Sports
25 years from the formation of first Cricket Interim Committee
by Rex Clementine
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the appointment of the first ever Cricket Interim Committee. Ironically, the man who was chosen to Chair that committee, although a keen follower of the game, had little experience in its administration. Rienzie T. Wijetilleke is his name.
Orders to appoint Wijetilleke, then the Chairman of Hatton National Bank, came directly from the Country‘s President, Chandrika Kumaratunga who was well acquainted with his “no nonsense” approach to discipline and accountability.
The year 1999 seriously marred the hard earned reputation of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) which also had an impact on our players.
Authentic allegations of growing corruption since the World Cup was won in 1996 were compounded by violence at the Annual General Meeting in March 1999, and the image of the Board had descended to its lowest ever both at home and in the eyes of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The President’s reaction was swift and decisive as she dissolved the entire Board and appointed the first ever Interim Committee to administer cricket.
To make matters worse, defending World Champions Sri Lanka fared disastrously in the ICC World Cup in the UK in May of that year crashing out of the tournament in the preliminary rounds signalling that it was time for some of our heroes of 1996 to be accorded a graceful exit and change ushered in.
Wijetilleke ‘s hand was hugely strengthened by the appointment of the other members to the Committee, with reputed names as S. Skandakumar (a vastly experienced Hony Secretary of Board of Control for Cricket), Sidath Wettimuny, Michael Tissera, Ashantha de Mel (national cricketers of excellent standing) and Kushil Gunasekera (a proven track record for meticulous planning of international events at home)
Wijetilleke introduced checks and balances to Maitland Place through strong foolproof structures and left the cricketing side of the game to his knowledgeable colleagues.
The appointment of Sidath Wettimuny as Chairman of selectors gave early notice of the major changes that were in store and after offering Arjuna Ranatunge the opportunity to graciously step down as captain, which he refused to do, Sidath and his committee, supported by the Interim Committee removed him and appointed a young Sanath Jayasuriya as captain.
A new era was indeed on the horizon but there was work yet to be done.
With a nucleus of young players as Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, T.M. Dilshan Chamara Silva etc emerging, the Interim Committee was unanimous that Dav Whatmore coach of the World Cup winning team had to be brought back.
Skandakumar, attending the ICC AGM at Lord’s in June 1999 was mandated by the Interim Committee to meet Whatmore, who was on contract to Lancashire, and negotiate for his return.
This is what Wijetilleke wrote in his memoirs on that visit. “Skanda in his significant role as ambassador of goodwill was able to achieve a great deal in restoring the credibility and image of the Board of Control for Cricket in the eyes of the ICC.
“He was also able, acting on a mandate of the committee, to successfully negotiate for the return of Whatmore as National Coach for three years from August 1999.”
Whatmore’s return had an instantaneous impact as in a triangular tournament in the same month with World Cup champs Australia and India participating, Sri Lanka emerged victorious. Shortly thereafter when the first ever Test series win against Australia was registered at home, these meaningful changes were indeed bearing fruit and a new era for our cricket both on and off the field had dawned!
Wettimuny’s mature judgement ensured the presence of Arjuna and Aravinda for that Test series to help humble Steve Waugh’s champion side!
With our credibility restored, the ICC entrusted the Board of Control for Cricket, the responsibility to host the ICC Under-19 World Cup that had no less than 16 international teams participating .
This challenge was met to perfection thanks to the leadership Kushil Gunasekera provided where every detail was addressed and the tributes paid by the ICC at the conclusion of that tournament spoke for themselves.
Our national team in the months following the Test series win against Australia toured Zimbabwe and Pakistan for similar series and returned triumphant in both.
Sadly if not tragically, in spite of all of these, the Interim Committee had continuing differences with the then Sports Minister S.B Dissanayake on his own agendas and after a remarkably successful tenure the entire committee resigned en masse after twelve months in Hony office in May 2000.
