When the bell won't sound

By Callistus Davy

Yet, boxing stands out as one of the world's most rewarding and crowd-pulling sports. But ironically, in Sri Lanka, boxing continues to remain in the doldrums and whether it could be resurrected is the one question that haunts the minds of administrators. And while local amateur boxers fight each other in the ring, the men who strive to foster the sport's affairs are also throwing a few punches from the white corner. 

None of the administrators can be more concerned than the Amateur Boxing Association's (ABA) Secretary, Sunil Manigaspe, a former national champion who is now a Police officer holding the rank of an Assistant Superindentant. 

The absence of boxing nurseries in schools and the lack of funds to push ahead with futuristic plans are two of the most pressing issues the ABA has to contend with. 

"Schools are not activating their young blood and we are finding it difficult without funds. If you take the past, our boxers had brought a lot of credit to the country", says Manigaspe. 

Unlike cricket, a sport which can count of many political blessings, boxing has never found favour among Sri Lanka's power-elite. Parents prefer to present their children with cricket bats instead of a pair of boxing gloves and sports fans of the present generation do not wish to spend time watching a bout that in their opinion could be nothing more than a street fight. But where, can all the boxers go. 

Most of the country's present day pugilists come from humble homes and Manigaspe like all of them, know that boxing is not as dangerous as it may look. "Boxing is a noble art of self defence. There is a referee and judge. Any danger to a boxer in the ring can be checked and stopped", says Manigaspe. 

Loss of life and limb have however been extremely rare in Sri Lanka. The last known case of a boxer ending up in serious trouble was recorded in January this year when N.B. Valisundera, who was participating in the national championships in January, was taken to hospital with a broken left leg. But the referee who stopped the fight, Tissa Chandradasa, believes that Valisundera, a Sri Lankan representative would be back in the ring around next year. 

The injured boxer has been followed into the ring by his younger brother D.B. Valisundera, a product of Vidyartha College Kandy. 

The junior Valisundera showed plenty of promise at last week's national championships and is one of several fighters competing for six berths in Sri Lanka's contingent for the forthcoming Asian Games in Thailand next month. In his first trial bout, Valisundera felled his opponent once with a mix of straight lefts and right hooks before the referee stopped the contest in the very first round. 

But the Valisundera brothers, like many other Sri Lankan pugilists, have been denied opportunities of boxing against overseas fighters for too long. 

Boxing with his home supporters behind him is one of the best ways to encourage a boxer and give the sport a new lease of life in Sri Lanka according to Manigaspe. He contemplates organising a meet with invitees from regional countries, but regrets the absence of funds. "I think if we can only organise a meet with foreign competition involved, it will help us to bring out boxing which is hidden. We must bring it to the public eye only then can we promote it. But from where can we find money to organise such a meet", he reasons. 

Unless boxing gets a shot in the arm, there won't be any kick in it for many people, and some of the past boxers may not be in the best of positions to do any better than the present administrators. 

But one thing is certain. Until someone decides to throw in the money, instead of the towel, the aspiring Sri Lankan boxer will continue to battle the odds away from the public eye, and his administrators will keep sounding the bell. For the moment only the boxers can hear it. 

Making waves

By Channaka de Silva

Today, 15 years after that fateful day when his cousin brother was drowned in the Weligama river, Dulapandan not only has made sure that he won't drown as easily as his cousin but has also made sure that he would not be beaten by international swimmers as easily as the earlier Sri Lankan swimmers. 

When Dulapandan first learnt the basics of swimming under coach Asela Jayampathy at the age of nine, he showed a keenness which surpassed the enthusiasm of many others of his age. That outstanding enthusiasm for the sport still remains after more than 15 years of competition at the toughest level around the world and that is the quality which makes him unique among the band of swimmers in Sri Lanka. 

At 24 years, he is easily one of the oldest swimmers in the arena but definitely the best and reason for that is the zeal with which he follows the sport. 

"I train hard and focus on my work. It helps me to improve all the time." was Dulapandan's secret recipe of success as he told it to "Sunday Times". 

