Individuals who attacked Sri Lankan team bus may face hate crime charges

The York regional police will be conducting investigations into an incident which took place in King city, Ontario. The tour bus which was transporting the Sri Lankan cricket team was pelted with stones and eggs by a group considered to be members of the Tamil Tigers. The Tigers are banned by the Canadian government as a terrorist organisation.

“We are going to investigate to the fullest extent possible what transpired there,” said Police Chief Armand La Barge. “There was an open display of LTTE, or Tamil Tiger flags,” he added.

Click here to read the story in full

posted by Hilal


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Canada put to shame by the antics of Tamil Tigers

This being a sports Blog I chose not to give this story any mileage when it first took place what changed my mind was Sri Lankan cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena's entry in his tour diary. The tour diary can be found on his official website located here. Mahela talks of Sri Lanka's first cricket tour to Canada.

"The one sour note in the trip was when the tour bus was stopped by LTTE protesters and eggs and stones were thrown at us," writes Mahela on the tour diary.

"We are sportsman and we dont want to get involved in politics. We tried to just forget about it, but it was a bit upsetting," he added.

Mahela is right. Sportsman are not responsible for politics or the actions of their government. Team Sri lanka represents all Sri lankans regardless of caste, creed, race or religion. Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan an ethnic Tamil is a Sri Lankan sporting icon and is considered a national hero by all.

This is not the first time that international sportsman have been targeted by extremists. How could one forget the Munich massacre back in 1972? Members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually murdered by a militant group with ties to Yasser Arafat’s Fatah organization. This incident in King City, Ontario however is a first on Canadian soil - where an international sports team was attacked due to the lack of security provided by the Canadian police and the event organisers. As the story goes the team manager Nishantha Ranatunga called police for assistance from within the tour bus.

At the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground Sri Lankans of all ethnic backgrounds including many moderate Tamils celebrated Sri Lanka's victory. Alas, it only took the deeds of a few to put all of Canada to shame.

by Hilal


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Sri Lankan cricketers arrive leaving trophy in Canada

The Nation reports that the Al Barakah trophy was left behind in Toronto due to it's size. The Greater Toronto Airport Authority would not allow the Trophy on board due to it's size and weight.

“We were forced to leave behind the Cup and along with it the replicas of the cup which all the team members received. They will be sent to us by the Sri Lanka consular general in Canada Bandula Jayasekera who undertook the responsibility,” said Ranatunga.

According to Ranatunga the Canada Cup which Sri Lanka won for emerging champions of the four-nation T20 tournament held in Toronto was about five feet in height and weighed over 20 kilos.

“One person couldn’t comfortably carry that trophy,” said Ranatunga. He said the Cup was expected to arrive by next week.

This is the first time the Sri Lanka cricket team had returned home without their prized silverware.

posted by Hilal


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Ranil Abeynaike, Canucks and Cricket

One of the exciting aspects of cricket for me is the commentary. Over the years a very select few have tickled my fancy. My expectations are the same as any cricket enthusiast - A good command of the English Language, a thorough understanding of the game, unbiased views and a keen eye is sufficient to satisfy me. The likes of Bill Lawry, Charles Colleville, Tony Grieg and from the Asian subcontinent the likes of Ravi Shastri, Sanjay manjrekar and Rameez Raja have kept me glued to the TV screens of late. A few however have represented Sri Lanka on international broadcasts and none deserve a mention. That's not to say Sri Lanka did not have any fine commentators of the game, I was blessed enough to have heard my former neighbour Skandakumar in action and Aubrey Ebert, two fine commentators who never hit the international stage.

It appears that international broadcasters have finally realised that there is more to cricket commentary in Sri Lanka than just Ranjith Fernando. I have no malice towards Mr. Fernando but years of hearing Ranjith stating the obvious and not being able to get his thoughts in sequence fast enough to construct a sentence has worn out the mute button on my remote control.

This post is not about Ranjith or my preference in commentators, it is to laud the arrival of Sri Lanka's finest commentator ever. Ranil Abeynaike without an iota of doubt is the finest English language cricket commentator Sri Lanka has ever produced. His knowledge of Sri Lankan Cricket and the game in general is refreshing.