At the time of that resignation they held the following positions in their substantive jobs: Rienzie T. Wijetilleke – Chairman, Hatton National Bank, S. Skandakumar – Chairman, George Steuart’s Group, Michael Tissera – Senior Director, Tea Tang, Sidath Wettimuny – Chairman and MD, Noble Group Exports, Ashantha de Mel – Co-Owner, Asia Couture Exports, Kushil Gunasekera – Chairman, Foundation of Goodness.
The loss was very much Sri Lanka’s but these exceptional gentlemen left a legacy that reminded all that Honorary Office was indeed holding Office with Honour!
Boualem Khoukhi scored an equalising goal on a header in the fourth minute of stoppage time, and Qatar spoiled a dominant day by Switzerland in a 1-1 draw in Group B of the World Cup.
Several of the Qatari players fell to the ground on Saturday in celebration of the late goal, as others ran to each other to embrace.
Breel Embolo scored for Switzerland from the penalty spot in the first half just over a week after being cleared to enter the US following a visa delay, but the Swiss failed to capitalise on multiple other scoring chances.
In the 13th minute, Embolo was fouled by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, who received a yellow card on the play. Abunada lay face down and appeared motionless for a couple of minutes before he began to move his legs and was able to stand up again.
When Embolo calmly sent his penalty into the upper left corner in the 17th minute, it sent the red-clad Swiss fans into a dancing frenzy in the stands of San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
The 29-year-old forward applied for an urgent visa at the United States embassy in Bern on June 3, one day after he was denied boarding the team’s flight to travel for his third World Cup because of a 2018 criminal conviction that was only finalised in April.
Switzerland dominated the possession game on an unseasonably warm June afternoon — with sprinklers running during a first-half break.
There were thousands of empty seats scattered throughout Levi’s Stadium, home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. Brazil and Colombia drew 70,971 two years ago in a group match at the Copa America. The stadium in Santa Clara staged the Super Bowl only four months ago.
(Aljazeera)
Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe have scored as Australia have spoiled Turkiye’s return to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years with a 2-0 victory.
Goalkeeper Patrick Beach made eight saves for the Socceroos in their group opener on Saturday night as FIFA President Gianni Infantino looked on in Vancouver, Canada.
Australia coach Tony Popovic pulled off a huge shock in his starting lineup, dropping experienced captain and goalkeeper Maty Ryan in favour of Beach, winning only his third cap.
Vice captain Jackson Irvine was also dropped in favour of 21-year-old midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler in a starting XI that featured 10 World Cup debutants.
Both of those selections proved to be inspired as Beach pulled off a string of fine saves to deny Turkiye, who dominated possession and territory but could not find a way past the Australian goalkeeper.
Okon-Engstler, meanwhile, was instrumental in setting up the opening goal in the first half, unleashing a long ball that split the Turkish defence and sent Irankunda racing in on goal to score.
Turkiye – playing in the World Cup for the first time since finishing third at the 2002 tournament – arrived in North America dreaming of making a serious run in the knockout rounds.
But their talented team, made up largely of players who regularly compete in the European Champions League, were unable to get to grips with a well-organised Socceroos lineup.
One of Turkiye’s best chances came in the 27th minute when Real Madrid’s Arda Guler forced a smart save from Beach with a rasping shot.
Just seconds after that chance, though, Australia took the lead.
Beach picked out Okon-Engstler deep in the Australia half, and the midfielder pumped the ball upfield for Irankunda.
The Australia winger still had plenty to do, but a clever first touch took him clear of the covering defence before he tucked away a low finish.
Irankunda celebrated by sprinting to the edge of the pitch and pretending to box the corner flag, mimicking former Australia skipper Tim Cahill’s signature goal celebration.
Turkiye thought they had equalised three minutes later after Abdulkerim Bardakci’s pile-driver from outside the area hurtled towards goal.
But Beach got the slightest of fingertips on the ball to divert it onto the post, and Australia survived again.
Beach kept up his commanding form in the second half, turning a Guler free kick wide for a corner on 57 minutes.
With Beach continuing to make save after save, Australia made the game safe in the 75th minute when Metcalfe picked the ball up in midfield, advanced on goal and shot home from 23 metres (25 yards).
