The government has taken over the management of Sri Lankan cricket,preventing the annual general election planned this weekend from going ahead. Jeevan Kumaratunga, the sports minister, justified the move on financial andadministrative grounds, claiming “wastages” and “no accountability”.An interim committee was appointed to look after the board’s management. Jayantha Dharmadasa, the head of Nawaloka Hospitals and chairman of Sri Lanka Film Association, was appointed as the chairman. Dharmadasa contested unsuccessfully for the board presidency in 2000.Other members of the committee included Tryphon Mirando as secretary andKumar Weerasuriya. Mirando is a director at Janashakthi Insurance and aformer board member. Weerasuriya is a vice-president at National DevelopmentBank. Rienze Wijetilleke, interim chairman back in 1999, Adel Hassim andDamien Fernando were also appointed.The dissolution of the board was been widely expected after the government’sdecision to force Thilanga Sumathipala, the board’s appointed ambassador forinternational affairs who was standing uncontested for a fifth term aspresident on Sunday, to leave an important ICC meeting last week in Delhi.Sumathipala’s last-minute replacement indicated a shift in thinking withinthe government which had previously appeared supportive of Sumathipala, themain power broker within Sri Lankan cricket since the 1996 World Cup, atriumph that ignited a fight for control of the board.No specific reasons were given for the dissolution but Kumaratunga told newspaper: “I have had so many complaints saying that there are various financial mismanagements at Sri Lanka Cricket and this time when Igot the accounts I went through them very carefully and found out everythingwas not right. Their have been a lot of wastages and their seems to be noaccountability.”The outgoing executive committee, headed by Mohan de Silva, were consideringa legal challenge to the minister’s decision and were expected to hold apress conference shortly to respond to the minister’s decision. The newchairman, meanwhile, is expected to hold a press conference on Monday afterhis return to the island from a business trip.The major issues needing to be addressed will include the finalisation ofthe team sponsorship bid process, the re-drafting of annual playercontracts, the future of coach John Dyson, a possible legal fight overPallakelle Stadium and the re-building of tsunami-damaged GalleInternational Stadium.A possible far-reaching constitutional change designed to ensure a long-termsolution to the board’s problems may also be considered by the minister. Thefuture of Cricket-Aid, the board’s tsunami disaster fund headed bySumathipala, is also unclear.Interim committees were previously appointed in 1999 and 2001 to takeoverSumathipala-led administrations.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

A series which began so disappointingly for Pakistan ended in absolute delight as they thrashed India by 159 runs in the last one-day international, at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, to take the series 4-2. As they had done in at least two of the previous three matches, Pakistan completely outplayed India in this one: the batsmen took advantage of winning the toss, piling up 303 on a pitch which wasn’t always conducive for strokeplay. Then, the bowlers and fielders struck repeatedly early in the piece, reducing India to 94 for 7, before they limped to 144.As has happened for much of this series, it was a team effort by Pakistan, with almost every player doing his bit. Shahid Afridi’s blistering 44 off 23 balls set the pace early in the day, while Shoaib Malik (72), Inzamam-ul-Haq (68) and the rest of the middle order ensured that a splendid start wasn’t wasted. Naved-ul-Hasan and Iftikhar Anjum then showed superb control and discipline with the new ball, and the fielding was exceptional – Yousuf Youhana twice scored direct hits to dismiss Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh. It was all so good that Inzamam could afford to stay in the pavilion throughout the Indian innings, allowing Younis Khan to lead the team.As at Kanpur, Afridi got the innings going at a scorching pace. There had been question-marks raised about the pitch before the match, but it was scarcely a bother for him. Ashish Nehra had missed the Kanpur match, but here he got a taste of the Afridi medicine in his very first over. The first ball missed the outside edge, but that was as good as it got for Nehra – the next three balls all vanished to the on-side boundaries for four, the fifth was hoicked over midwicket for six, and the last one was crashed through covers. Twenty-two came off that over, and the tone was set.The Indians fought back well after that early massacre, but even after Afridi was dismissed, Malik and Youhana kept the momentum going adding 85 in just under 17 overs. Malik’s contribution once again underlined his ability to bat sensibly at the No. 3 position, while Youhana’s was another typically fluent knock.Dravid kept plenty of fielders in the ring almost throughout the innings, but the batsmen were still skillful enough to find the gaps for singles or boundaries. The partnership finally ended through a dubious third-umpire decision, with Youhana being declared out even when replays suggested he had made it to the crease in time. That only brought Inzamam to the crease, and by the time he fell, to another dubious decision, this time by Jayaprakash, Pakistan had enough runs on the board.Inzamam’s innings was another high-quality, classy knock, displaying all his characteristic strengths – the deft touches in the gaps to rotate the strike, well-controlled sweeps which spanned the arc between fine leg and midwicket, and powerful pulls and drives whenever the bowlers erred in length. In between the meaty blows, he ran excellently between the wickets as well, especially in the last few overs.

