Sri Lanka players may be paid after Pakistan series

Upali Dharmadasa, the chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee, has said he is hopeful that his country's national cricketers will be paid their salaries when they return home after the series against Pakistan currently being played in the UAE. SLC is expecting to receive the remaining payments of around US$ 4.3 million from the ICC for hosting the 2011 World Cup shortly.

"We are awaiting the money from the ICC soon after they have finalized their audit of the World Cup which we believe have been completed," Dharmadasa told ESPNcricinfo.

Dharmadasa stated that SLC requires around 32 million Sri Lankan rupees (approx $290,540) a month to pay the salaries of its 230 employees and 100 contracted cricketers. He admitted to BBC Sinhala that the national cricketers had not been paid their salaries since the World Cup which ended in April because of SLC exceeded their budget building cricket stadiums for the tournament.

Dharmadasa was critical of the previous interim committee, headed by former Sri Lanka leg-spinner DS de Silva, for spending SLC money expansively to build a new stadium at Hambantota, renovating the Pallakele Stadium in Kandy and the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the World Cup.

"We are struggling financially today because of such unnecessary expenditure," Dharmadasa said.

Sri Lankan players unpaid since World Cup - reports

About 100 cricketers contracted to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), including national players, have not been paid their salaries since the 2011 World Cup, co-hosted by Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, BBC Sinhala has reported.

There were also doubts over whether the SLC would be able to pay salaries in the next two months. "There is a truth in those media reports to a certain extent," SLC chairman Upali Dharmadasa was quoted as telling BBC Sinhala.

Dharmadasa said efforts were being made to pay the players as soon as the SLC received the remaining payments from the ICC for staging the World Cup. "The ICC still owes us $4-5 million," he said.

The board had revamped the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and built two new grounds in Pallekele and Hambantota for the tournament in February and March, and the capital expenditure incurred is reported to have left it in debt.

SLC gets official warning for Galle pitch

"Whilst we do not wish to see a pitch that is too heavily weighted in
favour of the batsmen, in this instance, the balance was
just too much in favour of the bowler"

Sri Lanka Cricket has been given an official ICC warning for preparing a "poor" pitch in Galle for the first Test against Australia that was played from August 31-September 3. The ICC's pitch consultant Andy Atkinson will inspect the pitch at the end of this month and make recommendations about any corrective action required. SLC, for its part, will need to submit a report confirming the recommended corrective action, if any, has been taken prior to staging its next international match in Galle.

The Galle Test, won by Australia, lasted four days, with the home team being dismissed for 105 and 253 in its 125-run defeat. The match referee for the game Chris Broad had expressed his concern about the pitch to the ICC. Richardson and the ICC's chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, relying on Broad's report, the SLC's response and video footage from the game, then made their decision.

"We have come to a decision that the pitch prepared for the match should be rated as 'poor'," David Richardson, the ICC's general manager for cricket, said in a statement. "It was clear from the video footage of the match that the amount of turn, especially early in the match, was excessive and there were occasions (even on the first day) where the ball went through the surface of the pitch, bouncing unusually steeply from a good length.

"Whilst it is understandable and acceptable for a pitch to deteriorate over the course of the match, for a pitch to exhibit this type of behavior at relatively early stages of the match was not acceptable. Whilst we do not wish to see a pitch that is too heavily weighted in favour of the batsmen, in this instance, the balance was just too much in favour of the bowler."

Richardson said that since this is the first time the Galle pitch has come up for such scrutiny, the penalty was confined to a warning. "Taking into account that it was the first time that a pitch at Galle has been rated as "poor" and given the intention of the curator to prepare a pitch that provided a fair balance between bat and ball, we have decided to impose a warning as the sanction," he said.

"We have also directed that ICC's pitch consultant Any Atkinson carry out an inspection of the square with a view to making recommendations to ensure that in future the manner of preparation is in line with what is required to ensure that a better balance between bat and ball is achieved."

The ICC has imposed harsher penalties in the past. The Ferozshah Kotla ground in Delhi was banned from hosting any international matches in 2010 after an India-Sri Lanka ODI in January that year had to be abandoned due to a "dangerous" pitch.

Malinga takes third ODI hat-trick

Lasith Malinga became the first man to take three one-day international hat-tricks as Sri Lanka secured a consolation victory in the final ODI in Colombo. Australia might have won the series 3-2 but with the first Test just over a week away, it was important for Sri Lanka to finish on a high, and they did that through Malinga with the ball, and then Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva with the bat.

Chasing 212, the hosts lost three early wickets but from then on were in cruise control either side of a rain delay. Jayawardene all but saw them home with a patient 71, before departing with 17 runs still to get when he skied a catch off Xavier Doherty. Silva batted superbly in his 63, but the victory was all down to Sri Lanka's bowling performance, and specifically Malinga's hat-trick and the tail-end collapse that he instigated.

It could be argued that Malinga has taken four ODI hat-tricks, after his double hat-trick - four wickets in four balls - against South Africa at the 2007 World Cup. He picked up three in three deliveries against Kenya at this year's World Cup, and it would have been a brave person to tip against him adding to his tally when Doherty walked out to face the hat-trick ball this time.