Apart from Cricket commentary Ranil is a columnist for the Sunday Times. In last week's entry he wrote of his departure to Canada and his appointment as a commentator for the T20 series in Canada. He goes on to reminisce how passionate Cricket fans back in the day were, how they were glued to their Short Wave radios to tune into Ashes Cricket commentary and the plight of associate cricket nations struggling to find some normalcy.

A few excerpts of the article can be found below, click here for the article in full.

On his departure to Canada

The Canada Cup, as this twenty over tournament the Sri Lankan team is playing in was organized in a rush when the Champions trophy got called off. Not being a test playing nation Canada is not in a position to make arrangements to conduct a tour of this nature. It is an event organizer who has taken over that responsibility. That company has to sublet each of the arrangements to another professional organization and so it is non stop action when all has to be done within a few weeks.

My job as a commentator was confirmed only ten days ago! The e-ticket to fly reached me less than ten hours before the flight! The bags were packed thereafter and the journey half way across the world commenced. How much the world has progressed since they shot the movie “Around the world in eighty days”, some fifty years ago!!

In less than twenty four hours the destination, Toronto, was reached.

On Television's impact on Cricket and Sri Lanka's passion for the game.

Many men used to glue their ears on to the big radios to the voices of John Arlott, Brian Johnston. Lindsay Hassett, Alan McGilvray and others who used to describe those Ashes battles.

When a father is such a devout follower of the game, then the sport gets into the blood of a four or five year old. He does not have to be a participant or former participant, the keenness and enthusiasm is good enough an influence. That situation has changed now. Youngsters have the opportunity to follow the fortunes of the national team and all other international teams thanks to television. That is a huge advantage, with the game being brought to the doorstep.

On the reverse side it does not make you desperate to have it. It is there and so much of it, maybe even an excess, so why bother? The radio and the Ashes, was the only way then and it simply could not be missed. The coverage started early in the morning when played in Australia and when played in England the games went late into the night. This meant the entire household gets affected!

On Canada's development or the lack of it.

Let us not forget that Canada played in the first World Cup in 1975, with Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka had the men to take them on from strength to strength. Canada did not and they are in the same position they were thirty three years ago. So it is difficult for any nation to get close to the major playing nations. A few generations must absorb the sport before successful candidates emerge, to get on to the world stage.

By Hilal


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[Video] Sanath Jayasuriya 40(34) Vs Pakistan T20 Canada 2008

Cometh the hour cometh the man. 39 year old Sanath yet again sets the stage up for an important victory.

This was yet another Jayasuriya Vs Akthar confrontation -- Shoaib Akthar hit Sanath Jayasuriya on the helmet with a delivery clocking 142 KM/H, bruising Sanath's upper lip. Jayasuriya's response was typical, he finished Akthar's over with back to back sixes. One was off the tournament's fastest delivery.

The history between the two has taken a similar course, Shoaib has always attempted to knock Sanath off with speed and Sanath uses that speed to his advantage with well timed flicks and late cuts.



During the inaugural IPL season Sanath carved Akthar for 23 runs in an over. As much as I would like to highlight this moment with a video The Indian Premier League however does not appreciate free promotion of their event and as a result they have removed all videos of this event from video hosts such as YouTube and Google Video citing copyright infringement. One cannot hope to ban or shut down every cricket fan in the world -- I did come across the video I had originally edited (prior to being informed of copyright issues,) it can be found here.

by Hilal


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[Video] What's my name?? | Udawatte Vs Gul