Teams have chased over 300 in one-dayers before, but on a pitch increasingly lacking in pace and bounce, it was always likely to be a tough ask. And so it proved, as all Indian batsmen struggled for timing. Virender Sehwag threatened briefly, striking three fours in his 21 before steering one from Naved-ul-Hasan straight to slip. Sehwag could have been out even earlier, when he chipped the third ball of the innings straight to cover. Fortunately for him, it was a no-ball.Both Naved and Iftikhar Anjum were disciplined with the new ball, keeping it just a fraction short on the stumps and denying the batsmen the length and the width to free their arms. Tendulkar was done in by one such delivery which nipped back in and bowled him off his pads (36 for 2). Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni resisted briefly, but once Youhana’s direct hit found Dravid short of the crease, it was all downhill for India. Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni and Mohamamd Kaif all fell in the space of four overs, which was too much to take in for the Delhi crowd. They showed their displeasure by throwing bottles into the ground, forcing the players off the field. When play resumed, it was more of the same procession, and the match was over much before Nehra guided one to slip.For Pakistan, it was an outstanding comeback in the series, and one which should go down as one of the best comebacks in an ODI series. The Indians had plenty riding on this match – it was their last chance to level the series, and it was the last match with John Wright doing coaching duties. The result, though, wasn’t quite as they would have wanted it.How they were outPakistanSalman Butt c Sehwag b Zaheer 2 (28 for 1)
Edged one in the corridor and smartly taken by Sehwag low to his right at second slipShahid Afridi c Dhoni b Nehra 40 (68 for 2)
Slower one by Nehra angling away, thin nick gave Dhoni a regulation catchYousuf Youhana run-out (Tendulkar) 50 (153 for 3)
Called by the striker for a quick single behind the stumps. Replays showed he had made his groundShoaib Malik b Agarkar 72 (191 for 4)
Full-length delivery which swung in late, clipped the pad and then hit off stumpYounis Khan c & b Nehra 40 (282 for 5)
Leading edge while attempting to chip one to legAbdul Razzaq c Sehwag b Nehra 0 (282 for 6)
Hit a full-toss straight to long-onInzamam-ul-Haq c Dhoni b Agarkar 68 (294 for 7)
Given out caught-behind even though he had missed a wide one by a long wayKamran Akmal b Agarkar 5 (303 for 8)
Moved outside off to tickle the ball to the leg side and missedIndiaVirender Sehwag c Afridi b Naved 21 (31 for 1)
Tried to steer one to third man, but guided it to first slip insteadSachin Tendulkar b Iftikhar 9 (36 for 2)
Beaten by one that nipped back and clipped the stumps off the padsRahul Dravid run-out (Youhana) 19 (64 for 3)
Pushed to mid-on and called for a run, but caught well short by Youhana’s direct hitYuvraj Singh run-out (Youhana) 13 (84 for 4)
Sold a dummy by Dhoni, who called for a run and then changed his mind. Youhana’s direct hit did the restMahendra Singh Dhoni c Afridi b Arshad 24 (93 for 5)
Went down the pitch and played a lofted shot but found Afridi at wide long-onMohammad Kaif lbw b Razzaq 4 (94 for 6)
Rapped on the pad by one that nipped back and hit him in front of off stumpDinesh Mongia c Younis b Arshad 0 (94 for 7)
Edged one that turned away to first slipAgarkar c Youhana b Afridi 16 (129 for 8)
Pulled it straight to Youhana at long-onZaheer Khan c Younis b Arshad 7 (139 for 9)
Slogged one to short midwicket, where Younis picked off a fine low catchAshish Nehra c sub (Hafeez) b Afridi 1 (144 all out)
Edged a drive to slip

