Srilanka's Tour of Zimbabwe 2008 | Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya rested say selectors

With reference to the articles that appeared in the some newspapers about the Zimbabwe tour selections, the national selection cricket committee has issued the following statement, according to a Sri Lanka Cricket Media release.

“We the national selectors would like to clarify that we decided to rest Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas for the Zimbabwe tour 2008 which will enable us to groom some young players for the future.”

Sports Editor’s note: We wonder who’s fooling who, because reports indicate that the “rested” Jayasuriya will have no rest at all, being contracted to play in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament and the South African domestic cricket tournament for the team Nausha Dolphins, instead of playing for the national team. If Jayasuriya was not picked in order to replace him with younger players then the word that should be used is not “rest” but “drop”. We would very much like a clarification on that matter as well.

Vaas joins Sanath Jayasuriya | HK Sixes - All Star Team

Hong Kong : Veteran Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas and Tyron Henderson of South Africa have been named as the final two player in the All-Stars squad for the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament to be here at the Kowloon Cricket Club on November 8-9.

The other members of the All-Stars team are West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul, former Aussie opener Justin Langer, veteran Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya, England pacer Matthew Hoggard and former Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming.

Apart from the All-Stars squad, the two-day tournament will feature six Test-playing nations and hosts Hong Kong.

"I'm delighted to play for the All-Stars this year. Of course, I've played with Sanath many times before and we'll enjoy teaming up again, but the rest of the guys have been respected opponents for many years so it will be awesome to be in the same team as them for this tournament," said 34-year-old Vaas.

"We've got a very strong side, but we also know all the other teams will be trying extra hard to beat us." Meanwhile, South African all-rounder Henderson, who has been a revelation with both bat and ball for English Twenty20 Cup champion Middlesex this year, said with the likes of Jayasuriya, Chanderpaul and Fleming in the squad, the All-Stars have a good chance of winning the event.

"We've got a great chance to win the tournament, but we know we're in for three tough pool games. Sri Lanka are the defending champions, Australia are always competitive and Hong Kong have scored some upsets down the years," he said.

The All-Stars have been drawn in the Sobers Group alongside Sri Lanka, Australia and hosts Hong Kong, while India, Pakistan, England and South Africa complete the Bradman group.

Sanath Jayasuriya vs Indika de Saram | Hometown mates to light up the Hong Kong Sixes

Master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya will come up against hometown mate Indika de Saram, who will lead a strong Sri Lanka outfit at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes on November 8-9 at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

De Saram. who captained Sri Lanka to a memorable victory over the All Stars in last year's final, will be back again with three other players - Jeewantha Kulatunga, Dilhara Lokuhettige and Kaushalya Weeraratne - who figured in the 16-run victory 12 months ago, which gave the island-nation their first win in Hong Kong.

The rest of the squad will be made up of talented all-rounder Gayan Wijekoon - who played at last year's Twenty20 World Cup and has figured here in the past - Chintaka Jayasinghe and Muthumudulige Pushpakumara.

"It is a good side who has the potential to win again," said former Sri Lankan test spearhead Rumesh Ratnayake, who is in town in his role as development manager with the Asian Cricket Council.

De Saram and Jayasuriya - who both come from Matara in the south of the island - are known to hit the ball a long way.

De Saram made a top score of 40 in the final against the All Stars last year, treating leg-spinner Shane Warne with disdain, as Sri Lanka rattled up 127 for three. Whether he can repeat that effort on the opening day when the Sri Lankans meet the All Stars in a preliminary match will be a mouth-watering prospect.

"That should be something worth going a long way to watch, Jayasuriya up against his own country," Ratnayake said.

Sri Lanka are drawn with the All Stars, Australia and Hong Kong in the preliminaries. The other group comprises India, Pakistan, England and South Africa.

Hong Kong Sixes | Sanath Jayasuriya delighted to be playing in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

Sanath Jayasuriya will showcase his devastating batting skills at next month’s Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. The Sri Lankan ace – one of the most lethal hitters in the game – has been confirmed for the showpiece at the Kowloon Cricket Club on 8-9 November.

He will join an awesome All-Stars team that already contains test greats Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming and Matthew Hoggard.

