Lampooning Indian Cricketers as Asylum-Seekers

Cricket Australia establishes Multicultural Cricket Reference Group

Media Release, 21 October 2011

Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Senator Kate Lundy today addressed the inaugural meeting of Cricket Australia’s (CA) Multicultural Cricket Reference Group (MCRG) in Melbourne. The MCRG will provide advice about meeting the diverse needs of Australia’s population as part of CA’s objective of ensuring cricket is a sport for all Australians. It includes prominent members of Australia’s multicultural communities as well as CA representatives.

 Senator Lundy provided the MCRG with an insight into Federal Government multicultural policy recommendations and emphasised the deep alignment between sport and multicultural policy.  MCRG member and CA General Manager Game Development Damien de Bohun said CA is committed to serving the diverse needs of Australia’s population.  “Australia’s diversity is one of our country’s great strengths and our aim is to ensure that people from all communities have the opportunity to play cricket and enjoy its associated health and social benefits,” Mr de Bohun said. “The MCRG enables us to hear the voices of members of the communities we are dedicated to serving and this provides invaluable guidance for Cricket Australia as we continue our drive to ensure that cricket is a sport for all Australians.”

 Multicultural Cricket Reference Group Members: Trevor O’Hoy (Chairman) (CA Director), Waleed Aly (Academic), Pino Migliorino – (Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia (FECCA)), Paula Ward (Know the Game), Hass Dellal (Executive Director, Australian Multicultural Foundation), Ravi Bhatia (former CEO, iPrimus), Sam Almaliki (President, Sydney Junior Winter Cricket), Damien de Bohun – (CA) and Juhi McInerney (CA).

 

Frightened and confused: young Pakistani Mohammad Amir trapped by the underworld

Michael Atherton, courtesy of The Weekend Australian, 5-6 November 2011

 Pic by AP in Australian online

THE day after Mohammad Amir pleaded guilty for the first time, a member of his family was approached in a mosque in Lahore. The message was a simple one: tell Amir to watch his step and watch what he says.  These threats were referred to obliquely by Justice Cooke in his sentencing at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, when he talked of Amir’s inability to elaborate on the “pressure” that he was put under to bowl the no-balls at Lord’s, pressure that was one part of the basis of his mitigation plea.

“You have referred, in material presented to this court, to threats to yourself and your family, saying that there are significant limits to what you can say in public,” he said. “The reality of those threats and the strength of the underworld influences who control unlawful betting abroad is shown by the supporting evidence in the bundle of documents, including materials from the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the ICC.”

That underarm moment in World Cricket History …. so Un-Iconic

 1 February 1981: “Richie Benaud said this the most disgraceful thing he had seen on a cricket field. On February 1, 1981, New Zealand were playing Australia in the third of the best-of-five finals of the World Series in Melbourne. 15 were needed off the final over, to be bowled by Trevor Chappell, younger brother of Ian and Greg. It came down to seven off the last ball with Brian McKechnie on strike. Captain Greg instructed Trevor to roll the ball along the ground. Underarm bowling was still legal, even if unethical, and Chappell’s unsporting act was roundly criticised. After the incident, underarm bowling was banned.” — http://www.sharegoodstuffs.com/2011/09/crickets-most-iconic-moments.htmhttp://

Sanga bowls us over

Peter Roebuck, in cricinfo,

Kumar Sangakkara counts among the most polished and prudent of batsmen. Nothing catches the eye about his work except its consistency and efficiency. Although he pulls and cuts efficiently and often, and uses his feet to spinners purposefully, and though he added 624 in an innings with Mahela Jayawardene once, there is something understated and underappreciated about his batting. Perhaps it is that he does not breathe fire, or not often, or withdraw into a cocoon or attack without mercy or resist obstinately or change tempo obviously or grit teeth anxiously or in any other way engage spectators and take them on the journey with him.

Rather, he gets on with the job in a determined, restrained and mostly amiable way. However, character is not to be confused with personality. It takes a lot of courage and commitment to maintain a high standard for a long period, to endure many upheavals and to be a regular in all forms of the game. He has out-stared many bowlers, survived many crises and always retained his educated equanimity. Not even the gunmen in Lahore could put him off his game. Afterwards he said that his country, too, had its troubles and that he would happily come back. Such men are born to bat at first wicket down.

Sanga’s character exists not so much on the outside as within. It is not colour he seeks so much as conquest, not passion so much as purity. At times he resembles a businessman going about his duties – the focus on the bottom line, reckless risks disdained. He is professional as opposed to combative, trusting training more than instinct, research more than hunches. In a way it limited his captaincy – Jayawardene reads the game better because he has less faith in reason. Sanga’s focus is not so much upon the performance as on the task and the career. Cricket called him, challenged him, even though his head was full of literature, even though he had many safer alternatives. He had to make it work. His ruthlessness comes from this need to succeed.

Kushil and Murali reach out for FOG in Los Angeles

There was fund raising event in LOS ANGELES on the 13^th August for FOG organised by a cross-ethnic body of Sri Lankans with Murali and Kushil as stars; and I received this note from Naj Nagendran, one of the chief organisers:

 Pic of Kushil and MuralI with American college students and Helen Brohier ( FoG, pre-school head) who volunteered at the event

“Michael, The event was successful – 530 attended. Aravinda De Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya joined Murali in LA. Kushil was as usual impressive in showcasing what has been achieved in Seenigama and the progress so far in the Mankulam project. His appeals for funds was well received and excess of $ 200,000 in donations is expected. Murali was very passionate   in his appeal for the Northern project

 They are heading to San Fransisco for similar fundraising events.’” NAGE

 Pic of Kushil with Carl Strecker ( movie producer) who has visited Seenigama post tsunami with medical team and producer of latest  FoG video

 This video is a must see … and must circulate to friends who are not buried in the caverns of bitterness and anger that disable them fromseeing any progress in sri Lanka. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egUNMCg-izM&feature=related

Do also visit the FOG sie for reports on what is being done, step by step, at Mankulam. SEE http://foundationofgoodness.org/m-sectors_north.php. I have jsut got a report from Anura de Silva re the Third Training Camp at Mankulam Maha Vidyalayam –repeat vidyalayam — where training was provided for 12 girls in netball, 22 and 15 boys in cricket and volleyball respectively.

