Sports
Hannibal was brought in for Palliyaguruge due to fatigue
by Rex Clementine
Umpire Lyndon Hannibal has become a marked man with plenty of criticism placed at his doorstep after he failed to detect a no ball in the tensed third T-20 International between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan on Wednesday at Dambulla.
Hannibal was the on-field umpire in the third T-20 International and he was at square leg when he failed to call a no ball for a waist high full toss.
There was disappointment expressed by the Sri Lankan team, coaching staff and fans as the delivery to Kamindu Mendis was not just waist high but chest high.
Captain Wanindu Hasaranga took on the umpire after the game and the match officials notified the Match Referee Chris Broad about a Code of Conduct violation resulting in Hasaranga being banned for two games and fined 50 percent of his match fee. The player accepted the sanctions.
One bad decision certainly doesn’t make someone a bad umpire. However, in domestic cricket and high-profile school games like the Royal – Thomian too Hannibal is known for his howlers.
While Hannibal might struggle to get an international game in the near future with the captain’s report and Match Referee’s observations expected to be against him, it remains to be seen what action SLC will take.
SLC Umpires Committee head Bandula Dissanayake told The Island that Hannibal was made on field umpire only because the authorities were not sure whether Ruchira Palliyaguruge was physically fit to stand in the game.
Dissanayake, a veteran cricket administrator said that Palliyaguruge, Sri Lanka’s most experienced and decorated umpire after Kumar Dharmasena, had arrived in the island only the night before the game following an international assignment and it was felt that he will be better off doing third umpire’s duty rather than on field duty.
“There is very little SLC could do in this regard. The captain’s report directly goes to the ICC and we would not have any source document to follow up the incident,” Dissanayake said when asked what action the Umpires’ Committee will take.
“But this is something that has taken the attention of everyone and obviously it will be discussed at the next umpires’ committee meeting,” he added.
Sri Lanka had won the one-off Test match and swept the ODI series 3-0 and had taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match T-20 series. A win on Wednesday would have enabled them to sweep the T-20s as well.
Although Hannibal has copped a fair share of blame for his handling of the game, Sri Lanka had none but themselves to blame for the defeat with dropped catches, sloppy fielding and the strike bowler spraying all over sending down ten wides.
Under 19 Cricket
Left-arm spinners Vishwa Peiris and Demion de Silva took five wickets each as St. Joseph’s cruised to an innings and 51 runs victory over St. Benedict’s in the Traditional Mack – Croner trophy cricket encounter at Darley Road on Tuesday.
St. Benedict’s came to the match having done well in the Tier B tournament matches but the spin might of the Joes was too hot for them to handle as they collapsed for 62 runs in the second innings.
The result somewhat exposed the gap between the Tier A and Tier B teams of the Under 19 Division I category as the team from Kotahena were bowled out within 25 overs. They were following on after being dismissed for 197 runs in the first innings, where Nushan Perera grabbed five wickets bowling the bulk of the overs for the Joes. He was adjudged the Best Bowler.
While Vishwa was the Man of the Match, Rishma Amarasinghe (Best Fielder) and Senuja Wakunugoda (Best Batsman) won the other individual awards.
The Joes made 313 in their innings with Senuja top scoring with 106 runs.
In the Division I Tier ‘A’ matches Gurukula (against St. Sebastian’s) and St. Anthony’s Katugastota (against Royal) registered first innings victories.
Maliyadeva took first innings points against De Mazenod in a tier B match.
(RF)
Organisers of the ICC T20 World Cup are sweating over after Pakistan refused to play nuclear-armed neighbours India in Colombo, a decision that has left administrators scratching their heads and staring at a potential financial googly.
The India–Pakistan contest, the jewel in the tournament’s crown, is the game that oils cricket’s economic engine. If the marquee clash is bowled out, the loss of revenue will have every stakeholder feeling the pinch from boardroom to boundary rope. Islamabad’s call to withdraw, taken at government level, has sparked fears the verdict will not be overturned.
Anticipation for the grudge match had reached fever pitch. Tickets vanished on day one of sales, while Colombo’s hotels were snapped up quickly. Five-star rooms that normally fetch 150 US dollars were hiked to 600 USD, some even soaring to 800 USD as the city braced for a carnival.
With the capital full to the rafters, tour operators shuttled visitors to nearby Negombo, an hour’s drive from the stadium, while others opted for apartments as accommodation ran dry. Flights, too, were booked well in advance, but uncertainty over the epic duel has now cast a long shadow.
“We haven’t had many cancellations yet, but we fear the worst. Everyone will take a hit if the game doesn’t take place,” aviation industry official Thusitha Perera told Telecom Asia Sport.
Gihan Wickramasinghe, representing Colombo’s hoteliers, echoed the concern. “Our hope is the match goes ahead. If not, we’ll have to refund bookings and the tour operators will be hit even harder.”
Tour operator Lisa Fernando said the anxiety was mounting. “Two groups from Dubai alone, 75 people, were coming. Corporate clients had planned trips down south as well. There’s a lot of money at stake and so much unnecessary stress.”
Indian fan Varun Kumar from Bangalore has already paid for flights and hotels but intends to travel regardless. “Sri Lanka has been on my bucket list. Whether the match happens or not, we’ll come to experience the country,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket remains optimistic the contest will be rescued before the final over is called. But if the showpiece is scratched, it would be a hammer blow to an economy only just finding its feet after years of setbacks, leaving the tournament badly caught behind.
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