“I'm delighted to be playing in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes and I'm looking forward to what promises to be a fantastic weekend at the Kowloon Cricket Club,” said Jayasuriya.

“It will be great to team up with guys like Shiv, Justin, Stephen and Matthew, who have been my friends and respected opponents for many years in test and one day cricket, and hopefully we can put on a fantastic show for the fans.”

Jayasuriya, 39, is one of the true greats of the modern game, having racked up an astonishing 27 hundreds and 66 fifties in 421 one day internationals (ODIs).

Yet the left-hander has also enjoyed a stellar test career, scoring 14 hundreds and 31 fifties in 110 matches.

In addition, he is an extremely effective spin bowler with 310 ODI wickets and 98 test wickets to his name.

Jayasuriya revolutionised ODI batting with his aggressive tactics at the 1996 World Cup, taking advantage of fielding restrictions early in the innings by smashing the opening bowlers to all parts of the ground.

He was named Player of the Tournament as Sri Lanka lifted the trophy.

He retired from international cricket in 2006 but quickly reversed his decision. He quit tests again at the end of last year but continues to feature in Sri Lanka’s ODI squad.

The All-Stars have been pooled with defending champions Sri Lanka in the Sobers Group, meaning Jayasuriya will face a meeting with his countrymen on day one of the tournament.

“I'm especially anticipating our match against Sri Lanka on Saturday afternoon – that will be an interesting experience and a lot of fun also, I'm sure,” he said.

“The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes has a great reputation among players and I'm really keen to join in the action.”

Sixes tournament director Mark Burns predicted Jayasuriya would be a huge hit in Hong Kong.

“Sanath Jayasuriya is a thrilling player to watch – one of the most brutal strikers of a ball the sport has seen,” said Burns.

“I’m sure Hong Kong fans are going to relish the chance to see this great batsman in action. We can expect some fireworks from him.

”Ticket sales have been very strong since they went on sale two weeks ago and we expect this to continue, especially now that Jayasuriya has been confirmed.”

Australia and hosts Hong Kong are the remaining two teams in the Sobers Group while the Bradman Group will be contested by India, Pakistan, England and South Africa.

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Tickets for the 2008 Sixes – priced at $780 for adults and $450 for children – are on sale at the following locations:

· China Cricket International, Sheung Wan (Tel: 2543 8500)

· Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Central (Tel: 2810 6988)

· Hong Kong Cricket Club, Happy Valley (Tel: 3511 8668)

· Kowloon Cricket Club, Jordan (Tel: 2376 4141)

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is fully sanctioned by the ICC and is the sport's longest-running, best-established and most high-profile sixes tournament.

Players who have taken part over the past 16 years include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram.

The tournament is organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s commercial arm, China Cricket International Limited.

The HKCA’s proceeds from the Sixes will be ploughed directly back into cricket development in Hong Kong.

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Fast Hitting | Sri Lanka ace Sanath Jayasuriya confirmed for Hong Kong Sixes

HONG KONG, October 24, 2008

Big hitting Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya has been confirmed for the annual Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament, organisers said Friday.

The former 1996 Cricket World Cup winner will join an All Star team that includes West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Australian Justin Langer, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and English swing bowler Matthew Hoggard.

Jayasuriya, 39, has since retired from a test career in which he notched up 14 centuries and 31 fifties in 110 matches, taking 98 wickets.

He continues to feature in Sri Lanka's one-day squad, where he has scored 27 centuries and 66 fifties in 421 one-day games, taking 310 wickets.

Australia and hosts Hong Kong are the remaining two teams in the Sobers Group while the Bradman Group will be contested by India, Pakistan, England and South Africa.

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes are scheduled from November 8-9,2008

Sanath Jayasuriya rested for Zimbabwe tour | Chaminda Vaas, Dilshan, Silva out

Kandamby, Tharanga, Mathews, Prasad get promotions from “A” team

Sri Lanka team will be without the senior players Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, T.M. Dilshan and Chamara Silva as they leave for a tour of Zimbabwe to play five One Day Internationals next month.