The following are the web references for the Mankulam reports/pics.

*http://www.unconditionalcompassion.org/sub/20110712_2ndCoaching.php

* http://www.unconditionalcompassion.org/sub/201100614_fristever.php

Sri Lanka’s cricketing rebels from the Saf tour of late 1982

Courtesy of the Indian Express, 21 August 1997

 Bandula Warnapura was Sri Lanka’s first Test captain. He was also the man who led the infamous Sri Lanka rebel team on the tour of the then apartheid South Africa in 1982-83. In a candid interview with The Indian Express, Warnapura discloses the men who were responsible for organising the tour and how he is still being hounded for a `crime’ which he has served out punishment more than anyone else. Warnapura admits that finance was one of the reasons for undertaking the tour. “But more than that it was the pressure I was under from some of the senior BCCSL (Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka) members. I was not sure if I was wanted in the side. They were gunning for me. So, after some hesitation, I decided to secure my future,” he explains. What pains him most is the fact that the men who organised the tour are holding key positions in Sri Lankan cricket, while he is still the target of some elements. “The tour was the brainchild of Tony Opatha, Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias. When we (the rebels) were in South Africa, the official, Sri Lankan team was in Zimbabwe. Duleep, Roy and DS (de Silva) wanted to join us directly from Zimbabwe but could not do so as their passports were withheld by the Manager (KMT Pereira) — obviously under instructions from the Board. They had signed the documents (to be part of the team in South Africa) and I still have the copies of their contracts with me.”

Warnapura says that Mendis and Dias backed out after they were spoken to by minister Gamini Dissanayake. “Had he spoken to a few others and given some assurances like he gave Duleep and Roy, the tour would never have taken place. Duleep and Roy were made captain and vice-captain respectively for two years when the Sri Lankan Board policy was to make such decisions on a series by series basis. But the impression we got was they wanted us to go. There is freedom of movement in our country, so even the Government could not have stopped us.” Warnapura accepts that the decision of the rebels to go to South Africa did not go well with the people of Lanka. “What, however, changed their attitude was the 25-year ban that was slapped on us when no attempt was made to stop us from going to South Africa. In fact, the ban was slapped on us even before we played our first match in South Africa.”

Kumar Sangakkara lands safely at Katunayake … “what has to be said must be said”

Courtesy of Sunday Times Online

Pic from island cricket

Former Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara returned to the country earlier today following the conclusion of the teams tour of England. Commenting on his speech at Lords which earned him a standing ovation, the former skipper said he spoke with regard to the better interest of the people and the spirit of the game. “There was no hidden agenda, what has to be said must be said,” he declared shortly after arriving at the Bandaranayake International Airport (BIA). Sangakkara was accompanied by skipper Tillekeratne Dilshan.

 Pic by Nadun Rodrigo in islandcricket

Upul Tharanga and Eliyantha White under the gun

S.R. Pathiravithana , in the Sunday Times, 12 June 2011

The beleaguered Sri Lanka ODI opener Upul Tharanga will face an official ICC panel of inquiry to explain about his side of the story following reports that he had been tested positive for banned drugs, according to informed sources. The ICC inquiry will be held in Dubaion or about June 24. If the Lankan opener cannot substantiate his innocence at this inquiry, he stands to face a maximum two-year ban, the sources said citing World Anti-Doping Agency rule Sri Lanka Cricket which was keeping mum on the issue last week broke its silence and issued a statement saying, “The ICC, has informed Sri Lanka Cricket that Upul Tharanga has been tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance during a testing of a urine sample collected from him after the semi final match against New Zealand on March 29, 2011and a disciplinary charge has been initiated. “Since there is an ongoing inquiry to verify this charge, Tharanga will not be making himself available for selection until the conclusion of the inquiry and therefore will not be available for the ODI and T20 matches in England and the Sri Lanka “A” Team tour of England.”

Simon Katich speaks out: “Indecisive, inconsistent, ridiculous”

From The Australian, 11 June 2011

SIMON Katich has gripped Australian cricket by the throat and given it a fearful shaking. He claims inconsistency from selectors and administrators is partly to blame for the Ashes failure and labelled his axing as “absolutely ridiculous”.  The opener believes that years of incoherent selection decisions has destabilised the side and confused players, claiming he has spoken out in the hope that changes will be made. Katich said the use of a part-time selection panel on small wages was unprofessional.”You pay peanuts, you get monkeys,” he said.

The gritty batsman came close to quitting in the wake of his sensational axing on Tuesday, but resolved to return to cricket and captain NSW out of respect for his state teammates. Veteran cricket commentators said they had never heard a player – they are restricted by the fear of fines and of losing their place in sides – take aim at the administration in the way the opener did yesterday.

 Katich opened the dressing room door on years of frustration. The NSW captain appeared to speak for Nathan Hauritz, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, Jason Krejza, Phil Hughes and every other player who has been hurt by erratic selection policies in recent times. “There needs to be more consistency,” he said. “The facts are a week or two before the Ashes a squad of 17 was named. Now, in my opinion, if you can’t know what your best XI is a week before our biggest series then that to me reeks of indecision. The fact that we’ve had 10 or 11 spinners in the last three years, that to me is another indicator of the inconsistency in selection.” “There’s been rules for some and rules for others.”