Winners of the ICC Awards for 2007

Winners of the International Cricket Council (ICC) awards for 2007 which were presented at the Sandton Convention Centre here on Monday night:

Cricketer of the Year:
Ricky Ponting - Australia
Test Player of the Year:
Mohammad Yousuf - Pakistan
Emerging Player of the Year:
Shaun Tait - Australia
Captain of the Year:
Ricky Ponting - Australia
One-day Player of the Year:
Matthew Hayden - Australia
Women’s Cricketer of the Year:
Jhulan Goswami - India
Umpire of the Year:
Simon Taufel - Australia
Spirit of Cricket Award:
Sri Lanka

via Daily Mirror

 

Wow! Check out the Twenty-20 rules

How Twenty20 cricket is different from the regular 50-overs-a-side internationals:

As the name suggests, each side gets to bat for 20 overs instead of the normal 50 overs.

It’s fast and furious. The match lasts only three hours, including a 20-minute break between innings. One-day internationals take almost seven hours to complete with a 40-minute break.

A minimum of five overs a side are needed to constitute a match, as compared to 15 overs for one-day internationals.

To avoid time wasting, the incoming batsman gets only a minute and 30 seconds to be ready to receive the next ball. No wonder that teams are seated in dugouts near the boundary line instead of in the pavilion when a match is in progress.

Fielding restrictions apply for the first six overs when only two fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle. For the remaining 14 overs, not more than five fielders will be outside the circle.

Bowlers can send down a maximum of four overs each, instead of the 10 in regular internationals.

Free-hit: When the bowler sends down a no-ball, the next delivery will be a free hit for the facing batsman. The batsman cannot be dismissed off the free hit, except being run out. No change in field placement is allowed for the free-hit.

The umpire will signal a free hit after his no-ball signal by raising one arm and moving it in a circular motion.

Bowl out, cricket’s of the penalty shoot-out, will be applied if the semi-finals or final are tied.

Each team will nominate five bowlers who will take turns to hit the wickets at the other end. There will be no batsman facing. The team which achieves the maximum strikes will be the winner.2 via DM Sports

The Laws of cricket apply to Twenty20 with some exceptions:

• Should a bowler deliver a no ballby overstepping the popping crease,it costs 2 runs and his next delivery is designated a free-hit, from which the batsman can only be dismissed through a run out, for hitting the ball twice, obstructing the field or handling the ball, as is the case for the original “no ball”.

• Bowlers may bowl a maximum of only 4 overs per innings.

• Umpires may award 5-run penalty runs at their discretion if they believe either team is wasting time.

• If the fielding team do not start to bowl their 20th over within 75 minutes, the batting side is credited an extra 6 runs for every whole over bowled after the 75 minute mark; the umpire may add more time to this, if he considers the batting team is wasting time.

• The following fielding restrictions apply:
  • No more than 5 fielders can be on the leg side at any time.
  • During the first 6 overs, a maximum of 2 fielders can be outside the 30-yard circle.
  • After the first 6 overs, a maximum of 5 fielders can be outside the fielding circle.

• If the match ends with the scores tied and there must be a winner, the tie is broken with a bowl-out (similar to a penalty shoot-out in football), with 5 bowlers from each side delivering 2 balls each at an unguarded wicket. If the number of wickets is equal after the first 10 balls per side, the bowling continues and is decided by sudden death.via Wikipedia

 

Grand Charity Banquet to honour the late Gamini Dissanayake

Gamini was a visionary but not a dreamer. He had a pragmatic plan, which would have ensured that his vision became a reality. His vision and plans were not merely for the tomorrow. His visions encompassed the first decade of the 21st century and beyond.

Seven Hundred and Twenty of the countries glitterati including Cricketers, from the present and the Past gathered at the Ballroom of the Waters Edge for a charity event, to honour the late Gamini Dissanayake’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s entry to World Cricket.

In this room covered in midnight blue on the walls which was background for a myriad jets, that sparkled like the stars in the night sky, tributes were paid to the late Gamini by the likes of Arjuna Ranatunge and Ranjan Madugalle. There was entertainment galore with music from Sohan and the Xperiments and several leading guest stars, among them Anushan Perera and his partner in a Latin American dance performance. The evenings proceedings was compered by Arun Dias Bandaranayake, and the unusual decor and table centres were the creations of Dhiraj de Almeida.