Malinga began the sequence with a fast yorker that got through Mitchell Johnson's defences and bowled him for 1, and followed up with a low full toss that rapped John Hastings on the pad. Doherty took guard, and must have anticipated another accurate yorker, which was indeed delivered, but he still couldn't get bat on ball.

Doherty's middle stump was rattled, and so were Australia, who in the previous over - the 45th of the innings - had been cruising towards a competitive total, at 210 for 5. Eleven balls later, they had lost their remaining five wickets for the addition of only one more run. It was a remarkable collapse, with Ajantha Mendis taking a wicket either side of Malinga's hat-trick.

The rot started when David Hussey (46), who had just launched Mendis over the long-on fence for six, played back to the next delivery and was bowled for 46. The innings ended with Brad Haddin, on 8, driving a catch to mid-off, and neither the Australians nor the fans in the crowd could quite believe the rapid turnaround.

Smart stats
Lasith Malinga's hat-trick is his third in ODIs. He now has the most hat-tricks in ODIs after going past Wasim Akram, Saqlain Musthaq and Chaminda Vaas, who had two hat-tricks each.

The 3-2 series defeat is Sri Lanka's sixth series loss in bi-lateral contests at home since 2000 and their second home-series loss to Australia. Australia won 3-2 on their previous tour in 2004.

Chamara Silva's 13th half-century ended his bad run in recent ODIs. In his previous five innings, he had scored just 29 runs.

The 111-run stand between Silva and Mahela Jayawardene is the fifth-highest fourth-wicket partnership for Sri Lanka in ODIs against Australia. It is also their sixth-highest partnership for Sri Lanka in home ODIs against Australia.

Michael Clarke's aggregate of 242 runs in the series is the second-highest by an Australian batsman in a bi-lateral series in Sri Lanka after Ricky Ponting's 257 runs in the 2004 series.

Shane Watson's strike rate of 66.66 is his third-lowest for a fifty-plus knock in ODIs. The lowest is 60.71 during his 85 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2010.

Australia lost their last five wickets for just one run collapsing from 210 for 5 to be bowled out for 211. The aggregate of one run for the last four wickets (seventh to tenth wicket) is the lowest in ODIs.

Things had begun so solidly for Australia, who were sent in on a pitch expected to offer some assistance for the seamers in overcast conditions. As expected, the ball nipped around a little and in the second over, bowled by Shaminda Eranga, the openers were already in trouble, Shaun Marsh bowled by a lovely inswinger having four balls earlier been dropped at gully by Jayawardene.

In the following over Shane Watson was caught behind off a Malinga no-ball, and it proved to be a somewhat costly miss for the hosts, as Watson went on to post a solid 56 before top-edging a slog-sweep off Mendis. Watson had support from Ricky Ponting in a 67-run stand, before Ponting (31) was caught at midwicket when he failed to pick a slower ball from Angelo Mathews.

Michael Clarke compiled another handy yet inconsequential innings, his 47 ending when he tickled Eranga to the keeper. Not that his opposing captain was any more influential with the bat. Tillakaratne Dilshan was one of three early wickets to fall in Sri Lanka's chase, bowled for 17 when he was beaten for pace by James Pattinson, who sent down an impressive opening spell.

It was Pattinson's first match of the tour as Australia rested Brett Lee and Doug Bollinger, and the other man brought in for this game, John Hastings, made a nervy start as he failed to control the swing of the ball. Hastings was the main culprit as the Australians sent down 15 wides in the first 18 overs of the innings.

Not that anything should be taken away from the batting of Silva and Jaywardene. Silva's 63 was a fine innings from a man who was lucky to hold his place in the side, having made 4, 3, 13, 9 and 0 in his past five ODI innings. He was especially strong when sweeping Doherty, clearing the boundary at square leg once and finding the boundary four more times off the left-arm spinner, including with a powerful reverse-sweep.

Silva's half-century came up off 51 deliveries, but in the end it was the sweep that brought him undoing when he found the man at deep square leg off Doherty. The rain came with Sri Lanka well ahead on Duckworth/Lewis, and when play resumed, Jayawardene steered the chase comfortably.

In the end Sri Lanka got home with four wickets and three overs to spare, not that there was ever any doubt. Nor was there any doubt that Australia will enter the Test series happy to have seen the last of Malinga, who doesn't play the longer format. He certainly made a dead rubber bounce into life.

Dilshan named captain till end of the year

Tillakaratne Dilshan has been named as Sri Lanka captain in all formats until the end of the year. This means he will stay in charge for the three-Test home series against Australia and at least the first two Tests of the South Africa tour that kicks off in December. The appointment was ratified by the Sri Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

Dilshan took over the reins from Kumar Sangakkara following Sri Lanka's runners-up showing at the World Cup, but the team's fortunes have dwindled since - they lost the Test and ODI series in England, and currently trail 1-2 with two matches to play in the home one-dayers against Australia. They have had more success in the Twenty20 format, with victories in the one-off against England and the two-match series against Australia.