Swimming is not a sport which sees many indulge in it after leaving school. The vast majority of competitors are schoolchildren. Dulapandan is one rare man who stuck to it after his teens. 

Within six months since he first started learning the basics of the sport in 1983, Dulapandan showed signs of excellence. In his first ever competition -The Novices championships, he was adjudged the best Under 10 swimmer. 

Immediately, Dulapandan was introduced to renowned coach Rizvy Zain, the present National Coach, with whom Dulapandan trains to date. The success was only beginning. 

Having won almost all events he swam since then, his unbeaten run in the local swimming runs back to seven years. He was last beaten by a local swimmer in a local competition way back in 1991, when he finished behind Julien Bolling at the Colombo SAF Games. The only other occasion was in 1995 when Marlon S. Delano beat him in the 400 metre IM at the Nationals, but that is not one of his regular events anyway 

Having captained Sri Lanka in so many overseas tours, the number of which he fails to keep a tab on, and established 19 National records altogether, Dulapandan has little more to achieve to prove that he is the best swimmer in this country. 

The first ever record of his illustrious career which has seen hundreds of new marks set up at various levels, realised in 1988 when he created a record in the 66 2/3 metres at the Otter Swim Gala in the Under 14 age group. 

His first remarkable record came in 1993 when he smashed a 25-year-old record by A.J. Ranasinghe of Royal College by 43 seconds in the 800 metre Freestyle at the senior schools meet. It was the oldest record which stood at the meet and more important was the fact that Dulapandan was more a short distance swimmer who didn't concentrate on 800 metres. 

Making the first impact at National level, at the 1991 SAF Games in Colombo, Dulapandan became the youngest winner of a medal in any sport at the age of 16 when he won a silver in the 200 metre Dolphin and a bronze in the 200 metre Individual medley. 

In the 1992 SAF Championships in Dhaka he clinched four Silvers and a three Bronzes while at 1993 SAF Games in Dhaka he won a Gold, three Silvers and four Bronze Medals as an 18 year old. 

Again in Madras in 1995 his medal bag became heavier when he came home with five Silvers and Four Bronze medals. 

Being still a schoolboy at S. Thomas', Dulapandan who was conquering the regional swim meets, had no rivals to match him in the school scene. When he finished his school career in 1995, he had established an astonishing 65 records. Among them were the seven records in seven events he set up at the Age Group meet of 1992 

As a schoolboy he had set up 14 National records and three Sri Lanka records. But all records and all honour to Sri Lanka came due to a decision he took to stick to the sport. 

The watershed decision came during the latter part of his career when he had to choose between swimming and athletics. He excelled as an athlete at school level as well, but does not like to go into detail. The only thing which he talked with "Sunday Times" about his career as an athlete was about his victories at the 1992 National School Games where he won 400 and 800 metre track events in the Under 18 age group. 

In a watershed decision, Dulapandan chose swimming as his career and it paid him and the country. 

He has established 19 National records in five events in his career to-date. The 50 metre Freestyle record has been his since 1991 which he has lowered eight times while 100 metre Dolphin stroke record has been bettered five times by him since 1991. He also set three records in 100 metre Freestyle in 1991, set 100 metre backstroke records in 1992 and 1993 while one 200 metre Dolphin record was set up in 1991. 

In 1996 Dulapandan became the first Sri Lankan swimmer to go under a minute when he won the Kaushung swimming championships in Taipei where he was adjudged the best swimmer and returned there in 1997 to get the best swimmer's award once again. 

Then last year, Dulapandan created history as the first ever Sri Lankan to qualify for the World Championships. However at the championships in Perth, Australia where the best of the globe from 182 countries pitted their skills, Dulapandan sustained a muscle injury which seriously eliminated his chance of giving the best. 

He managed to record the 23rd best timing in the world for his pet event - the 100 metre Dolphin stroke but the injury in the first event effectively ended his chances in the other events to follow. 

