Sports
Decision to conduct a relegation tournament sparks controversy

Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Cricket Tournament
by Reemus Fernando
A number of schools playing in Tier ‘A’ of the Under 19 Division I schools cricket tournament have raised concern over what they describe as a ‘controversial decision by ‘Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association’ (SLSCA) to conduct a relegation tournament for the last six teams in contrary to the pre-tournament arrangements of demoting the last two ranked schools after the league stage.
Officials of several schools allege that contrary to the decisions taken at the fixture meeting where it had been agreed to demote the last two teams of the tournament, the tournament committee had decided to conduct a relegation tournament among the last six teams. They claim that this decision had been taken after some schools had completed half of their matches.
The principal of St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala in a letter addressed to the Director of Sports of the Ministry of Education has pointed out that the tournament committee of SLSCA had erred by changing the tournament rules after some schools had concluded several matches.
“At the fixture meeting which was held prior to the tournament, it was informed that the last two teams of the tournament would be demoted to Tier ‘B’. But by December 29th the teams were informed that a relegation tournament would be played among the last six teams,” the letter written by the principal of St. Anne’s states.
The SLSCA had also made it compulsory for schools taking part in the tournament to complete at least two out of the five tournament matches by December 31.
When contacted on this regard J.A.K.S. Indrajith, the secretary of the SLSCA refuted. He said that the decision to conduct a relegation tournament was taken prior to the start of the tournament. He said that a relegation tournament would prevent strong teams from being demoted.
Eighteen teams in three groups competed in the Tier ‘A’ tournament where every team had five matches in the league. At the completion of the tournament, Nalanda, the school represented by the president of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association, and St. Thomas’, Matara are the last two ranked teams. If the original decision stands these two teams would be demoted. But now St. Anthony’s, Katugastota, De Mazenod, Kandana, Gurukula, Kelaniya, St. Anne’s, Kurunegala, Nalanda, Colombo, and St. Thomas’, Matara will have to compete in a relegation tournament.
“The president did not get involved in the tournament committee decision. This was taken in the best interest of cricket. In fact, the schools represented by the members of the tournament committee are at the receiving end,” Indrajith told ‘The Island’.
When contacted in this regard a senior Master in Charge of Cricket of a leading cricket-playing school said that the tournament format was destined to produce chaos. “We could only anticipate a situation like this when you have only five matches to decide your strength. There was always the danger of matches being washed out due to wet weather expected during the third term (October to December) and strong teams getting lower ranks. Now you can’t help it. It would be unfair for the teams who had no knowledge of a relegation tournament,” said the senior official.
Upali Amaratunga, the Director of Sports of the Ministry of Education said that he has received complaints in this regard. He is yet to conduct an inquiry.
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Starc, Lyon keep Sri Lanka on a tight leash

Sri Lanka endured another shoddy batting show at the start of the second Test in Galle as the hosts ended the opening day at 229/9. Despite half-centuries from Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis, Australia kept the home side on a tight leash to take early control in the second fixture.
Dhananjaya de Silva put his under-fire batting unit in on a dry surface after winning the toss. A week after Australia posted a first-innings total of 654/6 at the same venue, Sri Lanka made a fairly solid start through the senior pair of Dimuth Karunaratne – playing in his 100th and final Test for Sri Lanka, and Chandimal. Nathan Lyon was employed early on a surface that took sharp turn from the first hour itself, and saw the back of returning opener Pathum Nissanka. The second-wicket pair of Karunaratne and Chandimal, however, saw through the rest of the morning session with solidity and some intent to push the team ahead.
What transpired after this break though, would’ve further peeved head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, who chided his batters for their shot selection in the aftermath of the first Test defeat. Karunaratne, who’d moved along to 30s, fell in the third over after the break – cleaned up by Lyon from round the stumps. Angelo Mathews was scratchy and circumspect for 25 deliveries, before biting the bullet on the 26th when Lyon tossed one up for him to reach out and defend, only to nick behind to Alex Carey.
Right after the drinks break, Australia struck through the golden arm of Travis Head. The offie got Kamindu Mendis to nick to Steve Smith in first slip while attempting a cut shot. Dhananjaya de Silva’s arrival coincided with the return of Mitchell Starc, and the pacer dismissed the Sri Lankan captain right away. Starc bowled full and wide and Dhananjaya chased after it, nicking to Beau Webster at gully.
Chandimal, who scored his 32nd Test fifty in this session, batted out the rest of the session with Kusal Mendis. But once again it didn’t result in a bigger, more significant alliance as Sri Lanka lost a wicket early into a session. This time, Chandimal fell to an exceptional piece of glovework by Carey. Matthew Kuhnemann got Chandimal to press forward and miss, and Carey whipped the bails off with no part of the batter’s foot behind the line. He walked off for 74.
Kusal Mendis tried to throw Lyon off his lengths by repeatedly slog sweeping him. He and Ramesh Mendis pushed back for the majority of the final session, showing gumption for a big partnership. They added 65 runs for the seventh wicket to take Sri Lanka past the 200-mark but Starc returned, with new ball in hand, to ensure Australia finished the day in the driver’s seat.
Starc bowled a quick one – 144kmph – across the right-hander, who was indecisive in playing or leaving the delivery and ended up edging to Carey. Prabath Jayasuriya then edged one to Smith at second slip for a first-ball duck. Kuhnemann then reduced Sri Lanka to 224/9 by cleaning up Nishan Peiris. Steve Smith threw in a lot of catchers around the bat for the final pair who still had to negotiate 3.5 overs to get to stumps. Lahiru Kumara played 11 of those balls – dead-batting most, to survive the day in the company of Mendis, who went to stumps unbeaten on 59.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 224/9 (Dinesh Chandimal 74, Kusal Mendis 59; Mitchell Starc 3-37, Nathan Lyon 3-78, Matthew Kuhnemann 2-53) vs Australia.
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Trump signs order banning transgender women from female sports