Dilshan, personally, has had a mixed time as batsman since taking charge. After Sri Lanka's capitulation in the first Test against England at Cardiff, Dilshan was in the process of leading a fightback at Lord's when he was struck on the right thumb. The injury was diagnosed as a fracture, and kept him out of the third Test and the solitary Twenty20, leaving Sangakkara to lead the side in his absence.

Dilshan was in poor form on his return, failing to reach double figures in the five ODIs against England and the solitary outing against Scotland that followed. An unbeaten ton in the first Twenty20 against Australia, however, seemed to shake the rust off. Dilshan played a key role in the victory in the third ODI, hitting a half-century and bowling a tight spell in the middle overs as Sri Lanka kept the series alive.

Chandimal and Herath dropped



Legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna impressed
on Sri Lanka A's tour of England

Sri Lanka have dropped promising batsman Dinesh Chandimal, allrounder Thisara Perera and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath from the squad for the final two one-dayers against Australia, who lead the series 2-1. Seekkuge Prasanna, the 26-year-old legspinner, has been called up and has to fly back from England, where he was representing Sri Lanka A.

The other major news was that vice-captain Angelo Mathews, who missed the third ODI due to an injury is fit for the remaining matches. "He should be alright for the rest of the series," Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said. "He could have even played on Tuesday, but we didn't want to take a risk. If something had happened he would have been ruled out for two months. He has got three more days to recover from the injury. Angelo is a key member of our side and when he goes out it's a big loss."

Chandimal, 21, had made an unbeaten century at Lord's and 54 in the deciding game of the ODI series against England last month, but suffered a string of failures since, managing only 41 in four innings.

Perera played only one ODI since his hard-hitting cameo in the World Cup final, with the role of the third fast bowler to be filled by either Mathews, Suranga Lakmal or Shaminda Eranga, who made an impact on debut in the third ODI on Tuesday. Herath has also had only one ODI since the World Cup, with the emergence of legspinning allrounder Jeevan Mendis and the spin pair of Ajantha Mendis and Suraj Randiv limiting his opportunities.

Herath's place in the squad was taken by Prasanna, who hit the headlines on Sunday with a six-wicket haul against England A. Prasanna plays for the Sri Lanka Army, impressing in their youth ranks before making his domestic one-day debut in 2006. He built up an outstanding List A record over the past five years, taking 73 wickets at 18.38 in 45 matches.

 

 

Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Chamara Silva, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Suraj Randiv

Test cricket returns to Sharjah

Sharjah will host its first Test in nine years this November, after Pakistan and Sri Lanka reached an agreement to play the last of their three Tests in the UAE at the venue. The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium has hosted more ODIs than any other ground but has not had any international cricket between top teams since 2003.

With international stadiums being built in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it had looked unlikely that Sharjah would make a return as a venue for big matches. However, the Emirates Cricket Board has now said there will be a Test there starting November 3.

"We've finally confirmed that Pakistan will play a Test in Sharjah," Dilawar Mani, chief of the Emirates board, told the Express Tribune. "We offered Sharjah at the very beginning - apart from Dubai and Abu Dhabi - but it was necessary for both sides to agree to play in Sharjah. We're now delighted to know that it has happened."

The other two venues for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test series are the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which hosted their debut Tests during the Pakistan-South Africa series in November 2010.

Sharjah was once a popular venue for neutral ODIs and tri-series and has hosted 200 one-day internationals, 24 of those between India and Pakistan. However, the venue received a blow when India, who had played 72 one-dayers in Sharjah, stopped playing there. The ground hosted its debut Test in 2002, but after 2003 did not have any international cricket till it was named as Afghanistan's home ground in 2010, and hosted two ODIs between them and Canada.

The stadium had disintegrated in the absence of top-flight cricket but is now being brought back up to top standard. "The renovation work is in full swing and we hope to be ready by November 3," Mazhar Khan, the stadium administrator, said. "The venue was very keen to host a fixture during the two series that Pakistan will be playing [in the UAE]. After all, Sharjah has many Pakistani and Sri Lankan followers who will now be able to watch their teams."

Sri Lanka will play three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 international against Pakistan from October 18 onwards in the UAE.

Malinga to miss first ODI

Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, was named in the 16-member squad for the first three One-Day Internationals against Australia but is likely to miss the series opener at Pallakele Stadium on Wednesday.

Chairman of cricket selectors Duleep Mendis said that although Malinga has been named in the squad, he is has been advised to rest. "We have been advised by the team physio to rest Malinga for the first ODI," Duleep said. "We will consider him for the remaining matches."

Malinga, who retired from Test cricket in April, missed the two Twenty20 Internationals against Australia due to a back injury. He has been under treatment since then but showed that he was on the road to recovery by bowling in the nets prior to being included in the one-day squad.

Duleep stated that the selection panel would review the performance of the players in the first three games and if necessary make changes to the squad for the remaining two matches.