"In the 100 Fly, till the last 150 metres I was swimming on par with the Japanese guy who came sixth in the finals. But in the last 20 - 30 metres, I was injured and I took something like 25 seconds to swim the last 15-20 metres." was how Dulapandan described his race at the World Championship with regret. 

Being always a devoted Muslim and being the sportsman he is, Dulapandan puts honesty above all. He knows that the drug cheats are rampant in the swimming arena around the world but doesn't want to win things by undue means. 

"Almost all top level swimmers in the world are into it. In the international meets I have met several coaches who have told me about this. They said there are highly successful methods of masking the drug use." Dulapandan elaborated. 

"The testosterone and Epitosterone (hormones) level of the body should be at a 6 to 1 ratio but dopers know how to maintain it below the required level. It is a sophisticated practice in other countries. They have separate doctors for separate swimmers. You can take it scientifically to mask the effects or you can take it during practice and do away with it at competition." he further explained. 

"It is unfair by the clean. I put in a lot of hard work. I train excessively putting all my energy, time and effort into it. So, you can understand my feeling if I know I get beaten by a guy who has an unfair advantage over me". he went on, adding that "Who knows ? Had I been into it, I could have been winning medals at world level". 

Asked about competing at world level, Dulapandan cited the small physical build as the main drawback Sri Lankans have but explained how he overcame it by being mentally strong. "I concentrate only on how I swim my race without thinking about the other person." he described. 

Having been in the thick of it for the past 15 years, there is no better person who could suggest action to remedy the current low standard of the sport because Dulapandan knows where exactly the problem lies and how it could be averted. 

Among things he suggested were the implementation of a long term plan for at least five years for the swimmers with a view of future competition, Setting up of at least three national pools of A, B and C, broad basing the sport to enable outstations to enter swimming in a more meaningful way, Providing swimming pools to the outstations, Preparing a structure to develop swimming and building on it and providing the swimmers in the top level with techniques, video study, specialised training and nutrition. 

He cited the example of 1991 SAF Games when swimming brought in the largest haul of medals to the country after a two-year properly guided plan. 

"Without such a good programme, progress of swimming in this country will only be a dream" he finally said. 

Silver for Amarasinghe

Rain, luck and clever cricket 

The South Africans of today do not often look overly spectacular in their performances. They are committed, unyielding, tough and ruthless. Cricketing talent combined with such characteristics does make up a powerful side. 

Rain interrupted the tournament for just some hours. That was sufficient to produce some drama. With the increasing number of One-day games played authorities around the world are still figuring out the best solution for rain affected games. The latest method of calculations are based on the principles of the Duckworth/ Lewis method. Its calculations are more complicated than the systems adpoted in the past. Knowing about it is not simply sufficient. To be totally aware of all the implications while an innings is in progress and should rain intervene is as important. 

Sri Lankan cricket fans were disappointed that their game against South Africa was the one where the Weather Gods dealt a cruel blow. The teams which impressed after the first round of contests were South Africa, Sri Lanka and India. In the end it was disappointing that the Sri Lankans lost by such a wide margin. The wheels simply fell off when the run chase was in progress. The loss of five overs during the break of innings was a telling factor. That the South Africans had batted first and got the runs on the board was to favour them greatly. But then they were put in. It is the method that the Sri Lankans prefer - to chase a target. But then the rain coming down when it did proved unlucky. 

It became a different game at that stage. Footwork does get hampered when a consistent drizzle continues. But then the wet ball also makes it difficult to bowl and field. Players hardly play in the rain at International level these days. Do they ever practice bowling with a damp ball? I believe bowlers should occasionally try that to prepare themselves even for a rare instance. 

On the topic of preparation, a hallmark of the current South African team has been that. Immaterial of the ultimate result they always indicate that careful thought has gone into their preparation. One such area was demonstrated by the way they tackled the Sri Lankan off spinners. Muralitharan, Dharmasena and often, Aravinda de Silva has made life difficult to the batsmen in the middle overs. All three of them bowl a lot stump to stump which means that there aren't many runs to be scored on the off side. This means the ball has to be hit in the area from over the bowlers head to backward square leg. Also, to get to the pitch of the ball is a must. Once the ball is picked on the full or half volley length, to hit it into the gaps for four or hit for six is the next part of the exercise. To me, the South African batsmen who got to the middle against the spinners seemed to be having working hard at that angle of their batting. The South Africans know that Sri Lanka is the team to beat in One-day cricket and they are leaving no stone unturned to achieve that. 