A prolific run-getter for Ananda College, Mahela Udawatte's talents as a top-order batsman were not immediately recognised when he was overlooked for the Sri Lankan Under-19 team in 2003 despite scoring more than 1000 runs for his school that season. He got his break after he joined Chilaw Marians SC straight after school. Promoted to open the batting - he had batted at No. 3 at school - he reeled off three hundreds in five matches in the 2004-05 U-23 tournament, and was rewarded with a place in the Development Squad. He soon made it into the A team for the tour to England in 2007 after top-scoring for his club in the Premier final against SSC in 2005-06, making 67 out of 172 against an attack which included Dilhara Fernando and Nuwan Zoysa. A powerful and attacking batsman who likes to take on the quick bowlers, Udawatte is seen as a future prospect for the Sri Lanka one-day side, perhaps as a replacement for Sanath Jayasuriya. Rated highly by experts in Sri Lanka, including Mahela Jayawardene, Udawatte earned a call-up to the national squad for the tour of West Indies in 2008 and was later included in the probables for the Champions Trophy.

Sa'adi Thawfeeq for Cricinfo.com

by Hilal


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[Video] T20 Canada 2008 - final - Sri Lanka V Pakistan

1st Session



2nd Session


Presentation Ceremony


T20I no. 76
T20 Canada - final
Pakistan v Sri Lanka
2008/09 season
Played at Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City
(neutral venue), on 13 October 2008 (20-over match)
Result Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)

by Hilal


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[Video] Toe crushing yorker | Dilhara Fernando

From the Canada Vs Sri Lanka T20 encounter in Toronto -- Fernando delivers successive Yorkers to dismantle the Canadian top order.

By Hilal


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[Video] T20 Canada - 6th match Sri Lanka vs Canada

T20I no. 74
T20 Canada - 6th match
Canada v Sri Lanka 2008/09 season
Played at Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City, on 12 October 2008 (20-over match)
Result Sri Lanka won by 15 run

By Hilal


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[Video] Mendis Magic in Canada 2008

Mendis is now the highest wicket taker in the ongoing Al Barakah Canada 20/20 Cricket Series.

Most wickets

T20 Canada, 2008/09

Player	Mat	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
BAW Mendis (SL)	2	8.0	1	32	8	4/15	4.00	4.00	6.0	2	0
Umar Gul (Pak)	3	11.0	0	39	6	4/13	6.50	3.54	11.0	1	0
HS Baidwan (Can)	3	11.0	0	86	6	3/15	14.33	7.81	11.0	0	0
Fawad Alam (Pak)	2	4.0	0	20	4	3/7	5.00	5.00	6.0	0	0
MF Maharoof (SL)	2	8.0	0	41	4	2/18	10.25	5.12	12.0	0	0

By Hilal


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[Video] T20 Canada - 4th match Sri Lanka v Pakistan

T20I no. 72
T20 Canada - 4th match
Pakistan v Sri Lanka
2008/09 season
Played at Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City
(neutral venue), on 11 October 2008 (20-over match)
Result Pakistan won by 3 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

By Hilal


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[Video] T20 Canada - 1st match Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

Scorecard

T20I no. 69
T20 Canada - 1st match
Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
2008/09 season
Played at Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City
(neutral venue), on 10 October 2008 (20-over match)
Result Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)













Courtesy Apni Community


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Al Barakah Canada 20/20 Cricket Series - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good

If you recall my first visit to the venue in late September (video) the maple leaf Cricket ground was nothing but a large open field - much has transpired since that visit.

In under three weeks the organiser hired a Toronto based company to set up bleachers and stands necessary to accommodate a large audience. The temporary seating commonly known as bleachers were similar to that used in the Formula One Grand Prix in Canada.

The big screen at the venue also provided a nice addition and the fans caught a glimpse of replays and the live action.

The replays of the 3rd umpire referrals however needs more looking into -- the replay appears on the giant screen prior to the 3rd umpire ruling and as a result the players and the spectators were aware of the outcome before the ruling.

(Click images to enlarge)

The bad

Tickets were priced at $35 on the first day of the tourney as opposed to the $40 general admission rates for the remainder of the tournament; even with Pakistan playing their first international match in months the turn out for the opening day was low. A sign perhaps of high priced tickets. One would know for certain on Saturday where the organisers expect a full house.

The spectators found that parking was an extra $10 -- travelling to King city via public transportation is not feasible. The car park is located on the premises it however is nothing but a muddy field. The images below show volunteers and event staff frantically digging out vehicles from the mud under foot -- the driveway has no paving or tar and the there is just one gate which serves as an entrance and exit.

