The Headlines (for Feb 96)

The Headlines for Feb 96

JAN96 news items moved to ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/JAN96

Please See the World Cup 1996 Directory for the latest WC news.

Sat 24

Peter Short, President of the West Indies Cricket Board of Control announces that he will be resigning at the Board`s next meeting scheduled in May. See news/ for further details.

Tue 20

The future of Headingley will come under scrutiny at the county`s annual meeting in Sheffield on March 16. See article in news/.

Mon 19

Sri Lanka to tour Singapore after World Cup

After the current World Cup cricket tournament in the subcontinent,Sri Lanka team will travel to Singapore to play in a three-nation tournament. Singapore will emerge international cricket`s newest off-shore venue when it hosts a three-nation limited overs tournament. Asian cricketing giants India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will compete in the ground-breaking triangular competition from April 1-7. Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka in the `curtain raiser of the Triangular International Cricket series to be played in Singapore on April 1.

Fri 09

Inzamam-ul-Haq has flown to England to consult a specialist about his knee injury which has prevented him from giving his best in the training camp for the World Cup. See details in News/.

The House of Lords has approved an amendment to the Broadcasting Bill now before parliament in order enable the major sporting events to be more available on terrestrial television in UK. See news/ for more.

Ali Bacher may be the next nominee for the ICC chair post. See article in news/.

The West Indies Cricket Board of Control is yet to respond to Sri Lanka`s request to play a couple of Tests in April when they tour Caribbean islands to play a couple of one day internationals. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board have accepted an invitation from the Queens Park Cricket Club in Trinidad to play the matches on April 12 and 13 as part of the Centenary Celebrations of the club. Sri Lanka Cricket Board was trying to make use of the opportunity to play a couple of Test matches there against the West Indies during the visit by the Sri Lanka team. Sri Lanka and West Indies have met only once in a Test match in December 1993. The Test which happened to be Sri Lanka`s 50th was ruined by rain at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium.

Sri Lanka plans to take its `Cricket Fund 2000` campaign to the United States and Canada in April. The fund, the brainchild of BCCSL President Ana Punchihewa,will generate financial support to fulfil Sri Lanka`s dreams to become the best cricketing nation by the year 2000. Former Air Force cricketer Dr. Cyril Ernest was

Thu 08

The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka Ana Punchihewa said Sri Lanka has the potential to become the best cricketing nation in the World. Top priority will be given for coaching in a systametic and a continual basis-something that has not been done upto now. He also pointed out the talents displayed by Australians Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Stuart Law as to what a well equipped Cricket Academy, with qualified coaches could accomplish.

More sponsors poured in to make the Cricket Board President`s objective of fulfilling the mission of making Sri Lanka the best cricket playing nation in year 2000. Among the sponsors were John Keells Foods Ltd. W.M.Mendis & Co, Ceylon Brewaries Ltd, Union Bank of Colombo, Lanka Payphones Ltd,Edna Chocolates Ltd and Ceylon Motor Traders Association, all presented cheques to the President of the BCCSL at a ceremony held at the Hotel Taj Samudra Crystal Room last evening.

Romesh Kaluwitharana was felicitated this past Monday by his alma mater in light of his recent success in Australia. See article in news/.

Mon 05

The Sri Lanka cricket team,led by Arjuna Ranatunga, returned on Saturday night after their Australian tour. The team was received at the Bandaranaike International Airport by the Minister of Sports S.B.Dissanayake and Deputy Minister of Highways Reggie Ranatunga. Sri Lanka suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat in the Test series against Australia but fared better in the triangular one day tournament beating the West Indies and Australia twice each.

Sun 04

Sri Lanka cricket team returned home over the weekend after a nine-week tour of Australia. But they will have only a few day`s break before assembling for the World Cup tournament practice sessions. Sri Lanka had a bitter experience in the Test series as the Australians made a 3-nil whitewash. But Arjuna Ranatunga and his men fared well in the three-nation Benson and Hedges World Series Cup and entered the final displacing the West Indies for the first time in 17 years.

Sat 03

Australian fast bowler Craig McDermott has received a hoax bomb threat. See article in forthcoming/wc96/articles for further details and many more articles covering the World Cup.

Discarded West Indies opening batsman Phil Simmons has been appointed the captain of the Trinidad & Tobago cricket team for the remainder of this season`s Red Stripe Cup series. Simmons replaces Brian Lara who will be on duty with the West Indies team in next month`s World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Lara was TT`s victorious captain in yesterday`s three-wicket win over Barbados. Simmons` first assignment will be on Fri- day against Guyana at the Queen`s Park Oval. The selectors have included off-spinner Mukesh Persad and batsman Richard Smith in the 13-man squad, as replacements for Lara, and fast bowler Ian Bishop who is also a member of the World Cup squad.

English County Kent is confident that Carl Hooper will be ready and fit to play. Hooper withdrew from the forthcoming World Cup due to a `mystery illness.` See News/ for more details.

Fri 02

Cricket Authorities in England are attempting to prevent Test matches from being reserved for terrestrial television. See News/.

In light of the recent bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, Australia raises the option of forfeiting their game in Sri Lanka. See forthcoming/wc96/articles/.