Injured Malinga Misses T20's Against Australia

Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan fast bowler, has not been picked for the national team's two-match Twenty20 series against Australia, starting August 6th in Pallekele, due to an injury. Malinga was named in the list of 20 probables for the home series, but was left out of the Twenty20s to get back to fitness for the five-match ODI series starting on August 10. Sri Lanka have drafted in uncapped allrounder Shaminda Eranga while Angelo Mathews takes over as vice-captain following the axing of Thilina Kandamby.

Also missing from the 16-man squad is batsman Chamara Kapugedera, who was part of Sri Lanka's World Cup squad but wasn't picked for the limited-overs matches on the tour of England. Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Mathews and Eranga comprise the pace department . Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv are the frontline spinners, and the hosts also have Jeevan Mendis as a spin option.

Making a return to the national team are offspinning allrounder Dilruwan Perera, who last played an international game in February 2008, and middle-order batsman Chamara Silva, who played in the World Cup. Tillakaratne Dilshan was named captain for the entire tour. The limited-overs series are followed by three Tests.

Sri Lankan squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Jeevan Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chamara Silva, Shaminda Eranga.

Sri Lanka shakeup after England tour

Sri Lanka's cricket administration is set for a major overhaul amid allegations of massive corruption and mismanagement, a sports ministry official said on Friday.

The authorities will name a new management team for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). © AFP

The authorities will name a new management team for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the governing body of the sport in the island, after the current tour of England ends in early July, the official said. "The minister intends to make changes at Sri Lanka Cricket as soon as the national team returns from England," spokesman Harsha Abeykoon said.
A spokesman for SLC said they were yet to be informed of the impending top management changes.
Local media reports have accused the SLC managing committee of helping themselves to large amounts of cash and a host of other financial irregularities as well as mismanagement. Several probes are underway.
The financially-broke SLC is seeking an unprecedented two-billion-rupee ($18.35 million) bailout from the government and a further 1.5-billion-rupee loan from a state-run bank.
Police have been called to investigate the disappearance of computer disks containing some of the financial accounts relating to the 2011 World Cup the island co-hosted with India and Bangladesh.
Cost overruns and building three stadiums for the tournament left the governing body with bills amounting to $69 million which have forced them to seek the bailout.

AFP

Rookie skippers face off in England-Sri Lanka T20

Bristol: Both England and Sri Lanka will be led by novice captains when they meet in the Twenty20 international here on Saturday.

Kandamby will have three former captains -- Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya -- in his side. © AFP

Sri Lanka had hoped to have skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan back in their side after he missed the third and final Test against England with a broken thumb suffered making 193 in the drawn second Test at Lord's. But the opener is still not fit and that means Thilina Kandamby, the vice-captain for the limited overs leg of a tour also featuring five one-day international matches, is set to lead Sri Lanka.
Kandamby will have three former captains -- Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya -- in his side.
But 29-year-old batsman Kandamby insisted: "It is good that I am starting my career captaining at this level with that experience behind me -- Mahela, Sanath, Kumar all there. It will be good."
Jayasuriya may have made a sparkling 78 in the tourists' warm-up win against Worcestershire on Wednesday but his presence in the squad is controversial.
The veteran batsman, 42 at the end of a the month, has not played a one-day international since appearing against India in 2009.
Now an MP in the United People's Freedom Alliance party of Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse, Jayasuriya's selection for this part of the tour has come following reported political pressure to ensure he received a fitting send-off from the international game.
Jayasuriya now plans to play at Bristol and in the opening ODI at The Oval on Tuesday before retiring.
But Kandamby insisted he had no problems having opener Jayasuriya, whose blazing hitting helped Sri Lanka win the 1996 World Cup, in his side.
"He is one of the legends that we have produced so I always enjoy playing with him," Kandamby said. "He has said he is retiring so I am very happy to play with him."
Meanwhile Stuart Broad expects to be fit to lead England for the first time on Saturday.
Broad suffered a bruised heel during the drawn third Test against Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl concluded earlier this week, a result that gave Englanhd the three-match series 1-0.
That sparked concerns over whether he would be able to take up the reins in his first match as skipper following the axing of World Twenty20 winning captain Paul Collingwood from England's squad.
But Broad, having overcome his heel problem, took a tumble during fielding practice on Friday after falling over a medicine ball while taking a catch.
He received treatment on his ankle but said afterwards he was fit.
"It seems to have pulled up quite well so it's not a concern and I'm really excited about the opportunity of captaining tomorrow (Saturday)," Broad said.
Broad will be the second of three England captains in as many matches now that Test skipper Andrew Strauss no longer plays limited overs cricket and with Alastair Cook leading the team in the 50-over one-day internationals.
AFP

Sri Lanka set to lose Dilshan for England finale

Sri Lanka were resigned to being without captain Tillakaratne Dilshan for the upcoming third and final Test against England after rain had the final say in their warm-up match with Essex.

