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

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“Probe the Minister, Not Sanga” — Rex targets Sports Minister Aluthgamage

Rex Clementine, in the Island, 9 July 2011

For all its charm, tradition and history, Lord’s can be a funny place. If your skin is dark, stewards tend to tell you, ‘Oi! Where do you think you are going?’ But the spellbinding speech of Kumar Sangakkara the other day at Lord’s is sure to turn things around completely. That Monday evening itself, after Sangakkara delivered the Lord Cowdrey Lecture on the Spirit of Cricket, there was a remarkable change in stewards’ attitude. ‘Excuse me sir, can I help you?’ A complete turnaround within an hour!

Eight Lankans have scored hundreds at The Home of Cricket, but the greatest knock of them all was played off the pitch by Sangakkara when he delivered the annual Lecture.

The handful of Lankans who were present at Lord’s on Monday, including former Board Chairman Vijaya Malalasekara, were almost in tears – the sheer brilliance of the speech proved so emotive. It was a moment of glory for all Lankans. The British agreed too. The standing ovation one of our own received from the guardians of the game lasted for more than a minute. What more do you want? His speech will be spoken about for many years to come.

Sangakkara draws an Array of Plaudits for his Cowdrey Lecture

* “Superb it’s like a film script” – SAROJ P… in London

 * “A very thoughtful and brilliant lecture by arguably one of the best ambassadors of Sri Lanka. Congratulations Sanga” – LUKIE P… in Melbourne

* “It was brilliantly crafted and eloquently delivered. A speech of quality worthy of being delivered at the Oxford Union and of the caliber that would even be appreciated in the halls of the United Nations. A tour de force of the splendor of Sri Lanka that was inspiring, courageous and brought about cascading emotions. Island’s love affair with cricket was well illustrated and the trials and tribulations of the players and management was deftly handled. Perhaps understandably, the media chose to highlight those comments, without regard to the total context of your brilliant speech. Going forward, as you so rightly wished, I hope cricket indeed will play its part in the reconciliation of the myriad of interests and communities in Sri Lanka.” – Nandasiri J…  in USA

 * ‘Kumar Sangakkara proves his blade can be mighty as his words” — David Hopps in The Guardian, 6 July 2011.

* “Eight Lankans have scored hundreds at The Home of Cricket, but the greatest knock of them all was played off the pitch by Sangakkara when he delivered the annual Lecture. The handful of Lankans who were present at Lord’s on Monday, including former Board Chairman Vijaya Malalasekara, were almost in tears – the sheer brilliance of the speech proved so emotive” … Rex Clementine in the Island, 9 July 2011.

Barbadian PM against government interference in cricket

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – In spite of the current perilous state of West Indies cricket, the Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson is not favouring too much government intervention in the problems surrounding the sport. A bitter contractual dispute between top flight players and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has crippled the sport in recent months but Thompson believes the region should tread carefully with government intervention on the issue. “The furthest you can keep political meddling out of West Indies cricket, the better,” Thompson told reporters at a news conference on Thursday afternoon.

Last month, CARICOM proposed a six–point plan aimed at ending the bitter dispute but Thompson’s personal view is that government intervention should be limited. “We have a very important interest collectively as Caribbean people in the success of the West Indies cricket team, but I’m not sure that too much involvement by political leaders, other than at the philosophical level and perhaps even at the level of broad direction, is desirable,” he said. Thompson suggested that political intervention could negatively impact other areas of the game including team selection. “I know where those things lead. There are some countries that will take the position that once they make a contribution that they should have a player on the team. You will start to hear that,” he said. “People will start to argue that the team should have 11 members, one from each territory, or other permutations,” he said.

Australia A win Triangular Final vs Safs A in Harare

Media Release from Jeffrey Murimbechi, Media Manager, Zimbabwe Cricket

Australia ‘A’ openers scored centuries in  a scintillating display of stroke
play powering their team to ay 2 run victory against South Africa ‘A’ in the
final of the Coca Cola Triangular A series challenge cup at Harare Sports
Club on Friday. Australia remained consistent with their choices as they chose to bat yet
again after winning the toss. A mammoth double century opening partnership
between David Warner and Philip Hughes set the final alight. Warner was the
first to go in the 38th over when Roland van der Merwe had him caught behind
for 120 runs from 127 balls; his innings featured 10 fours and three sixes.
Philip Hughes top scored for the match and the series and with a run-a-ball
138 which featured nine boundaries.