Opening the bowling with Pat Symcox in the final was another useful ploy that they used. The off-spinner bowled his ten overs for under three runs per over. A piece of clever cricket. 

The star who appeared during this tournament was Philo Wallace, the West Indian. He displayed awesome power in his stroke play. Another batsman who attacks from the word go. Mention about luck and he had his share of that in the finals, being let off few times whilst on his way to a century. The rain has its effects, some players benefited thanks to luck, the South Africans played smart cricket and deservedly won the Mini World Cup. 

In Brief

To solicit additional funding for the victims and the families of the wounded and the dead soldiers Grant McCann-Erickson will be holding a benefit cricket match between a Board Officials Eleven and Filmstars today at the Bloomfield Cricket Grounds at 10.00 a.m. 

Well known personalities like Thilanga Sumathipala, Dhammika, Ranatunga and ex-national cricketers will be playing for the Board XI, while popular filmstars like Ravindra Randeniya, Lucky Dias, Malani Fonseka, Veena Jayakody etc. will form the other team. 

"Gold" medal winner 

Capt. M.A.S Perera of the Sri Lanka Army Military Police, emerged the only 'gold' medal winner from the Services at the recent Asian Veterans' championship held in Okinawa, Japan (Oct. 12 to 24). 

In the past he has been an outstanding athlete of repute and has done proud for the Army in track and field events. In the Okinawa Asiad, Capt. Perera, won the triple jump 'gold' in the 45-49 age group. 

In 1984, Perera won a 'gold' for the country in the Veterans' Asiad held in Jakarta, Indonesia also in the 45-49 age group, in the javelin throw. Perera, still a bundle of energy, is a good example for the youngsters in the Army, that age is no barrier to indulge in healthy sport. Perera, said that he received tremendous support and encouragement from the Army hierarchy to go places even in the autumn of his career. (B.W.) 

Jamaldeen still the highest  

Former Police and Sri Lankan goal-kicking ruggerite Nizam Jamaldeen is currently the holder of the record for the highest number of points in a single domestic season which stands at 248. 

Military Police triumph  

Military Police team of the Army in Anuradhapura beat Jayanthi Sports Club by 42 runs in the first anniversary celebrations of the Victory Hospital in Anuradhapura. 

The Military Police team, batting first scored 97 runs while Jayanthi Sports Club replied with 55 runs. 

Meanwhile the Chandra Bandara memorial under 13 cricket tournament conducted by the Anuradhapurta Schools' Cricket Association saw the final match being called off due to the absence of the umpires. 

The finalists were St Joseph's Boys School and Nochchiyagama Pahala Wetiyawa Vidyalaya to be played at the Mahaweli grounds. The coaches of the two schools have protested to the organisers where 13 teams took part. 
- S.Samarasinghe, Nochchiyagama, Corr.  

Jennifer thanks Trinity 

Jennifer Moragoda the President of the Duncan White Sports Foudation thanked Trinity College for arranging the Duncan White memorial service. She said it was a fitting place for the memorial service since Trinity is Duncan's alma mater. 

Infact, two of the Foundation's award ceremonies were held at Trinity and Hillwood College, due to Duncan's special ties to Kandy where he spent his formative years. 

She also said that her fellow trustees and herself were happy that they were able to help fulfil Duncan's wish to regain his Sri Lankan citizenship. It was important to Duncan since his heart remained always in his motherland. 

Ms Moragoda also took this opportunity to once again thank President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for bestowing the honour of Deshamanya Duncan White on the initiative of Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and for making the Duncan White Sports Foundation award ceremony of this year a part of the Independence celebrations. 

She added that Duncan was a genial and modest person and that Sri Lanka will miss him. His absence, she said will be greatly missed, especially at next awards ceremony. 