There was no lack of styles and well dressed women and among them were the family members and extended family of the late Gamini. Making fashion news were some of the leaders of style. Badhra Wijesena had her long black top dramatically adorned with a single large white flower on a long stalk. There was Rohini Weerassoriya in a green kandyan saree gently bordered in gold, Ramani Fernando had her yellow saree patterned in splashes of turquoise for her to wear with an unusual necklace of cabochon turquoise. Sandra Opatha, wife of former cricketer Tony had her ivory saree with a border and pallu richly woven in black, red and gold. Her daughter Neshanie Dahanayake had draped her red saree bordered in gold in a variation of the fall, she wore with a splendid Indian collar necklace in red stones and gold. Samadara Ranatunge favoured the simplicity of a white saree and Lanka Dissanayake a black saree with woven borders and pallu. via Mirror Life

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SCOPP and SLMM Discuss Routine Visit to Kilinochchi

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) discussed the ongoing visit of an SLMM delegation to Kilinocchi for talks with the LTTE Peace Secretariat which was part of the usual routine. SLMM monitors had been unable to visit Kilincochi in the past few months because of concerns relating security and because SLMM head Retired Maj. Gen. Lars Solberg had been out of the country, SLMM told SCOPP.

The meeting was part of the regular weekly sessions between SLMM and SCOPP. The two sides agreed that the meetings so far have proved fruitful and that the parties have been able to accomplish some positive work. This, in turn, will help both SCOPP and SLMM effectively counter negative press reports about their activities, the two sides said. The meeting was positive and helped pave the way for more flow of information and communications between the parties to the CFA via the SLMM.

SLMM informed SCOPP that it has added seven new members to its staff. Four of the seven will be based in the three districts of the Eastern Province as well as Vavuniya. It was decided last week that such an arrangement was desirable. A SCOPP representative will meet with the new monitors before they depart to assume their duties.

At the meeting the two sides discussed the importance of revitalizing the local monitoring committee meetings in the conflict affected six districts in the North and the East. In this regard, SCOPP Secretary General Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha stressed the importance of clear reporting from local monitors in order to get an accurate picture of the situation on the ground in those areas.

The reports of the local monitors in Mannar, who had been in Colombo last week to attend the SCOPP Mannar Community Group, were, for instance, particularly useful because of their objective account of the ground situation.

Both SLMM and SCOPP were pleased about the transparency of the regular weekly meetings and agreed to continue to inform the public about the progress the two sides are making.

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Sri Lanka’s squad for ICC 20 -Twenty World Cup

Sri Lanka’s squad of thirty players for the ICC 20 -Twenty World Cup which is scheduled to be held in South Africa this September.

However the selectors have once again omitted former skipper Marvan Atapattu who pulled out of the current series against Bangladesh from the squad while also overlooking new found opener Malinda Warnapura too. However the batsmen Jehan Mubarak and Michael Vandort who have not proved themselves in the shorter version of the game also has been given a chance to prove themselves. Avishka Gunawardena who also was kept in cold storage for a while also has been thought of for the initial squad.

The squad: Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Dilruwan Perera, Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Avishka Gunawardena, Mahela Udawatte, T.M. Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Michael Vandort, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina Kandambi, Chamara Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Ranga Dias, Dilhara Fernando, Ishara Amerasinghe, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Nuwan Zoysa, Akalanka Ganegama, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Muttiah Muralitharan, Hasantha Fernando, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Gayan Wijekone, Upul Chandana and Dhammika Prasad.

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Chaminda Vaas will miss next week’s third Test against Bangladesh

Sri Lankan paceman Chaminda Vaas has been given permission to skip the third and final cricket Test against Bangladesh in Kandy so he could return to play for English county Middlesex.

A Sri Lanka Cricket official said the 33-year old Vaas who has played in 98 tests has been given special permission to leave the team after Sri Lanka warpped up the series with victory in the second test on Thursday.

“Yes Vaas will not be around for the last test”, said the official.

Sri Lanka won both matches by innings margins and look set for a clean sweep when the final Test starts at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy on Wednesday. The selectors have all-rounder Farveez Maharoof, left-arm spinner Sujeewa de Silva and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara to chose from, when it comes to picking Vaas’ replacement.

Vaas could find himself playing his 100 Test during Sri Lanka’s tour of Australia in November this year.

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is contracted with Lancashire, will also return to England after the Kandy Test and not play in the three one-dayers along with Vaas.

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Pro-Tiger website Nidarshanam.com has targeted Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka

The pro-Tiger website Nidarshanam.com, which is widely regarded to be under the direct supervision of LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman, has targeted Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Dayan Jayatilleka in its edition of June 26th, (Tuesday) 2007.

