Kumar Sangakkara speaks out on HIV/AIDS

KUMAR SANGAKKARA is a hugely talented cricketer who shoulders a lot of responsibility for his team Sri Lanka. He bats at the key number three position and also keeps wicket.

He is a thoughtful man and is training to be a lawyer in his spare time. His keen interest in the world beyond the boundary has led Mr Sangakkara to become involved with the International Cricket Council, UNAIDS and UNICEF in promoting the Unite for Children. Unite against Aids campaign.

To get the full story, please visit: uniteforchildren.org/cricket

Sri Lanka overpowered India the Video

Inspired by a genius who raised his game when the occasion demanded, Sri Lanka overpowered India in their final league match at Port-of-Spain and stormed into the Super Eights. India suffered one of their most disappointing days in recent memory, muffing up a run-chase on a pitch posing no worries, and were all but ousted from the World Cup, in what is likely to be their worst campaign since 1979.

Bangladesh eye World Cup berth as India pray for Bermuda

By N.Ananthanarayanan

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters) – Bangladesh can complete the elimination and humiliation of India and earn themselves a maiden World Cup second-round spot with victory over debutants Bermuda later on Sunday.

Bangladesh only need to avoid defeat to go through, but more than a billion Indian fans will be praying the newcomers Bermuda pull off an unlikely Group B win which could allow India to sneak through on net run rate.

“Tomorrow India is really banking on us to play well,” Bermuda skipper Irvine Romaine told reporters. “It is good to have that support.

“It is good to play a part in the World Cup even though we haven’t got the results right now.”

Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, have already topped the group and Bermuda have lost their first two matches heavily.

India were virtually knocked out in the first round after losing to Sri Lanka on Friday, ending with just one win from three matches.

Qualification would be huge for Bangladesh after they failed to win a game in their second World Cup campaign in 2003.

They have since beaten India, champions Australia and Sri Lanka in one-day internationals to show their progress.

Skipper Habibul Bashar hoped his young team did not put themselves under too much pressure.

“We won against India because we enjoyed that game.

“We should win but this is another international game and we should not take things lightly.”

Romaine hoped his amateur side could cash in if Bangladesh slipped up.

“They are very good and young but inconsistent. Tomorrow may be an off day for them and we may catch them napping.”

More bets than bats

Cricket betting which is believed to be linked to the sensational murder of Pakistan’s coach Bob Woolmer is racing beyond horses in Colombo and elsewhere in Sri Lanka.

Bookmakers and betting centres in Colombo are putting out World Cup specials and say matches are now more popular and are drawing more bets than horse races.

 

Like the popular race sheet, cricket betting sheets have been published by gambling centres for punters. Pic by Saman Kariyawasam  

Millions of Lankans watched the crucial Sri Lanka-India match on Friday and betting centres say they offered and received bets on various aspects of the game if not a ball-by-ball basis. They said bets were offered and received on who would win the toss and who would score the first six besides the bigger bets on winners and losers.

For the rest of the matches, bets are now open and reads like the list of horses and jockeys for a race — Man of the match, man of the series, highest scorer for a match, the tournament’s top scorer, highest opening partnership, number of sixes, number of runouts, highest wicket taker, and winners of the world cup.

Similar to the race-by-race process, betting centres are also offering and getting numerous offers on an over-by-over basis.

On Friday hundreds of people were seen watching the Sri Lanka-India match till late at night at popular betting centres in Borella, Fort, Pettah and Maradana.

While Colombo is the hub of the new trend in cricket betting, it has also spread to the suburbs and other areas like Ratnapura with the city of gems glittering with cricket bets.

Race newspaper Sporting Times official A. Sagara said betting for the main aspects of the matches closed at 6.30 p.m. but the over-by-over aspects were open till much later.

He said on the days when Sri Lanka were playing, long queues were seen outside betting centres from 5.p.m. and many of the centres had installed large screen Plasma TVs to give punters an extra special view of the matches.

Deputy Inspector General Rohan Abeywardena said gambling centres paid taxes and there was no legal basis to check or stop the betting.