"However, the Foundation intends to keep his legacy alive by continuing to lend its support and recognition to outstanding national athletes". 

She concluded by saying that the Foundation will endeavour to ensure that Duncan's memorabilia will be brought to Trinity College to serve as an inspiration to all Trinitians, past, present and future. 

Colombo undergrads on top  

Colombo University swept the board at the VIth Sri Lanka University Games 1998 winning as much as 14 titles including those for track and field for men and women and the overall men's and women's championships. 

The other titles won by the Colombo University were Badminton (men and women) carrom, elle women, hockey men, swimming men and women, tennis men and women. 

Wickramabahu, Zahira are Group champs  

Wickremabahu MMV and Zahira emerged as Group A and B Champions at the Gampola Football League under 15 inter schools tournament for Seylan Cup. 

In the matches played so far Zahia drew nil all with Gangasiripura MV. Wickramabahu MMV beat St Andrews 2 nil, Kalugamuwa CC beat Udagama Vidyalaya 5 nil, Wallahagoda MV beat Thembiligla MV 2 Nil, Wickramabahu MMV beat Jinaraja MV 3 nil; Zahira beat Sri/ MV' Amman MV 8 nil; St Andrews drew 1 all with Wallahagoda MV; Gangasitripura MV; beat Udagama MV 4-1 Jinaraja MV drew 1 all with Thembiligla MV; Kalugamuwa CC beat Sri MV' Amman MV 3 nil and Zahira beat Udagama MV 6 nil. 

Matale Champs 

Matale beat Kandy by a solitary goal to nil in the 9th Women's Nationals Final played at Edward Park Matale, while Colombo beat Defence Services by 6 goals to 5 in a tie-breaker to win the 3rd place. 

Army guns boom again 

The scoreline was no indication of the rugby dished out. Both teams, played well, but the soldiers' back division co-ordinated better to emerge champions. 

In the past the Services and Police teams held sway in the domestic scene with their hard and robust rugby which was most eye-catching. 

Brig Jupana Jayawardena, the Chairman of Army rugby was a happy man when interviewed by The Sunday Times. Well it's good for the Army rugby to win a trophy after a lay-off. The 'Colts' team comprise a set of green horns. 

Most of the lads learnt the skills after joining the Army. This win also helps keep their morale high for the soldiers who are fighting in the N-E region, he added. 

In the 'A' div. the soldiers did well to be placed in the table despite confronted with problems. Playing together and getting down them for regular training was an ordeal. But the soldiers were still able to match their skills against their reputed club teams. 

The hierarchy headed by Gen. Rohan de S. Daluawatte gave us all the encouragement. Determination, was the cornerstone for the 'Colts' success. They were all prepared to learn and showed tremendous enthusiasm under former Sri Lanka player coach Sunil Ranasinghe ably assisted by 'keep-fit' P.G. Gunawardena. 

Gunawardena is a keen student of the game. He has successfully followed a Level II coachig stint in Australia and also attended a referees course in England. Maj. Chandama Marasinghe the secretary, looked into the needs of the player requirements throughout the season. A bouquet for the trio for a job well done, Brig. Jayawardena added. 

With much hidden talent unearthed the future of Army rugby holds good and with several of the 'Colts' could make the grade in the top division. The team is led by M. A. Jayasinghe. 

Ten Army players, turned out for Dimbula,who emerged champions in India, in their recent tour made by the planting fraternity. 

The Colts squad - M. G. Wijesinghe, S. Mediweke, K.W.. Wijitha, N.K. Hettihewa, H. Prematilleka, A.P.L.A. Premasiri, K.S. Fernando, M.A. Jayasinghe ( capt.) R.M.P. Ratnayake, W.G.M.S. Gunaratne, W.A.B. Karunathilake, W. Sugathapala, T.S.M. Ananda, T. Cassim, Vajira Jayatilleka, M.M. Madurusinghe and D.J. Fernando. 