Ricky Ponting has urged the Australian board to consider taking a radical step of thrusting a current state player into the role of a selector in the future. While strongly endorsing Merv Hughes’s appointment as a national selector, Ponting felt that a player still experiencing the grind of first-class cricket would bring a unique perspective to the selection table and that his insights into the development of domestic players could prove crucial.Ponting’s comments came in the wake of Darren Lehmann’s name being discussed as a possible candidate for the national selector’s post. However, Cricket Australia decided it would be inappropriate for someone in Lehmann’s position, who is still actively involved in first-class cricket and only recently dropped from the side, to help select the national team.”I don’t think there’s any reason why it couldn’t happen,” Ponting was quoted as saying in . “I think it probably could have some benefits, to have someone like Darren or anyone playing in the competition to really get a good gauge on some of the younger players coming through. There could be some positives there, but at the moment I think there could be some negatives to go with it. Hopefully, something can be worked out in coming years to give that sort of thing an opportunity.”However, Ponting was equally enthusiastic about Hughes’s appointment and added that he may have to be involved in some tough decisions along the way. One of those major decisions may include ending the career of Shane Warne, his long-time friend. But Hughes said he would approach the whole issue in an objective manner. “Obviously you’re going to have to make some tough decisions,” he said, “and I’d like to think that I’m strong enough to separate my personal feelings from a business decision that’s got to be made. There are going to be disappointments.”

Scorecard
Warwickshire rushed to a three-day win over a poor Gloucestershire side, and returned to the top of Division One, as Heath Streak decimated their second innings. Streak was the principle reason why Gloucestershire crashed to 20 for 5 and the match was hurrying to a swift conclusion. However, the home side managed to locate some backbone and made Warwickshire work to wrap up the match. Mark Alleyne (51) and Upul Chandana (43) embarrassed the top-order and managed to push the total beyond 200 – but it only delayed the inevitable. Streak returned to claim the final wicket, and his second six-wicket haul of the season. He had earlier been part of some stubborn tail-end batting from Warwickshire as they added 153 runs to their overnight total. Gloucestershire’s bowlers toiled but it took them almost 148 overs to wrap up the innings, it took Warwickshire just under 67 to clinch the match.

The Scottish Saltires are hoping to sign Sanath Jayasuriya, the former Sri Lankan captain, as an overseas player for 2005 – their third season in Division Two of the National League.Jayasuriya will not be the Scots’ first big-name signing – last year they enlisted the services of Rahul Dravid. This season Sridharan Sriram, the Indian allrounder, turned out for the Saltires, although he failed to make an impact as big as Dravid.”We have had initial chats with various agents, and there are one or two big names who are interested in coming over,” said Craig Wright, Scotland’s captain. “Jayasuriya is one of several we are talking to.”He went on: “I think that whoever comes would appreciate the fact that it is not a full county season. That was one of the things that appealed to Rahul. With 18 one-day games there is not so much stress or strain, and with the amount of international cricket that is played now, coming here would give a player a rest while keeping him ticking over. It is the lifestyle options that make our situation appealing.”Jayasuriya, 35, has been a mainstay of Sri Lanka’s top order for almost 15 years, scoring 9782 one-day runs, including a whopping 185 sixes, at an average of 31.96. His Test stats are equally impressive, and Jayasuriya is also a more-than-useful left-arm spinner.Scotland do not have the financial backing to compete with the English first-class counties when it comes to attracting star talent, and Dravid’s wages were partly paid for by an enthusiastic Indian community in Scotland. It will cost around £30,000 to recruit a world-class player such as Jayasuriya.”Obviously we would like to be able to make a decision as soon as possible, because it would encourage season-ticket package sales and create a buzz,” said Wright. “The names we are targeting are high-calibre, so it makes it all the more frustrating.”Meanwhile, Scotland are preparing for the ICC Intercontinental Cup finals in United Arab Emirates next month. They will take on Kenya in the semi-finals, having beaten Ireland by eight wickets to qualify from the European group. “This is pretty much the strongest squad we have ever had available,” said Wright. “On paper we are at full strength, which is exciting.”