Jayasuriya and Vaas who had opted out of the tour citing personal reasons were not available for selection while all rounder Dilshan has been dropped from the side but remains as a stand-by along with left arm paceman Chanaka Welagedara.

Selectors who met last morning had reportedly kept Dilshan on stand by fearing the fitness Kumar Sangakkara, as there is no reserve wicket keeper in the squad. Sangakkara who underwent a surgery on his right index finger in early September had initially been advised by the doctors to rest for two and a half months. Selectors were not to consider him, but Sangakkara had declared that he is fit and declared his availability for the Zimbabwe tour and was an automatic choice. Dilshan kept wickets in Sangakkara’s absence at the recent Toronto Twnety20 tournament.

Chamara Silva who was not in the best form this year has also been dropped.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Media Manager Shane Fernando said that Jayasuriya had submitted a letter to SLC informing he is unavailable for the tour as he has been invited to represent a World All Star team at the forthcoming Hong Sixes and has also been contracted to play the South African domestic cricket season for Nashua Dolphins.

Vaas had requested National Selection Committee Chairman Asantha de Mel not to consider him for the tour, according to Fernando.

Opener Upul Tharanga who was dropped from the side after a lean period with the bat makes a comeback into the team following a highly successful “A” team tour to South Africa last month when he was in terrific form.

Also making the national team after four years is talented left hander Thilina Kandamby, the Sri Lanka “A” team captain who was also in magnificent form in South Africa.

The other player to make the grade from “A” team is promising all rounder Angelo Matthews who was in great form in the tests in South Africa but did not impress in the one dayers, posing a question mark on his selection over two highly skilled all rounders Kaushalya Weeraratne and Dilhara Lokuhettige. Weeraratne and Lokuhettige have been in impressive form lately and performed creditably in the Toronto Twenty20 tournament but have been dropped mysteriously.

Also making a comeback to the side is veteran Muttiah Muralitharan after being rested for the Toronto tournament.

There are six pacemen in the squad but there are allegedly some doubts over the full match fitness of Dilhara Fernando, who was not to be seen in the best of fitness in Toronto.

The team: Mahela Jayewardene (Capt), Kumar Sangakkara (V-Captain), Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina Kandamby, Upul Tharanga, Farveez Maharoof, Thilina Thushara Mirando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, M. Muralitharan, Angelo Mathews, Dhammika Prasad

Stand byes: T.M.Dilshan, Chanaka Welagedara

Officials: Nishantha Ranatunga – Manager, Trevor Bayliss – Coach, Paul Farbrace – Assistant Coach, Ranjith Nanayakkarawasam – Physiotherapist, Jade Roberts – Trainer, Nalin De Alwis- Computer Analyst, Lal Thamel- Masseur

Sanath Jayasuriya named Cargills Ambassador

Sri Lanka’s dashing opener and former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya entered into an MoU with Cargills to promote Cargills Magic at a function held on Tuesday.

"I can do a lot of things with Cargills. Cargills initiated a programme to help the farming families, recently. In the future too, Cargills will go to the villages and will help them. That is a huge benefit to the country as well. I also can join them in doing that. It is a pleasure to join them in this worthy cause," said Sanath Jayasuriya joining Cargills as their Brand Ambassador.

Beyond Legendary | Kumar Sangakkara speaks about Sanath Jayasuriya in an article

" Many are the times I have sat in the dressing room, watching Sanath Jayasuriya single-handedly win matches. However, without realising it, we reached the stage, at one point, where our whole confidence hinged on the rise and fall of Sanath. His early dismissal would sow seeds of doubt, and his continued presence in the middle would fuel confidence. We have succeeded now in breaking free of that dependence."

Sachin more consistent than Lara: Sanath Jayasuriya

Mumbai: The comparison between the two great batsmen of the modern era – Brian Lara and the man who surpassed his Test aggregate Sachin Tendulkar – will be made for a long, long time to come according to Sri Lanka’s star batsman Sanath Jayasuriya the Indian star is more consistent than the former West Indies skipper.

"In my opinion, Sachin is unquestionably the best player of the modern era. Brian Lara, the man he overtook yesterday, was his closest peer. But while Lara’s stroke-play was breathtaking and spoke of genius, Tendulkar wins over him for his astonishing consistency in a career spanning over 19 years," Jayasuriya wrote in this column for the Hindustan Times on Saturday.