Sri Lanka were resigned to being without captain Tillakaratne Dilshan for the upcoming third and final Test against England after rain had the final say in their warm-up match with Essex. © AFP

Bad weather at Chelmsford on Sunday's third and final day meant only just over 12 overs' play was possible before a draw was agreed. Dilshan was sitting out the match after suffering a broken thumb when hit twice by England fast bowler Chris Tremlett while making 193 -- the highest Test score by a Sri Lankan at Lord's -- in the drawn second Test.
The final Test of the series, the first to be staged at Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground, starts on Thursday and Sri Lanka interim coach Stuart Law said of Dilshan: "There is no change at this stage.
"His thumb is still in a splint, he is also in some discomfort at this stage and the medical team have said that he is highly likely to miss the Test.
"So the game against Essex has proved very useful because it's allowed a couple of our batsmen to get amongst the runs."
If Dilshan is ruled out, the uncapped Lahiru Thirimanne, who made a century against Essex, is set to take his place.
"Young Lahiru Thirimanne, who is only 21, batted well in our first innings and hit 104 before we retired him out, which was a good indication that he was hitting the ball as good as he could," added former Australia batsman Law.
"It was also great for (Kumar) Sangakkara to get out there and score 153 runs in the first innings and that will do his confidence no end of good."
Sangakkara, Dilshan's predecessor as Sri Lanka captain, is in line to lead the side at the Rose Bowl, where the tourists will be looking to square the series after an innings defeat in the first Test at Cardiff, if the opener is unfit.
In the play that took place at Chelmsford on Sunday, Tharanga Paranavitana was lbw to Maurice Chambers before teenager Reece Topley had Dinesh Chandimal well caught by Dutch international Ryan ten Doeschate at third slip.
Sangakkara finished on 19 not out, while Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on 11 at the close.
Chandimal's wicket gave the 17-year-old left-arm seamer Topley, son of former Essex paceman Don, match figures of six for 34 in 21.4 overs.
Topley, who is still at school, has now taken 28 wickets in seven first-class matches, including a pair of five wickets in an innings hauls.
"He has bags of talent and we are delighted with his progress," said Essex bowling coach Chris Silverwood.
"He has a big heart, is quick to take on advice and works hard at his game," added the former Yorkshire, Middlesex and England seamer.
"It's very encouraging to see the level of progress he has made so far and he's made a very encouraging start to his career, but he knows there is a lot of hard work ahead of him yet."
AFP

Tillakaratne denies naming Sanath in match-fixing

Colombo: Former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne has denied that he had named ex-skippers Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya as being involved in match-fixing, which he had claimed to have been going on in Sri Lanka since 1992.

A Lankan website had reported that Tillakaratne had named de Silva and Jayasuriya as involved in match-fixing when he met the president along with popular Buddhist monk Uduwe Dhammaloka. © AFP

Squashing reports by a Lankan website that he had revealed the names of de Silva and Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne made a statement denying mentioning any names to President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a recent meeting.
"While my wife Apsari Tillakaratne and Rev Uduwe Dhammaloka also took part with me in a meeting, which had been summoned by His Excellency the President to find out about the earlier statement I had made to this assembly, I would like to insist to this august assembly that there was no mention of any player or person at that meeting," Tillakaratne stated.
Tillakaratne, who is now an opposition UNP member in the Western Provincial Council, made this statement at a Council meeting, according to Daily Mirror.
A Lankan website had reported that Tillakaratne had named de Silva and Jayasuriya as involved in match-fixing when he met the president along with popular Buddhist monk Uduwe Dhammaloka.
Tillakaratne also said that he is co-operating with the Sri Lanka Police investigation and the ICC investigation into the allegations he had made about match-fixing.
"The Criminal Investigation Department summoned me twice and I fully co-operated on both occasions. I would like to insist that I am the plaintiff and not the accused in this case," Tillakaratne said.
"My telephone numbers have been provided to the ICC to let them contact me at any time they want. Sri Lanka Cricket has also provided me with the telephone numbers of the relevant authorities for me to contact them," he added.
Tillakaratne was a member of Sri Lanka's only World Cup-winning team in 1996 along with Jayasuriya and de Silva.
In a television interview, Tillakaratne had said that matches were fixed during his career and fixing was rampant in Lankan cricket since 1992. He had said he would reveal the names of those involved in fixing matches at an appropriate time.
He had also questioned several decisions of Sri Lankan team management and captain during the recent ICC World Cup 2011 final between India and Sri Lanka, which was played in Mumbai on April 2.

PTI
 

ICC launches dope probe against Tharanga

The International Cricket Council has initiated action against Sri Lanka's opening batsman Upul Tharanga after he failed a dope test, the island's cricket governing body said on Wednesday.