Shane Warne’s bowling in Colombo during Australia’s 40-run victory over Pakistan has clearly presented him with the chance of relieving Courtney Walsh of his world record for wickets in Tests within the next 12 months, or possibly sooner.Warne, 32, after his 102nd Test, has taken 461 Test wickets, at an average of 26.29.Walsh, who played 132 Tests for the West Indies took 519 wickets at 24.44.The most important aspect of his race for the record, with Muttiah Muralitharan, 30, his only serious rival on 430 wickets, is the news that he has recovered his flipper.It was the ball he used to break through the Pakistan resistance when trapping Younis Khan leg before wicket for 51, and setting in train the Pakistan collapse which gave Australia victory.While age might normally be a problem for a faster bowler, although in the case of Walsh, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadlee, it wasn’t that much of a concern during their latter years, Warne could rightfully claim to be in the prime years of his life.Should he maintain the fitness that has seen him pick up his sixth 10-wicket bag in Tests and his 22nd five-wicket haul, Warne could even expect to be able to possibly claim the prize during next year’s series in the West Indies.There are two more Tests against Pakistan in this series. They will be played in Sharjah where he might normally expect some assistance, especially over five days.Then follows the Ashes series with five Tests at home and then four Tests in the West Indies.Are 11 Tests sufficient for Warne to take 58 wickets?Throughout his career the Victorian leggie has averaged 4.5 wickets a Test match and at that rate he could finish the 11 Tests with just on 50 wickets.But in his last 10 Tests he has taken 54 wickets which is 5.4 a Test which would net him 59.Should he not be able to get among the English and the West Indians, then there is the prospect of two matches to be played against Bangladesh in Darwin and Cairns in July.By comparison, Muralitharan has reached something of a stop in his Test match play. The Sri Lankans have two Tests against South Africa next month. They then host New Zealand for three Tests in May and have two Tests in the West Indies in June/July next year.That is likely to deny the crafty Sri Lankan the chance to put the pressure on Warne, although that statement is always presuming injury doesn’t become a factor for him.Of the other bowlers on the list of top performers, Glenn McGrath is closest to breaking through the 400 barrier.He ended the Colombo Test with 393 wickets from his 85 Tests, Pakistan’s Waqar Younis is on 357 while India’s Anil Kumble goes into the series against the West Indies on 333 wickets from 73 Tests.The next highest bowler on the list who is still playing is South Africa’s Shaun Pollock on 261 and with his average on 20.72, it is the best of all the bowlers in front of him. But it will be interesting to see how his figures look at the completion of the series against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. On his home soil there is every prospect of a significant drop.Javagal Srinath has now returned to Test cricket, and he sits on 232 wickets. The next highest active players on the list are England’s pair of Darren Gough (228) and Andrew Caddick (214) and after them, is Chris Cairns on 197 looking to break through in the forthcoming series against India.Meanwhile, one interesting milestone looms in the batting stakes. Australian Test captain Steve Waugh, after 149 Tests, is 369 runs from becoming the third player, after Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar, to break the 10,000 runs barrier.Closest to him is Sachin Tendulkar on 8405 runs with an average of 57.96 which is second only to Don Bradman (99.94) and Walter Hammond (58.45) among those to have scored more than Bradman’s 6996 runs.