"Right from the time he played his first game aged 16, he has scored runs like a machine against all opponents. Only in 2006, when he averaged just 24.27 did his form dip. And against the best in the world, Australia, he’s played some of his finest innings, averaging 56 with nine hundreds," he added.

"Sri Lankans have not been spared either. His record against us in 18 Tests is very impressive, seven hundreds at 64.38. And for us he has always been the prized scalp. Take Tendulkar and you are halfway to beating India. Now that is perhaps less true, but for over a decade it was how we thought," he said.

Opinion | Jayasuriya controversy : Sanath has every right to defend his integrity, portraying his own loyalties to his motherland

Sri Lankan cricketing icon Sanath Jayasuriya to face the embarrasment of hurled verbal abuse while fielding close to the boundary where some of these demonstrators had gathered outside and Jayasuriya's own remonstration had been made a big deal of by the local media.

Jayasuriya had every right to defend his integrity with a show of defiance himself while portraying his own loyalties to his motherland and giving them the veritable single finger salute and bravo to him and to hell with his critics!

Jayasuriya praises Toronto as potential venue for cricket

Former Sri Lankan Captain and dynamite batsman Sanath Jayasuriya rated Toronto (Canada) as potential venue for cricket in presence of expatriates from cricket playing nations. “I have played here (Toronto) in the past and its good breakthrough for the game,” he told APP correspondent Ehsan Qureshi in an interview here on Monday after his team’s five wicket victory over Pakistan in the final of Al-Barakah Twenty20 International Cricket Championship at King City here.
“It was nice feeling to play before a sizeable crowd here because it inspire me to to perform,” he commented. He complimented large number of Sri Lankan flag-waving supporters which made the difference.
Jayasuriya, who was named man of the match for his spectacular knock of 40 ands was awarded a brand new car, said such a jam-pack crowd was proof of cricket’s popularity in Canada.
The cricket here in Canada is being revived after a lapse of nine years and Pakistan’s Sports International Marketing by staging quadrangular Toronto Twenty20 event here.
“They must have learnt a lot from this event needed to improve in some areas to make it permanent feature,” he said. He complimented SIM and Cricket Canada for their effort.
39-year-old veteran of 110 test matches and 421 ODIs Jayasuriya said he always enjoyed playing against Pakistan and happy that his knock contributed in his team’s success.
“It fantastic to play the Asia Cup final in Karachi and enjoy local support”, he recalled his memories of blasting a century under pressure.
“It was great final with Ajantha baffling the Indians batsmen with his mysterious spinning deliveries in Asian Cup final triumph,” Jayasuriya maintained.
He said he always cherished his performances in Pakistan where he enjoyed great success with the bat and ball.
Senath Jayasuriya said the winning the 1996 World Cup in Lahore in 1996 was one of his greatest moments in cricket. “I still vividly remember winning the final in Lahore and Aravinda’s De Silva’s ton at Gaddafi Stadium,” he recollected.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Mendis hand Sri Lanka title