The International Cricket Council has initiated action against Upul Tharanga after he failed a dope test, the island's cricket governing body said. © AFP

Sri Lanka Cricket said that Tharanga would not be available for selection pending the conclusion of the ICC hearing. He failed the test after Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by five wickets in the World Cup semi-final in March, becoming the first Sri Lankan international player to fail a doping test. He scored 30 runs in the match.
"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... and a disciplinary charge has been initiated," SLC said.
Sri Lanka's sports ministry has already started its own investigation.
Under ICC rules, Tharanga can seek a test of his "B" sample.
The embarrassment over the failure of the dope test comes amid allegations by a former skipper that Sri Lankan players have been responsible for match-fixing since 1992.
Sri Lanka says the allegations of match-fixing are still under investigation.
A press report last month said Tharanga had already retained a lawyer to defend himself at an upcoming ICC inquiry.
It said Tharanga had claimed that he was given a steroid by a faith healer in Colombo who also treated other international players.
There was no comment from Tharanga, who is not part of the Sri Lankan side currently on tour in England.

AFP

I am fit enough to play international cricket: Jayasuriya

New Delhi: Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya on Wednesday said that he is fit enough to play international cricket and is waiting for an opportunity to play in the ODI series against England later this month.

Jayasuriya is the only player to have scored in excess of 13,000 runs and capture more than 300 wickets in one-day internationals. © AFP

With opener Upul Tharanga unlikely to be considered for selection after being embroiled in an alleged doping scandal, Jayasuriya looks to be the most likely option to open the innings.
"Definitely I want to play for my country. That is why I have not announced retirement from one-day cricket till date. To play for Sri Lanka has always been my priority," Jayasuriya said on Wednesday.
"If any such offer comes my way, I would like to grab it for sure," the 41-year-old added.
Sri Lanka, currently playing a Test series in England, are scheduled to play a lone T20 match in Bristol on June 25 followed by five one-dayers from June 28 to July 9.
Jayasuriya, who had announced retirement from Test cricket in 2007 and played his last ODI in December 2009 against India, believed the break would not affect his form and fitness.
"I have been away from the game for eight or nine months hardly. I had played T20 world championship, domestic cricket, trial matches before ODI World Cup and IPL. I was not away from the game. I am fit enough to play international cricket," said the veteran, who will be celebrating his 42nd birthday on June 30.
"I am not talking about my future now. The series against England is in my radar as of now," said Jayasuriya, who is the only player to have scored in excess of 13,000 runs and capture more than 300 wickets in one-day internationals.
The Matara Marauder also does not intend to change his style of play.
"I have never changed my style. I am playing the way I used to play 20 years back. I will keep doing that in future also," he said.
In 2008, his ODI career was as good as over when he was omitted for a series in the West Indies.
However, a stirring performance in the IPL in which he tallied 514 runs, forced Sri Lanka's sports minister to intervene in team selection for the Asia Cup.
Jayasuriya's selection proved to be beneficial for the team as he made useful contributions, including scoring a century in the title clash in Sri Lanka's triumphant campaign.
PTI

Dilshan injury casts shadow over Sri Lanka

London: No sooner had Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan been named man-of-the-match in the drawn second Test against England at Lord's on Tuesday he was doubting his prospects of playing in the series climax.

No sooner had Dilshan been named man-of-the-match in the drawn second Test against England at Lord's he was doubting his prospects of playing in the series climax. © AFP

Opening batsman Dilshan made 193 in Sri Lanka's first innings but was twice hit on the right thumb by fast bowler Chris Tremlett, causing a hairline fracture which has left a huge question mark over his availability for the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl starting on June 16.
"It is a small fracture," said Dilshan, off the field for the final two days at Lord's, where Sri Lanka restored some pride after going 1-0 down during an innings and 14-run first Test defeat in Cardiff.
"I will have to wait for 10-15 days and I shall see how it goes before the next Test match," Dilshan also told Sky Sports.
"I feel I will miss the last Test but I'll see how it goes in the next couple of days," said Dilshan who'll be replaced as captain by former skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who deputised at Lord's, if he is unfit for the Rose Bowl.
Dilshan, whose innings surpassed Sidath Wettimuny's 190 in 1984 as the best by a Sri Lankan in a Test at Lord's, was pleased by his side's increased resilience following their Cardiff collapse.
"Overall I am happy. It was all round a very good performance after the Cardiff match."
England captain Andrew Strauss set Sri Lanka a target of 343 to win in 58 overs after declaring the hosts second innings on 335 for seven.
That England total featured 106 from Alastair Cook -- the opener's third century in four Test innings -- and Kevin Pietersen's 72.
But, unlike Cardiff, Sri Lanka had few problems in closing out a draw.
"We thought we had a chance if we took early wickets," said Strauss.
"We knew the wicket on the fifth day at Lord's would be flat so we needed something special to happen," he added.
Cook's innings continued a remarkable sequence with his first innings 96 in this match the only time in the Essex left-hander's last four Test knocks he's failed to reach three figures.
Now the 26-year-old is just four hundreds away from equalling the England record of 22 Test centuries shared by Walter Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott.
"My form's nice, but that form's not going to last forever so you've go to make the most of it while it does," said Cook.
However, Cook left himself open to some criticism by taking 137 balls for his second fifty when England were in search of quick runs.
"When we went out there today we were only 140 runs ahead, so if you lose a couple of wickets it's not a great position," Cook explained. "It was about getting through that first hour and then building a partnership with Kev.
"We actually scored at four an over in that session -- obviously I didn't do much of that scoring but you have to give credit to how Sri Lanka bowled."
AFP

Cook sets up victory shot against Sri Lanka

England gave themselves a chance to win their Test series against Sri Lanka with a match to spare after losing skipper Andrew Strauss for a duck at Lord's on Monday.

