Sri Lanka: Muzzammil to contest Thilanga for cricket Board Presidency (18 Mar 1998)

Wednesday 18, March 1998

Muzzammil to contest Thilanga for cricket Board Presidency

By SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

The run for the Sri Lanka Cricket Board presidency took a new turn with A.J.M. Muzzammil contesting Thilanga Sumathipala for the post, after another strong candidate Ana Punchihewa's nomination had been rejected by the Cricket Board's executive committee.

The ExCo met on Monday evening to ratify the nominations received for the 50th AGM of the Cricket Board which is to be held at its headquarters on March 29 at 10 a.m.

"If there is going to be a close finish, I will go ahead and contest Thilanga, whom I consider is a strong candidate for the presidency. I will weigh my chances against him in the next few days," said Muzzammil, a former Moors SC president, who represented the club in Sara trophy cricket in the late sixties.

"I was very disappointed to see that the Cricket Board has rejected my nomination on the basis that I have not played division I cricket, on a directive given by the Minister of Sports," said Punchihewa yesterday.

"I submitted my nomination for the post of president as many cricket associations, clubs, cricketers and cricket enthusiasts requested me to come forward as president this year. I would like to thank everyone who supported and encouraged me in the last few months," he said.

Among the other names that were rejected were those of B.N.R. Jurangpathy for post of president and Jayantha Dharmadasa, brother of outgoing president Upali Dharmadasa, for post of vice-president.

The grounds for rejection was that these candidates did not have the necessary qualifications to contest as they had not participated in any tournaments laid down by the Cricket Board as 'Major tournaments' in its constitution.

The Sports Minister gave a directive that the Major tournaments classified by the Cricket Board and gazetted on November 1, 1997 should be considered the criterion for those seeking election to office at the forthcoming AGM. He however, relaxed the rule allowing club and association representatives to be present at the AGM and to vote.

As a result of the Ministry ruling, probably for the first time in the Cricket Board's history, all candidates for the AGM, with the exception of those contesting the posts of treasurer and assistant treasurer (who are exempt from the rule), will be those who have played division I cricket.

The following are the nominations approved by the ExCo for the 50th AGM of the Cricket Board on March 29: President (1 post) : Thilanga Sumathipala, A.J.M. Muzzammil, Vice-Presidents (2 posts): Anuruddha Polonowita, Abu Fuard, Mahinda Seneviratne, K.M. Nelson, Oshadie Weerasinghe; Hony. Secretary (1 post): Saliya Ahangama, Jayantha Paranathala, Jayananda Warnaweera, Hony. Treasurer (1 post): Nuski Mohamed, Upali Seneviratne, T.K.T. Jayalath; Hony. Asst. Secretary: Lawrence Amerasena, M. Sivaratnam, G. Dabrera; Hony. Asst. Treasurer: Mahinda Deshapriya, Nihal Leuke, K.V. Sumith.

Tournament Committee (5 posts): Bandula Dissanayake, Carlton Bernadus, Guy de Alwis, Sumith R. Perera, Jayantha Jayaweera, Capt. Patrick Jayasinghe, Frank Cooray, D.P. Wickremasinghe; Umpires Committee (5 posts): Lal Ranasinghe, M. Balasubramaniam, Marian Cooray, A.C.M. Lafir, Ravin Wickremaratne, A.R.M. Aroos, Oshadie Weerasinghe, Pemlal Fernando, D.P. Wickremarachchi, Nimal Ranchigoda; Sponsorship Committee (5 posts): Lasantha Rodrigo, Kumar Attanayake, Suranjith Premadasa, Pemlal Fernando, Senarath Alwis; Tour Organising Committee: Neomal Kahakachchi, Sunil Cooray, Ashok Vitharana, Jagath Jayawardena, Hayasthi Aponso, Ranjith Madurasinghe, Senarath Alwis.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)