A Twenty20 round-robin in Canada does little to set hearts fluttering. Yet when Shoaib Akhtar steams in to bowl at Sanath Jayasuriya and Co, the venue is of little importance. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Shoaib has yet to rediscover his accuracy, and it was Jayasuriya who won the battle, leading Sri Lanka to a convincing five-wicket win in the final of the T20 Canada at King City.
In stark contrast to Pakistan's, Sri Lanka's batsmen set off in frantic pursuit of 133, in front of a boisterous crowd of 9000. Jayasuriya and Mahela Udawatte put on a match-altering 66 in seven overs, though they were indebted to a predictably wayward start from Pakistan's trio of fast bowlers, Shoaib, Sohail Tanvir and, chief culprit of all, Umar Gul.
Jayasuriya shot out of the traps and never allowed Shoaib to settle. Flicking him for four in his first over, he then pulled him for consecutive sixes into the midwicket stand, the second of which went AWOL. Udawatte was no less aggressive, but such was Gul's persistently short length that he spent most of his time on the back foot. A hook for six was followed by a flayed cut for four, and a slice past point scorched the outfield. Sri Lanka's fifty came up inside five overs.
So, it was to spin that Pakistan turned and it brought immediate results when Shahid Afridi - who earlier managed only 14 with the bat - beat Udawatte in flight and had him caught at long-off. Afridi's partner at the other end, Shoaib Malik, then bowled Jayasuriya, and followed it up with the prized wicket of Mahela Jayawardene - both batsmen fell attempting the sweep. They made it five when Kaushalya Weeraratne was bowled in Gul's second spell, but it was all too little, too late, and Chamara Kapugedera's calm 17 guided Sri Lanka to their first win over Pakistan in Twenty20 internationals.
That Sri Lanka were allowed to chase such an attainable target was thanks to their own spin-attack, namely Ajantha Mendis, whose three wickets stifled Pakistan's middle order. Salman Butt played a steady hand for his 44, but wickets fell at crucial moments around him, and Pakistan's innings never gained true momentum. Misbah-ul-Haq cracked two fours in a spirited 25, but no one could truly get on top of Mendis, who ended the tournament with 11 wickets for a frugally economical 55 runs.

Canada Twenty 20 Finals : Old man Sanath Jayasuriya and newboy Mendis lead Sri Lanka to victory

TORONTO (AFP) — Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, with his trademark big-hitting, and newboy Ajantha Mendis, delving into his bag of bewildering spin tricks, led Sri Lanka to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Canada Twenty20 final here on Monday.
Chasing 133 to win, Sri Lanka registered their first win over Pakistan in the new-style, wham-bang format with six balls to spare.
He may be pushing 40 years old but Jayasuriya (40 runs) showed little sign of ageing as he and fellow opener Mahela Udawatte (25) put on 66 in 6.6 overs.
They took advantage off a wayward Pakistan attack with Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul being hit to all parts of the ground in front of 9,000 fans at King City.
Jayasuriya was particularly harsh on Akhtar, flicking the recalled quick for four in his first over and then pulling him for consecutive sixes over midwicket.
Desperate Pakistan, who had won the group match between the two sides by three wickets on Saturday, turned to spin and Shahid Afridi dismissed Udawatte while Shoaib Malik accounted for Jayasuriya.
But despite losing skipper Mahela Jayawardene for just five, Kaushalya Weeraratne (12) and Chamara Kapugedera (17 not out) saw Sri Lanka home.
Earlier Mendis, 16 years Jayasuriya's junior, took 3-23 for a tournament total of 11 wickets as he put the brakes on the Pakistan middle order.
Opener Salman Butt top scored with 44 before he fell to Mendis who also accounted for Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal. Zimbabwe trounced Canada by 109 runs to claim third place.

Sri Lankan Cricket team arrive in Canada | Pics & Video

The Sri Lankan Cricket team touched down at the Pearson International Airport this evening for the Al Barakah four-nation Twenty20 tournament.
Sri Lankan team just arrived in Toronto at 7.20PM EST

Pics by CoolWind and Hilal
Thanks to: www.hilalscricket.com , www.slcricket.com

Canada T20 - Sri Lankan Twenty 20 team will leave the country on Oct 6

www.T20Canada.com - buy online!! coming soon!

More info on the phone: 1- 416 - 502 - cup1 (2871)

Tickets are available at the following locations:


- Habib Canadian Bank
- Hugee Sports
- Robo International Inc.



Ticket prices:

Friday Oct 10: $35
Saturday Oct 11: $40
Sunday Oct 12: $40
Monday Oct 13: $50

Tickets for all 4 days!: $140
Silver Stand: $100 per day
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Sri Lanka Squad

Mahela Jayawardene (Captain)

Sanath Jayasuriya

Mahela Udawatte

Chamara Kapugedara

Jehan Mubarak

Tillekaratne Dilshan (Wk)

Jeevantha Kulatunga

Farveez Maharoof

Nuwan Kulasekara

Tihilina Thushara Mirando

Ajantha Mendis

Thilina Kandamby

Dilhara Fernando

Dilhara Lokuhettige

Kaushalya Weeraratne