Steven Finn, whose return of four for 108 saw the 22-year-old, in his 12th match at this level, surpass Ian Botham as the youngest England bowler to take 50 Test wickets, was cautious about his side's prospects. © AFP

The hosts, at stumps on the fourth day of the second Test, were 149 for two in their second innings -- a lead of 156 -- with Alastair Cook 61 not out. Cook, under skies brightened by the Lord's floodlights, helped England recover from none for one after Strauss's exit and together with Jonathan Trott (58) put on 117 for the second wicket.
Kevin Pietersen, despite coming in when Rangana Herath was on -- left-arm spinners, including Herath, have removed him 19 times in Tests -- was unbeaten on 15.
England had dismissed Sri Lanka for just 82 inside 25 overs to force an improbable innings and 14-run win in the similarly rain-interrupted first Test in Cardiff.
But here they still have 98 overs left on Tuesday's final day in which to achieve a win that would put them 2-0 up in this three-match series.
And the time remaining means a Sri Lanka victory can't be ruled out completely either.
Fast bowler Steven Finn, whose return of four for 108 saw the 22-year-old, in his 12th match at this level, surpass Ian Botham as the youngest England bowler to take 50 Test wickets, was cautious about his side's prospects.
"We can't expect to bowl teams out for 80, or roll them over like we did (Australia) in Melbourne," Finn told BBC Radio's Test Match Special.
"We can't do that all the time," added Finn, recalled in place of injured Ashes spearhead James Anderson.
"We know we've been quality the last 18 months and the crop of bowlers we have means we're hard work for any team out there."

Cook, under skies brightened by the Lord's floodlights, helped England recover from none for one after Strauss's exit. © AFP

Finn, contemplating the last day, added: "We're in a great position to push on, but I don't think we'll be looking beyond the first hour.
"We'll take things drinks break by drinks break and hour by hour and see where we stand."
Sri Lanka, after rain washed out Monday's morning session, made 479 in reply to England's first innings 486 -- a deficit of just seven runs.
Strauss was then plumb lbw second ball to left-arm paceman Chanaka Welegedara, the skipper wasting a review before his dismissal was confirmed.
The in-form Trott, sometimes criticised for slow-scoring, prospered against an under-powered Sri Lanka seam attack to score a 66-ball fifty, completed when he punched Dilhara Fernando through the covers for his eighth four.
Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara, captaining the side as Tillakaratne Dilshan was off the field following the finger injury he'd suffered making a Sri Lankan Lord's Test-best 193 on Sunday, then opted for spin.
And it took Herath just four balls to bowl Trott, playing over the top of a dipping delivery.
Trott's exit meant Pietersen had to face Herath immediately but he played out the over with two forward defensive shots.
Cook then drove Fernando through the covers for a sixth four to go to an 86-ball fifty.
An even bigger roar came after Pietersen, advancing confidently down the pitch, drove Herath straight back over the bowler's head for the first four of his innings.
Earlier, Sri Lanka lost two wickets -- Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera -- for no runs in three balls to be 409 for six.
But wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (no relation), who made 112 in the first innings in Cardiff, hit back with a stylish 40 featuring a six and five fours and put on 57 with Herath in a lively seventh-wicket stand.
England's pace attack, wayward on Sunday in Anderson's absence, showed signs of improvement Monday.
But a huge total of 58 extras, including 23 byes, most of which could not be blamed on wicketkeeper Matt Prior, was evidence of a lack of accuracy.
Graeme Swann's off-spin polished off Sri Lanka's tail with three for eight in 16 balls.

Cardiff Test was Lanka's worst-ever performance: Murali

London: Legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan termed Sri Lanka's humiliating innings-defeat against England in the first Test at Cardiff as "worst-ever performance."

"I was happy to finish and I decided a long time ago that once I retired from Test match cricket, I would stay retired. If you keep on coming back when someone asks, it means you were not retired in the first place," Muralitharan said. © AFP

Muralitharan, who retired as world's leading wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs was on a flight to United Kingdom when his teammates were shot out for 82 in the second essay to lose by an innings and 14 runs.
"I think it was the worst-ever performance," Murali was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.
When questioned whether he would respond to an SOS call by country's cricket board as team lacks quality bowling attack, the answer was an emphatic "No."
"I was happy to finish and I decided a long time ago that once I retired from Test match cricket, I would stay retired. If you keep on coming back when someone asks, it means you were not retired in the first place."
Murali will be playing for Gloucestershire in the Twenty20 championship for the next two seasons.
The first bowler to take 800 wickets in Test cricket, Murali admitted that he was indeed shaken by the abject surrender.
"When I boarded the flight, I was convinced it would be a draw. There had been a lot of time lost due to rain and neither side looked as though they were in a position to win it, especially on such a flat wicket. To learn that we had lost was certainly a big shock."
But Murali feels that the team doesn't become a poor side just because of one bad loss.
"We must remember is that because a team loses in that manner, it does not automatically become a bad side," he stated.
PTI

Batting was horrendous in Cardiff Test: Sangakkara

Dubai: Former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara has described the innings defeat his side suffered in the first Test against England in Cardiff, as horrendous.