“Unreal. It is a dream come true. We have got the win now,” said Irankunda, the youngest men’s World Cup scorer for Australia and not a definite starter before kickoff.
“It feels amazing. You have got to thank the staff, thank the nation. They have got the belief in me.
Australia are playing in their sixth straight World Cup and seventh overall.
The Socceroos fell to France in the opener in Qatar four years ago, but then beat Tunisia and Denmark in their group before getting knocked out by eventual champions Argentina in the round of 16.
It is the third World Cup appearance for Turkiye, who reached the tournament for the first time in 1954.
The teams are in Group D with the United States and Paraguay. The Americans thrashed Paraguay 4-1 in their group opener on Friday in Los Angeles.
(Aljazeera)
The New York Knicks won the National Basketball Association championship for the first time in over 50 years, sending the city and fans into a frenzy after the long-awaited victory.
The Knicks clinched the title on Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs, 94-90, in the fifth game of the best-of-seven series.
While the game was in Texas, New Yorkers took to their hometown streets in droves to watch and celebrate the milestone for fans and the city.
Some fans also made their way to Texas where the two teams faced off at the Frost Center, the Spurs’ home arena.
Elizabeth Madigan flew to San Antonio from New York Friday night ahead of Saturday’s game.
“I’ve been waiting for this, honestly most of my life. The last time the Knicks won, I was 6 months old, and so I can’t begin to describe how excited I am. It’s been unbelievable,” she said.
“I definitely had my doubts. But we did pull it off. Knicks forever.”
This season has represented a stunning reversal of fortune for the Knicks after decades as one of the worst teams in the league. The last time they made it all the way to the finals was in 1999, also against the Spurs, who ultimately beat them. Their last finals win was even earlier, in 1973.
They held a 3-1 lead in the series heading into Saturday’s game.
One fan who only gave his first name, Max, said that winning the game away from the Knicks’ home arena in New York, Madison Square Garden, isn’t important.
“I don’t think it matters [that they won in Texas]. New York is going crazy right now and there’s a million Knicks fans here right now, so it doesn’t matter.
US President Donald Trump posted congratulations to the team and Knicks owner Jim Dolan, who invited him to game 3 of the series in New York.
“What a year it has been but, even more so, what incredible playoff wins we have all witnessed, especially the last four – Maybe the greatest in the history of basketball,” the post read.
Fans’ anticipation before the game was like a champagne bottle about to pop.
“This city is electric,” said Jake Minicucci, while waiting with friends at a Manhattan sports bar for the game to start. “I’ve never gotten so many head nods, everybody knowing we are in it for the Knicks together.”
The 50-plus year drought was very much on the minds of some Knicks fans including Daniel Brown who said the evening had the potential “to be one of the best nights in the history of this city.”
“I’ve lived here all my life, I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said the 24-year-old.
Fans celebrated into the early hours Sunday morning with crowds taking over parts of Midtown Manhattan, including several blocks near Times Square. Some subway lines were altered with trains skipping stations due to the large crowds.
“HISTORY,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on social media.
A ticker-tape parade and ceremony at City Hall to celebrate the team’s victory is scheduled for Thursday.
Ahead of the game, Mamdani said in a post that the city was working with the Knicks to host watch parties at the Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Wollman Rink.
“As we celebrate, be responsible, look out for one another, stay safe, be smart, and make this a night that reflects the very best of our city,” the mayor said.
His call for safety came after a few instances of violence in New York against Spurs fans, including one assault that landed a fan in the hospital and another in which a fast food worker wearing a Spurs jersey was attacked, according to local reports.
Madigan said that in San Antonio, even as a Knicks fan, she felt welcome.
“Honestly, the San Antonians have been so loving and welcoming despite the obvious competition,” she said.
Ahead of Saturday’s Game 5, fans travelling to San Antonio from New York for the game were furious about possibly getting locked out of the arena.
In a note on its website for the game, Ticketmaster said purchases by those living farther than 150mi (241km) from the San Antonio arena would be cancelled and refunded without notice.
Later Ticketmaster assured fans that no tickets purchased on its platform “have or will be canceled”.
(BBC)
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