Describing Dayan Jayatilleka as “one who knows the history of the Tamil struggle very well”, from “its initial stages”, the Tiger website classifies him as one “capable of crushing the Tamil struggle in the countries of the world”. It notes his recent election as chairman of the governing body of the ILO and denounces his appointment as “a massive plot in place”.

Ambassador Jayatilleka was also unanimously elected a Vice President of the UN Human Rights Council and a member of its Bureau.

Replete with outright falsification, character assassination and distortion, and illustrated with a photograph of the diplomat, the sensationalist and scurrilous article in Tamil, entitled ‘Major change in the Sri Lankan International Intelligence Service’ reads as follows (in translation):

‘There has been a major change in the Sri Lankan International Intelligence Service. People who are suspected to be capable of crushing the Tamils’ struggle in the countries of the world have been appointed as Ambassadors.

Recently, The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry had introduced many Tamil faces to the European Countries. In the same manner Dayan Jayatilleka has been appointed the Chairman of the ILO this year. By his appointment a massive plot is in place.

He was wanted by the Sri Lankan authorities in the 1980s, for plotting to overthrow the government. Like Padhmanabha and Thiranagama he was also a wanted person in Sri Lanka. Those days their pictures were seen on the walls of Sri Lanka. Later the Sri Lankan Intelligence absorbed him and he then joined the EPRLF. He also functioned as a spy for the Sri Lankan Intelligence and tried to break up the Tamil movements. In 1987 he was a Minister in the North East Provincial Council of Varatharajahperumal’s cabinet. During his period, armed training for the youth in the North East was compulsory and on his advice they were called the National Army.

He was also a JVP member in the early days and was accused of being involved directly in the killing of one of the union leaders of the JVP. He was responsible for many killings in the North and East. Just like how he was indirectly working with the EPRLF, Muthiyanselage Uduwarage Henry Perera was indirectly working with PLOTE in the same manner. Uduwarage was a Sinhala racist who was with the JVP and was the link between the PLOTE and the Sinhalese. He was a follower of N.M. Perera and was responsible for many splits in the JVP. In 1990 he was killed in an attack at Musalkuthy.

Dayan Jayatilleka knows the history of the Tamil struggle very well and he is aware of the initial stages of the struggle too. Being appointed as the UN representative for Sri Lanka in Geneva, he has collected a few Tamil traitors in Europe and Switzerland and is plotting against the freedom struggle of the Tamils. He has appointed a few spies to gather information about the LTTE supporters and their activities in Europe and Swiss. It is believed that these spies have infiltrated into some of the Tamil Organizations. These spies meet in Geneva very often and the Sri Lankan Government is funding them.’

Information has leaked that a Tamil person has been appointed to the Norwegian Embassy. It is learnt that he has been appointed to carry forward the propaganda against the National freedom struggle of the Tamil people.’

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Chandrika’s daughter Yaso’s wedding pics

Photograph taken at the wedding of Yasodhara Kumaratunga… daughter of the former President Chandrika Kumaratunga… Yasodhara wed Dr. Roger Walker in London last month. Also in the photograph are former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, Vimukthi Kumaratunga and Mr. Ronnie Peiris and family.

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Facets Sri Lanka adds international flavour

Facets Sri Lanka is tipped to have increased international flavour at this year’s exhibition with improved service for stall holders.

By Sherwani Synon

This was stated at a press briefing held on Tuesday by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association regarding the 17th consecutive Sri Lankan international Gem and Jewellery Show- Facets Sri Lanka.

The exhibition which will be held from the August 30 till the September 2 is an opportunity given to the Gem merchants and Jewellers in the country to exhibit their exquisite gems and jewellery to the local and the foreign market.

Speaking at the media briefing Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association Chairman Chanaka Ellawala said, “Sri Lanka is known for quality gem cutting, the field has improved vastly with the years.”

Giving the Facets Sri Lanka show an international flavour, rare gems from countries such as Madagascar, Burma, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Australia will be exhibited at the show.

The committee also agreed to solve issues that were raised by the stall holders present at the press briefing in a bid to provide a good service to all stall holders and help them at the show, Facets Sri Lanka.

The committee is expecting a large number of visitors from the local and foreign market to grace this massive occasion which has been mostly focused on the international market till recent years.

Amana Takaful for the 3rd consecutive year will be the Official Insurer for the event and the exhibits.

When Daily Financial Times spoke to the Director of Finance- Facets who is also the treasurer of the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association Mr. Akram Mansoor, it was pointed out that “the largest buyers of our industry is USA, Japan, Europe, India and since of recent China and Russia has also showed interest towards this trade.”

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