TIP: Parking at Seneca College which is a 5 minute walk costs a flat rate of $4.50 it is a secure environment with gated access.

The presentation ceremony took an insane twist when the announcer called upon the winning captain to accept the prize money. Mahela Jayawadene and his team were nowhere to be found; The Sri Lankan team was escorted out by the organisers as the match ended and they were not aware of the presentation ceremony that was taking place. Ajantha Mendis eventually strolled out to collect his 'Man of the Match' award.

Organised Chaos at the post match presentation

The Ugly

I visited Maple Leaf Cricket ground on the 9th to see what kind of progress had been made, what I witnessed there was the ugly.

Moments after my arrival I noticed a gathering of people arguing and screaming - profanity being hurled in all directions. I could not help but let curiosity get the better of me, upon questioning an onlooker it became evident that members of the organising committee were having a verbal showdown with a group of volunteers who were brought in as event staff.

"They (organisers) made us drive all the way from Oakville and wanted us to lend a hand as volunteers for tomorrow, after making us wait outside in the cold for 3 hours now they are refusing to give us passes and say they don't need any more volunteers," claimed one of the ladies present.

"We have driven for hours to get here to help them -- we have taken time out of our own jobs and school to be treated like this and now they have locked us out in the cold with no explanation" said another.

It appears that some members of the organising committee had invited interested parties to volunteer as event staff - a group of 20 individuals had been instructed to come to the venue. Once at the venue they had been instructed to wait for a prolonged period of time before being asked to exit the building with no further instructions - hours passed and eventually some could no longer take the bitter cold or the step brotherly treatment and decided to confront the organisers.

The organisers claim they had too many volunteers - when it takes 4 men to dig a car out of a muddy ditch wouldn't you reckon 20 more volunteers who are willing to work for FREE would count as a blessing?

By Hilal

Like my work? Click here to vote for me as the Video Blogger of the year! Winners announced on the 16th of October 2008!


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[Video] Sri Lankan Cricket team arrive in Canada

The Sri Lankan Cricket team touched down at the Pearson International Airport this evening for the Al Barakah four-nation Twenty20 tournament.







By Hilal

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Ticket Sales Canada Cup Four Nation 20/20

Cricket fans hoping to attend the Canada Cup T20 tournament found themselves in total confusion today when Pakistani media reported that 50% of ticket sales were already sold out. The general public here in Toronto were left in the dark and as appalling as it seems the news had to arrive from Pakistan.

My mates over at SLCricket have informed me that ticket sales begin tomorrow the 1st of October. See flyer below for more information.

Click to enlarge

By Hilal

A Video of the venue can be found here


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"The cupboard is not full with young players" - Ranil Abeynaike

In his weekly column for the Sunday Times Ranil Abeynaike discusses Sri Lanka's squad for the Canada Cup Four Nation 20/20 and the lack of youth in a squad playing a young man's game. The article in full here and a few excerpts below.

Looking at the Sri Lankan squad to play in Toronto, my judgment indicates that only four players are under twenty five years of age. Four of them are beyond thirty and the average age must also be around that figure. That is more of an average age of a test team these days!

A definite criticism is not selecting a recognized wicket keeper. Young Kaushal Silva has in the past five years performed at every level that he has played at. Currently playing with the ‘A’ team in South Africa, he has had success there too. With Kumar Sangakkara having a break, recovering from surgery on a finger, it was the ideal opportunity to give Silva a break as a wicket keeper batsman.

The cupboard is not full with young players. This is mainly due to domestic tournaments not being established and not producing players of quality at a young age. They need some years to perform, because its experience that gets them there. Players like Thilina Kandamby, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Kaushalya Weeararatne, Thilina Thushara who are selected for this tour have taken a long while to mature. Jeevantha Kulatunge who gets an opportunity to wear national colours for the first time is thirty four years of age for all his efforts over the years he deserves a place, but it is not a medium of long term investment. It is time to take stock and invest in younger players who have the potential and have performed when the opportunity has been afforded. The time is ripe to throw some new faces into the ring.