Stuart Clark, the New South Wales fast bowler, will finish the northern summer at Middlesex as a replacement for Scott Styris, the New Zealand allrounder. After making his first appearance with the county last season, Clark, 29, will return with the aim of getting in form for the Australian domestic scene as well as being on standby for Australia.”I’m excited by the opportunity of playing county cricket again,” he said. “I’ve been watching the matches involving Australia and I’m keen to test myself bowling over there. My time in Middlesex will hopefully be great for the club and leave me in good stead for the coming domestic summer.”Clark, who has represented Australia A, is a former nationally-contracted player who took 40 wickets in the Pura Cup last season at an average of 24.77. “You never know when Australia may need a replacement bowler,” he said. “It will be handy for the selectors if they require someone at short notice given I am bowling well.”

Zimbabwe’s strike bowler Heath Streak will be able to bowl on the third day of their second Test match against New Zealand at Queens Sports Club after missing much of the second day because of a groin injury.Streak was on and off the field throughout the New Zealand innings, and Andy Blignaut fielded for him on all occasions he was off. Streak’s injury, which did not prevent him from taking 2 for 62 off 16 overs, although he would have undoubtedly bowled more had he been fit.His absence prompted Tatenda Taibu not to take the new ball before the close, keeping the old one, which had been used for 100 overs, with spinners Keith Dabengwa and Graeme Cremer doing most of the bowling. If Streak resumes at the start then Taibu will almost certainly take the new ball straight away.

Scorecard

Australia warmed up for the fourth Test by dismissing Northamtonshire for just 169, on day two of their tour match, before allowing Simon Katich to make some useful runs ahead of the fourth Test on Thursday. Shaun Tait, who replaced Jason Gillespie and who is fighting for a Test place with Mike Kasprowicz, bowled with menace and took the first two wickets of the day, to improve his hopes of inclusion at Trent Bridge.Tait was expensive, conceding 52 runs from his 14 overs, but his pace was too much for Tim Roberts. He struck the opener on the head with a brutal ball, which drew blood and caused Roberts to retire hurt for 18. Tait then removed Usman Afzaal, shortly followed by Northants’ captain David Sales for a duck, perishing to a yorker. Kasprowicz, meanwhile, only picked up a single wicket, that of Riki Wessels. Wickets continued to tumble, with Glenn McGrath back to his metonomic best, taking three for 24 from 11 overs, and Northants were grateful for a battling innings by Ben Phillips, who remained unbeaten on 37.Phillips, like Roberts, was struck on the head – this time by McGrath – and he too retired hurt, albeit briefly. He struck a clutch of boundaries on his return to the crease but, despite his brave innings, he ran out of partners and his side were bundled out in just 50 overs for 169. The encouraging display of Tait was tempered, however, when he was forced off the field after being struck just below the knee in his follow-through, by Phillips.Australia promoted Simon Katich to open the innings, and they cruised to their hundred at 4 runs per over. Katich’s top score, in his last four Test innings, is 17, so his knock of 63 today was a welcome relief to the left-hander. He fell to Jason Brown, but Justin Langer continued his good form with an undefeated 86, in a partnership worth 114 runs with Damien Martyn, as Australia ended on 226 for two.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) admitted that the Australian A team’s tour to Pakistan, which ended last week, was at one point under threat after two bomb blasts in Lahore.Shaharyar Khan, chairman PCB, told journalists at a press function in Lahore, “The PCB moved very carefully to persuade the Australians to continue their tour because such bomb blasts are minor incidents and there is nothing serious.”The chairman revealed that the Australians expressed considerable concern over the bomb blasts as they were under the impression that Lahore was among the safest cities in Pakistan.He added, however, that their security was not in doubt and that the board would intensify their security arrangements further. Shaharyar also reiterated that no concerns had been raised by the England and Wales Cricket Board about security for their tour of Pakistan after the bomb blasts.Shaharyar said, “I am going to attend the ICC meetings next month and will have bilateral meetings with English, Indian and Sri Lankan counterparts and I will try to satisfy the England board, if needed, to assure them of their safe stay in Pakistan.”The bomb blast occurred just before the three-match one-day series began and killed six people, injuring a further 30. Australia A eventually won the one-day series 2-1 but lost the two four-day match series 1-0.