Kumar Sangakkara has described the innings defeat his side suffered in the first Test against England in Cardiff, as horrendous. © AFP

The Test was headed for a draw as both the teams scored more than 400 runs in their respective first innings but Sri Lanka lose wickets in a heap in the second innings to lose the match by an innings and 14 runs.
"Disappointing is an understatement about Cardiff in regards to our batting. We were horrendous. We know it and have accepted that. No one tries to have a performance like that. We have to take responsibility for that, I think Cardiff was a tough lesson for us and an important one for us as a team," Sangakkara said on ICC Cricket World Radio Show.
The left-handed batsman, however, said they have enough depth in their bowling to do well in the second Test, starting on Friday at Lord's.
"We have a different bowling attack than England, we don't have the same height. It is a bit of guile, swing, seam and we bowl to our plans. We have a lot of ability and a lot of variation. How best to use that is something we will try to answer in the next five days," he said.
The 33-year-old also talked about his work with ICC Think Wise partnership and why cricketers should be involved in the initiative to remove the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS.
"It's very important because cricketers are held in high esteem, highly visible public figures. With majority of AIDS affected people living in cricket playing countries, our roles become that much more important. More and more cricketers should be associated with it," Sangakkara said.

PTI

Law wants Lord's lift for Sri Lanka

London: Stuart Law faces the sternest challenge of his brief stint as Sri Lanka interim coach as he tries to get the side back on track following their stunning first Test collapse.

Stuart Law faces the sternest challenge of his brief stint as Sri Lanka interim coach as he tries to get the side back on track following their stunning first Test collapse. © AFP

The series opener seemed destined for a draw when rain washed out the final morning of in Cardiff on Monday.
Yet there was plenty of time for England, with Ashes star James Anderson off the field due to a side injury, to dismiss Sri Lanka for 82 inside 25 overs to complete an innings and 14-run win that left the hosts 1-0 up in this three-match series.
What made a bad collapse all the worse for Sri Lanka is that the strength of their side is a top-order featuring Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera.
Law doesn't have much time to effect a turnaround in the team's fortunes, with the second Test at Lord's starting on Friday.
But the former Australia batsman hopes playing at 'the home of cricket' will lift his side as it has many a touring team down the years.
Law, previously assistant to compatriot Trevor Bayliss, who ended his stint as Sri Lanka coach to take charge of Australian state side Victoria, made no attempt to disguise his hurt at the tourists' Sophia Gardens slump.
"It was obviously very disappointing but embarrassing as well, to get bowled out in 25 overs with some of the world's best batsmen in our line-up," Law told reporters at Lord's on Wednesday.
"We sat down for a good 40 minutes after the day's play and spoke about different aspects and ways of coming back."
Sri Lanka, on a pitch that had quickened but was not a 'terror track', had no answer either to the new ball bounce and lift of giant England fast bowler Chris Tremlett (four for 40) or the off-spin of Graeme Swann (four for 16).
"It can't be a skills issue because our boys are highly skilled players," said Law.
"But suddenly you lose a few wickets and you're under pressure. It's amazing what pressure can do to you, it makes the mind think wrong decisions."
England, with Anderson ruled out, are set to recall seamer Steven Finn, almost as tall as Tremlett, who has not played Test cricket since being dropped after the second match of the 3-1 Ashes series victory in Australia.
They also have the option of uncapped Surrey paceman Jade Dernbach, who starred for the Lions against Sri Lanka.
If Sri Lanka should never have lost in Cardiff, they now return to a venue where five years ago they defied the odds to achieve an improbable Test draw.
Mahela Jayawardene led the resistance at Lord's in 2006 with a fine century as Sri Lanka, 359 behind on first innings, clung on with nine wickets down second time around. "It's a good thing we've come straight to Lord's, it's a good inspiration," said Law.
"The boys are ready to show they can compete at this level, because if things continue like that it won't be much fun on the rest of this trip."
"We're 1-0 down, but we're not here to lose."
One consolation for a Sri Lanka attack without retired stars Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga and Chaminda Vaas as well as Nuwan Pradeep, who has gone home with a cruciate ligament injury, is that seamer Dilhara Fernando is set to return after a knee problem ruled him out in Cardiff.
England, who have now won their last three Tests by an innings, with Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott piling on the runs, are finding that even when things go against them, such as the Welsh weather or Anderson's injury, they can still come out on top -- the privilege of a successful side.
But both England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower are too level-headed to take victory for granted as they seek to overtake India, their other visitors this season, at the top of the Test rankings.
AFP