy's nightmare by hiring "unbeatable" 4-2-3-1 manager
Celtic could quickly end their Wilfried Nancy nightmare by swooping for this out of work head coach.
ByDan Emery
Whoever takes to the field against the Dons, Nancy needs his players to step up and be reliable in front of goal to quickly end his nightmare start to life in Glasgow.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) may be cash-strapped at the moment but there are riches lying ahead of them during the rest of the year with a whopping US$ 17 million expected from international commitments at home and abroad.Arjuna Ranatunga, the SLC chairman, recently revealed that the board’s coffers were empty and that it was surviving on bank borrowings. Ranatunga had also appealed to the Indian board to help alleviate the financial mess and it appears some revenue has been projected by way of an Indian visit from July 12 to September 2.A series of three Tests and five one-day internationals is expected to net SLC US$ 16,014,446 from television rights alone. The three Tests are likely to be played at Galle and in Colombo and Dambulla is likely to host at least one ODI. Zimbabwe are the other country Sri Lanka will be hosting during 2008 and the turnout for a series of three ODIs is US$ 218,101.Sri Lanka are currently touring Australia for the CB Series against the hosts and India. Their next assignment will be a full series in the West Indies, starting with the first Test in Guyana on March 22.From April 18 to June 17 Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Zoysa are expected to feature in the inaugural Indian Premier League. Given the amount of interest and money the IPL has already gathered, it remains to be seen if the proposed Asia Cup in June and July materialises. If it does, SLC will received US$ 200,000 for their participation.It is more likely that they will receive US$1 million for taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy, also scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in September and October. Only the top eight ODI teams in the world will be invited to play in the Champions Trophy, the venues for which are Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. Islamabad was initially touted as a possible venue, but it is unlikely that the stadium, which is currently being developed, will be ready for the tournament.The advent of the IPL has also thrown the Afro-Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Kenya in June, in doubt. There is also uncertainty surrounding the Stanford 20/20 tournament taking place in the West Indies in June, due to the IPL.SLC are also due to get revenue when they host Bangladesh for a series of three Tests and three ODIs starting at the end of the year.
Paul Collingwood believes Andrew Flintoff will put his off-field problems behind him when England play Kenya in their winner-takes-all clash in St Lucia on Saturday. Flintoff was stripped of the vice-captaincy and dropped for the Canada match after being one of six players and two coaches fined for staying out late drinking after the opening defeat by New Zealand.Flintoff will return to face Kenya as the teams fight to join Stephen Fleming’s side in next week’s Super Eights. “Freddie will respond well, the whole team will,” Collingwood said. “I faced him in the nets the other day and it was proper gas. It was up there. The intensity was there. I’m sure when he gets on that park he’s going to be desperate to do well on Saturday and that can only be good for the team.”Collingwood, who has been tipped to replace Michael Vaughan as captain if he is injured, said England were prepared to be put under pressure by the Kenyans. “From what I’ve seen, and I’ve spoken to a couple of Kiwi lads about them, they’ve got a few dibbly-dobblers, not too express,” he said.”They’ve got basic cricketing talent. They’ll put you under pressure, have ring fields against you, and the Kiwi guys said it was very hard to get the pace on the ball. We have to overcome that in some way.”Kenya, who made the semi-finals in 2003, suffered a 148-run loss to New Zealand on Tuesday and Steve Tikolo, the captain, was confident of turning things around against England. “Our chances are good,” he said, “if we do the basic things right.”
As competitive as the cricket has been between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the greater battle has always been to determine the more hospitable host – who offers more (or hospitality). Pakistan have been courteous enough to not win a Test series against Sri Lanka at home since 1991-92. And when the two sides meet tomorrow at the SSC ground in Colombo, the hosts have been so obliging as to allow Pakistan not a single Test series loss since Pakistan first arrived in 1985-86. That season was the last time they lost even a Test in Sri Lanka.This time, the hosts have even foregone two key players as a grand gesture. Skipper Marvan Atapattu is out of the series with a back problem and Chaminda Vaas has been ruled out of the first Test with the side strain that kept him out of the ODI series. With an early summer jaunt to England, selectors have rightly decided not to risk him. Bob Woolmer told the Karachi-based daily that Vaas’s absence will be keenly felt: “I think they will miss Vaas the most as he is a very shrewd and intelligent bowler.”It could have been worse but Sanath Jayasuriya has been passed fit and is expected to open the innings. Whatever his recent form and his age, at least six Pakistan players who step out tomorrow (and Woolmer too, whose first Test as coach it was) will remember his 253-run barbarism in Faisalabad 18 months ago. There is a limit to the hosts’ generosity for Muttiah Muralitharan will be playing and he hasn’t played a Test against them for four years. He’s taken 118 wickets at this ground in 22 Tests and 68 wickets against Pakistan in 12 Tests, so what’s the likelihood that he doesn’t have a say here?Stand-in skipper Mahela Jayawardene remains stoically upbeat. “If you look at our record we have performed really well in the last 12 months in Tests although we faced slight problems in India last winter,” he was quoted as saying by . Actually it goes beyond that for since losing to India in the second Test at Kandy in August 2001, they have lost only three Tests at home, all against Australia in a series in which they had more than their share of moments.On their part, Pakistan are thoughtful guests for they’re also without Shoaib Akhtar (injury) and Mohammad Sami (dropped). Historically, it could be a crucial absence for Pakistan’s successes in Sri Lanka have been the work of broody, reverse-swinging fast bowlers, whether it was Imran Khan in 1985-86, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in 1994 or just Wasim in 2000. But the absences are not as serious for recently it is a situation they have adapted to. The last Test between these two sides, at Karachi, in fact was also without Sami and Shoaib.Danish Kaneria played his part then and not being a generally quiet chap, the silence that gripped him through the India series is unlikely to extend too much longer. In any case, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Asif aren’t shoddy and more than mere replacements. It’s scary how at home Asif seems since he came back into the team against England and India. He’s bowled Test match spells and ODI spells and appeared comfortable with any role presented to him.So comfortable that he should maybe even be tried out as opener, given the way Pakistan have lurched from makeshift to specialist back to makeshift again within six Tests. Salman Butt is yesterday’s Imran Farhat (out of form and favour) and Farhat is today’s Butt (in less poor form and in favour). Woolmer said Farhat will open and with him Shoaib Malik will continue his transformation into a Test opener. It’s worth recalling that in Pakistan’s last Test innings – against India at Karachi – Butt and Farhat put on a century stand in the second innings. It’s of equal worth to recall they put on nought in the first, so make of the opening situation what you will.In Urdu, they say of excessive hospitality sometimes `’ (You’ll miss the car in all the waiting for `after you, after you’). With England waiting for both sides later in the year, such courtesy and welcoming be rare this time round.TeamsSri Lanka (probable) 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Upal Tharanga, 3 Kumara Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Tillekeratne Dilshan, 6 Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Malinga Bandara, 8 Farvez Maharoof, 9 Dilhara Fernando, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Muttiah MuralitharanPakistan (probable) 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Shoaib Malik, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Mohammad Yousuf, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Kamran Akmal (wk), 9 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, 10 Mohammad Asif, 11 Danish Kaneria