Sports

Handicapped SLR can still be the guardian of rugby

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/6

SLR got the sport going after a long break for the covid pandemic and even found a sponsor to boost the domestic inter-club tournaments.

by a Special Sports Correspondent

Rugby in Sri Lanka is in a state of limbo at the moment with an order being carried out to suspend the registration of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) with the Ministry of Sports Youth Affairs.

There were many reports in the media regarding this move which were misleading because some of those appearing in newspapers said that the suspension was temporary. The Director General Sports of the Ministry of Sports confirmed that the suspension stands and there is nothing temporary about it.

The suspension comes at the time when the club rugby tournament was commenced with the greatest of difficulties and the SLR President Rizly Illyas did well to find a sponsor to boost the conducting of rugby activities in the country. Now the SLR must understand one thing. With the suspension, this sports body returns to the status where at one time it was not affiliated to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. That means this sports body cannot field a team to an international tournament and call it the national team. It can oversee rugby activities in the country.

Sri Lanka Rugby was earlier known as the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). The union then had a few affiliated clubs and there were matches played between member clubs. The clubs grew in number over the years and there were over ten clubs playing Division One rugby. But some of those clubs are defunct and at present the number is eight. These eight teams are contesting a domestic inter-club league rugby tournament which is nearing an end now. The suspension imposed on the SLR in no way hinders the tournament. Rugby in Sri Lanka has grown and the SLR is represented by representatives of seven provincial unions.

Informed sources told this newspaper that the SLR’s elected body must do one thing; state clearly on its letterhead that its registration with the Ministry of Sports has been suspended. It is known that the SLR plans to conduct a knockout tournament and a seven-s-side tournament for member clubs this season after the league tournament. These too can take place under the supervision of SLR.

The main reason as stated in the newspapers for the suspension imposed is that the SLR disregarded the Sports Minister hence paving the way for the suspension. We also read in the newspapers that some provincial unions had not paid their subscriptions to the SLR, during the past two years, but had been actively involved in SLR’s AGM. It is said that these provincial unions to be readmitted to the SLR had to get the sports minister’s approval, but that protocol had not been followed. But this point is contested by rugby stalwarts who underscore that the SLR is an independent sports body and the sports ministry gets involved only when approval is needed for a national team to represent the country abroad and not in general administrative matters and disputes. Other than that if a member provincial union or a club has a dispute with SLR it can obtain redress for its grievances by seeking the assistance of the law.

We are nearing the time for the next Annual General Meeting of the SLR and it is interesting to see what the Sports Ministry plans regarding its next step. Just for the record back in 1996 the then Minister of Sports S.B Dissanayake suspended the Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation (SLTF). Later an AGM was called by the Sports Ministry and a new set of office bearers were appointed. The founder of the SLTF fell out with the new committee. His only way out was he started promoting one of the affiliated clubs of the SLTF which is the Sri Lanka Taekwondo Association (SLTA). At present, the SLTF has close links with the ministry of sports while the SLTA works independently with no opportunity to send a national team abroad.

The competent authority which has been appointed to oversee rugby activities in the country plans to work with the administrative staff of the SLR.

A real problem will arise if the competent authority for rugby takes steps to conduct an AGM. In that event will the suspension of SLR’s registration with the Sports Ministry be lifted so that it would be fair by all parties involved in this dispute? This is the right thing to do, according to top figures in the rugby fraternity. We all know that the AGMs of all national sports bodies must be conducted before the first quarter of the year ends.

It is a known fact that the SLR’s president and the sports minister were not in a position to see eye to eye on rugby matters. Informed sources say the rugby’s big boss resented moves made by the sports minister when the latter wanted to interfere in rugby’s activities.

Rugby is at present not in a healthy position to get into disputes. It has earned a sponsor after much sweat. SLR got the sport going after a long break for the covid pandemic. The Sports Minister being a past player should have thought better and acted much wiser. Many consider the sports minister’s move to ‘block’ the SLR at this juncture as a very unreasonable and unjust act.

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SCG curator ‘really happy’ with pitch for final Ashes Test

Published

1 hour ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

The pitch at the SCG has been the centre of much attention [Cricinfo]

Todd Murphy is firming to play his first home Test, after the SCG’s head curator declared the pitch’s green covering would be near-irrelevant come day one.

With administrators still on edge after last week’s two day debacle in Melbourne, an extremely green SCG surface raised eyebrows in Sydney on Thursday.

But chief curator Adam Lewis insisted on Friday that should not be a concern, and he was hopeful Sydney would extend into a fifth day.

“You want to see green tinge three days out,” Lewis said. “If you’re not seeing any live grass three days out, then that’s when it’s a worry, … I’m really comfortable with where we’re sitting.

“We had a little bit of sun this morning. They’re saying a bit more sun tomorrow. That will take the greenness out of the pitch. We’re really happy with the pitches at the moment. We’re looking good.”