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that prevents transgender women from competing in female categories of sports.
The order provides guidance, regulations and legal interpretations, and it will enlist the Department of Education to investigate high schools thought to be non-compliant.
Republicans say it restores fairness to sports but LGBT advocacy and human rights organisations have described the move as discriminatory.
The order, which goes into effect immediately, largely covers high school, universities and grassroots sports.
A number of sporting governing bodies, including swimming, athletics and golf, have banned transgender women from competing in the female category at elite level if they have gone through male puberty.
According to White House officials who briefed reporters on Wednesday morning, this latest order empowers the Department of Education to investigate how schools implement Title IX, a US law that bans sex discrimination in federally funded education programmes.
An administration official said that the executive order will reverse the position of the Biden administration which in April last year said that LGBT students would be protected by federal law, although it did not give specific guidance on transgender athletes.
“If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,” Trump explained.
Additionally, the White House plans to bring in sporting bodies – such as the National Collegiate Athletics Association, or NCAA – to come to the White House to meet female athletes and their parents to discuss concerns.
The official who discussed the order, said the US would do all it could to prevent transgender athletes from competing against females in International Olympic Committee competitions that take place on US soil.
President Trump specified that the order would include the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
He has said he will deny visas for transgender Olympic athletes trying to visit the US to compete at the LA Games.
Ahead of signing the executive order, Trump declared that “the war on women’s sports is over”, saying that during the LA Games, “my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”
He said he would direct the secretary of homeland security “to deny any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes…”
IOC has been approached for comment.
White House officials described the policies as being broadly popular with Americans, and critical to ensuring “fairness” for women in sports, as well as safety.
In a statement, Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said that the order “exposes young people to harassment and discrimination, emboldening people to question the gender of kids who don’t fit a narrow view of how they’re supposed to dress or look”.
“For so many students, sports are about finding somewhere to belong,” Ms Robinson added. “Not partisan policies that make life harder for them.”
Less than 1% of the population over the age of 13 in the US are transgender, according to a study by the UCLA Williams Institute, and the number playing sports is smaller.
On Trump’s first day in office on 20 January, he signed a separate order calling for the federal government to officially define sex as either being male or female.
[BBC]
Sports
Aimee Maguire suspended from bowling in international cricket

Ireland’s Aimee Maguire has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after an Independent Assessment confirmed that the left-arm spinner uses an illegal bowling action.
The 18-year-old was reported by match officials for a suspect bowling action during the first ODI of the ICC Women’s Championship series against India in Rajkot on 10 January.
She subsequently underwent a bowling assessment at the ICC Accredited testing centre in Loughborough, United Kingdom, on 21 January, where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in her bowling action exceeds the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations.
As a result, in accordance with clause 6.1 of the regulations, Aimee is immediately suspended from bowling in international cricket. Her suspension will remain in effect until she undergoes a re-assessment of her bowling action which confirms that she can bowl with a legal action.
[ICC]
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