Posted by Hilal


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Ranatunga gets his way Nishantha appointed as team manager

More confusion! Reuters reports Nishantha Ranatunga, brother of Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Arjuna Ranatunga, has been appointed the new manager of the Sri Lanka team.

Gamini Lokuge who initially rejected the squad stating there was no mention of a team manager on the selection sheet was quoted by local press as stating that he would not allow the brother of Arjuna Ranatunga to fly to Canada as manager.

The recent appointment of Nishantha as team manager drew criticism from various quarters citing favoritism from Arjuna.

Posted by Hilal



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Sri Lanka squad for Canada Cup Four Nation 20/20

TM Dilshan is set to handle the wicketkeeping duties and Indika De Saram has not been selected despite his letter to the sports minister.

It is not yet clear who the team manager for the tour will be, sports minister Lokuge had refused to allow the brother of Arjuna Ranatunga to travel to Canada as the team manager and as a result rejected the original squad that was sent to him for approval. This is the second occasion the selectors have sat down to pick the squad however no changes to the squad have been made.

Sri Lanka squad

Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan (WK), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina Kandamby, Farveez Maharoof, Thilina Thushara Mirando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Kaushalya Weeraratne.

By Hilal


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[Video] The Venue - Canada Cup Four Nation 20/20

In little under two weeks Sri Lanka, Pakistan & Zimbabwe will descend on King City Ontario for The Canada Cup Four Nation 20/20 tourney. I drove down to King City in order to provide the readers of this blog with a first look at the venue.



The venue which was established in 1954 has not lost it's old-fashioned charm but will the facility have the the capability to handle such an event?

The Pakistani fan base have been starved of cricket since the Asia cup and the Sri Lankan fans look forward to the Lion's first official visit to Canada. A large turn out is guaranteed considering the fan base in Ontario alone, there is even talk of fans flying in from as far away as Florida.

17 days and counting Cricket Canada needs to pull it's socks up information on ticket sales and broadcasters are yet to be announced. No mention of the event has been made on the Cricket Canada website as of Monday the 22nd of September.

The fans find themselves in the dark as the event nears.

20/20 has the potential to boost interest in the sport within Canada, it however appears even this opportunity is squandered - the lack of publicity for an international sporting event is baffling.

All of the above can be rectified but not the weather; The locals rarely play cricket two weeks into October mid September generally draws an end to the year's cricket season here in Canada. Having said that the weather of late has been extremely unpredictable and one can never be certain of anything in these parts for cricket's sake let's hope for the best. Do expect bitter cold mornings ranging from 10°C - 15°C.

Sri Lanka face yet another selection crisis.

It bores me to death to write about yet another crisis at SLC having gotten over Hashan Tillekeratne's two day tenure as the team's manager we are now faced with more of Sports Minister Lokuge's antics. How often do you hear of a sports minister from Australia relaying information to the press when his own selector's are left in the dark?

Minsiter Lokuge claims the selection sheet for the Canada Cup was missing the name of the Team Manager and as a result he has rejected the selection. All this apparently has absolutely nothing to do with Indika De Saram protesting to the sport minister about his non-inclusion to the squad for Canada.

Why does Sri Lanka Cricket require the services of a selection committee when we have the sports minister deciding the squad?

By Hilal


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Sri Lanka in Canada next month - Lasith Malinga declared fit

Posted by Hilal

The Times of India reports that Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and Canada will feature in a T20 tournament in Toronto next month.

The news item also goes on to state that Lasith Malinga is fit and will most likely be on the tour.

"Sri Lanka will be participating in the quadrangular T20 competition involving Pakistan, West Indies and Canada as hosts from October 10-13," a top Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) official said on Friday.

The final decision came after a two hour meeting of the SLC board membershere, headed by Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga.

The Lankan pace attack will be boosted by the return Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando who have been declared fit.

The four-nation tournament was earlier scheduled for August 14 to 17, but later on it was deferred due to sponsorship problems.

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