Lewis admitted he felt for MCG counterpart Matt Page last week, but said he felt no external pressure to ensure the fifth Test in Sydney went the distance.

It’s estimated that Cricket Australia (CA) has lost in the vicinity of AUD15 million in profits this summer, with the opening Test in Perth also finishing inside two days.

Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked at a function with teams on Thursday night that they had to ensure the game went to day three, in order to support the McGrath Foundation fundraiser.

One of the hardest grounds in the world to bowl on between 2014 and 2023, last year’s SCG Test was over in just two-and-a-half days.

Lewis said that his ground staff would go with 6mm of grass this year compared to 7mm last season, while also reducing its density. That in itself generally acts to flatten out the wicket and produce less movement, while also inviting the chance of spin late in the match.

“We just thought … we could thin our density out a little bit,” Lewis said. “That’s what we’ve done this year. We’ve practised that in the Shield matches and we’ve received very good marks.”

CA CEO Todd Greenberg said he too was confident the SCG Test would last the distance.

“I’ve had more phone calls and conversations about wickets and millimetres of grass than I thought I’d ever have,” Greenberg said. “But I’m hopeful and confident we will have a long and productive Test match here.”

All of which should spell good news for Murphy. Australia’s coaching staff had a prolonged conversation around the pitch on Friday morning, after leaving Murphy out and going with four quicks at the MCG.

Murphy then spent most of Friday’s training session bowling to Australia’s top order, while Alex Carey also had an extended run keeping to him.

With seven Tests to his name overseas, Murphy would be expected to come in for Jhye Richardson if he does play in Sydney.

England have promised to take the attack to Murphy, who played two Tests during the 2023 Ashes were he conceded 4.72 an over.

“Whoever plays, I think that’s the mantra of our team, is to try and put pressure on people,” opener Zak Crawley, said. “Todd’s a very good bowler, but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him, like we would all their bowlers.

That’s going to come with some risks, and if it’s turning it’s definitely going to be a threat. But I think we’ll try and put pressure on all their bowlers.”

The other question for Australia will be whether Cameron Green remains in the side, after Beau Webster was spotted fielding in the gully during slips training on Friday. Green has averaged 18.66 with the bat in this series. The SCG was the scene of Webster’s debut a year ago against India.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Pramod hits 42 runs in an over

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/2

Thilina Walpola

Pramod Madushan hit 42 runs in an over.

Young Pramod Madushan has become the talk in cricket circles after he scored 42 runs in an over for Mercantile Services Cricket Academy against Sigi Cricket Academy at Ambalangoda recently.

In an over that contained nine deliveries, including two no-balls and a wide, Madushan cut loose hitting three fours and five sixes. In all, the over bowled by Bihandu Sandiv went for 45 runs.

The young cricketer from D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo shares the same name as Sri Lanka fast bowler Pramod Madushan. However, the 19-year-old is a wicketkeeper batter.

His knock of 103 came in just 38 deliveries and contained eight fours and ten sixes.

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Usman Khawaja to retire after fifth Ashes Test

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

Usman Khawaja has played 22 Ashes Tests [BBC]

Australia batter Usman Khawaja will retire from international cricket following the fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney this week.

The 39-year-old will play his 88th and final Test on the ground where he made his debut against the same opponents in January 2011.

Khawaja was born in Pakistan and became the first Muslim to play for Australia when he took the place of Ricky Ponting at the end of England’s 3-1 series win 15 years ago.

The left-hander has made 6,206 Test runs at an average of 43.39, with 16 hundreds.

He has played in six Ashes series – winning two, losing two and drawing two.

He was also part of the Australia team that won the World Test Championship in 2023.

The final Test at the SCG starts on Sunday (23:30 GMT, Saturday).

Alongside Steve Smith, Khawaja is one of two remaining members of the Australia team beaten by England in their most recent series win in this country in 2010-11.

He needs 30 runs in his final Test to go above Mike Hussey and into 14th on Australia’s all-time run-scorers list, behind the great Donald Bradman in 13th.

Khawaja played the last of his 40 one-day internationals in 2019, having scored 1,554 runs at 42. He played in nine T20 internationals, scoring 241 runs at 26.77.

Now playing domestically for Queensland, Khawaja will end his career on the ground that was his home when he first played professional cricket for New South Wales in 2008.

Often in and out of the Australia team during his Test career, he found a home at the top of the order during the previous home Ashes in 2021-22.

However, his place has come under scrutiny during this series after he suffered back spasms in the first Test that prevented him from opening.

Travis Head took Khawaja’s place in the second innings and made a swashbuckling century to lead Australia to an eight-wicket win.

Khawaja subsequently missed the second Test with the back problem and was due to be left out of the third, only to receive a late call-up when Steve Smith fell ill.

He made 82 and 40 in Adelaide to retain his place for the fourth Test. Australia lead the series 3-1.

After the Ashes Australia will not play another Test until August, by which time Khawaja will be almost 40.

[BBC]