Sri Lankan News Briefs (08 Dec 1995)

Friday 08, December 1995

SRI LANKA SPORTS NEWS AT-A-GLANCE

Compiled by Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka cricket chiefs in India

The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, Ana Punchihewa and Secretary Anura Tennekoon are currently in India to attend a meeting of next year`s World Cup organising committee.

The local Cricket Board chiefs attended a meeting of the PILCOM, Pakistan-India-Lanka Organising Committee,in Calcutta. The next edition of the World Cup cricket will be staged in the Indian sub-continent. Two of the four matches hosted by Sri Lanka will be played at the Premadasa International Stadium and one each at the Asgiriya International Stadium and SSC grounds.

Whatmore predicts a tough series against Australia

On the eve of the first Test,Sri Lanka coach Davenall Whatmore predicted the three-Test series against Australia is going to be a very tough one.

"We are going to play a team that is labelling itself as the unofficial champions of the world. Australians play their cricket very hard. They never give up. We are not expecting it to be easy. It certainly won`t be easy," predicted Whatmore as he kept a sharp eye on his charges practising at the WACA grounds in Perth on Thursday.

Akram likely to retain Pakistan captaincy

Despite losing two successive Test series to Sri Lanka and Australia, Pakistan is likely to retain paceman Wasim Akram as captain till the next year`s World Cup to be held in the Indian sub-continent.

Arif Ali Abbasi, chief executive of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said he always believe in long term planning and changing captains affects the team`s performance. "We will not opt for a change in the captaincy unnecessarily," said Abbasi.

Hayat and Parker to umpire first Test

Khizar Hayat of Pakistan and Australian Peter Parker will officiate at the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia which starts at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) grounds in Perth on Friday.

Pakistani Hayat is the neutral umpire appointed by the International Cricket Council. The ICC match referee for the series is former chief executive of New Zealand Cricket and cricket captain Graham Dowling. The second and third Tests of the 3-match series will be played in Melbourne (December 26 to 30) and Adelaide (January 25 to 29).

Sri Lankan Cooray - ICC umpire in Christchurch from Friday

Sri Lankan Test umpire B.C.Cooray will stand in as the International Cricket Council neutral umpire in the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan which starts in Christchurch on Friday

This is the second occasion since being appointed to the ICC international panel last year that Cooray has been assigned to officiate a Test as an independent umpire. Earlier Cooray officiated the second Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan in Bulawayo early this year.He has officiated in five Test matches and 13 one-day internationals since 1985 and overall in 43 international games.

Kalutara District beat Sussex U-19

Kalutara District team registered an easy five-wicket win over visiting Sussex under-19 from England in their limited over match played at the Panadura Esplanade.

Sussex under-19 batting first made 166 all out in 43 overs with A.Lowe (35) and R.Telveli (36) making main contributions. I. Gallage (4 for 23) and L.Liyanage (2 for 11) shared the bowling honours for the home team. In reply Kalutara District made 167 for 5 in 39.4 overs with R.Wimalasena making an unbeaten 72. R.Jenkwin took 2 for 33.

Source :: Lake House/Lanka Internet Services Ltd