- (B.W) 

Keep school ties away form national events

By Bernie Wijesekera

The Sri Lanka Cricket Development Foundation in Sydney (N.S.W.), headed by its president Errol I. Graham, in collaboration with the SLCF. Victoria, has decided to hold a function for the visiting Lankan cricket team, who will be participating in the traingular World Series, with Australia and England. 

This felicitation will coincide with the Independence Day celebrations (Feb. 4, 1999). But according to sources it has been suggested it should be held under a joint banner with the Old Nalandians Association and the SLDF (Sydney). 

The Foundation in Sydney has stated that if this proposal becomes a reality it will not in the best interests of the Foundation in NSW. 

It is understood that an official of the Cricket Board has awarded ONA in NSW, the mandate to organise this event under a joint banner. 

Those, who are domiciled in Australia are from all walks of life and are a united lot working under one umbrella - other than for their old school functions. 

They eschew school ties and are a united lot sans ties. They give of their best in promoting their motherland, be it trade, culture or sport. 

But if this proposal becomes a reality, then similar overtures will be made by other schools too to organise functions when national Sri Lankan teams are on tour here. 

Already the country is plagued by ethnic problems and torn apart, with many lives lost and others maimed in this once peaceful and beautiful country - tagged the Pearl of the East. In the Indian Ocean? 

The Committee of the Foundation (NSW), has endeavoured at all times to be non-aligned when running its affairs, sans caste, race or colour. This has given much strength and muscle not only to the ideal of units, but it has also helped to fill its coffers, with everyone contributing. 

All must rally around the 'Lion Flag' sans petty politics in sport which has been a bane in most sport bodies. School and club affiliations must not be encouraged when it comes to national events. 

President of the SLCDF - NSW, Errol Graham, has mentioned that functions of this nature, are nucleus for fund raising and the continuation of its good work - especially to further serve Sri Lankan cricket. 

He also states that the Sydney Foundation has sent a letter to the Secretary of the BCCSL to this effect, in the interest of Sri Lanka sports and cricket in general sans affiliations. All the Lankans staying in Sydney or other places in Australia are contributing much to the promotion of their motherland's image be it on or off the field. 

The committee has been in continuous contact in this regard with Dr. Quintus De Zylwa, the Chairman of the various foundations in Australia, but todate has not received a firm go-ahead to resolve this issue. 

It is to be hoped that the powers - that - be will put the country before school affiliations for the future betterment of Sri Lanka cricket. 

And it is also our hope that saner counsel will prevail in the end. 

Letters have also been sent to the CB's senior officials and to the members of the Ex-Co. 

Incidentally a senior Sinhala commentator constantly kept on harping on the old school ties of batsmen during certain matches. 

This scribe told the commentator that the batsmen are playing for the country and not for his old school. 

Listen to foreign commentators. They never mention the school or the state a batsman represents, only the country he represents. 

It was decent however of this commentator to have accepted his fault and thanked this scribe for bringing this lapse to his notice and assured that it will not happen again. 

Thushal an easy winner

Finishing in second place was Priyantha Gunawardena brother of thushal with T.H. Kosala taking the third spot. 

Winds were not to the liking of the surfers with four races held on Saturday including a exhibition event. 

The championships was conducted with the assistance of the Government Agent Trincomalee, S.D. Chandradasa and Commander of the 22nd Division, Major General Nihal Jayakody with the Boat Sailing and Windsurf Club of Sri Lanka. The competitors were from Western and Southern Provinces and the event was sponsored by Prima Ceylon Limited. 

Picture shows: Thushal Gunawardena receiving the award from the GA Trincomalee watched by Major General Nihal Jayakody. 

In praise of Murali

'Yes, indeed the Sri Lankans won so handsomely by ten wickets the one off Test with England at the Oval, with Sanath Jayasuriya, - a brilliant 213, Arvinda De Silva a superb century, giving the England cricket elite the guilty look for granting just one off Test to the valiant Sri Lankans. 

But the brilliant star of the show was, Muthiah Muralitharan. For him the accolades came in torrents: The fifth best in one innings in Test history; the office on a roll; The Kandy conjuror, wonder spinner wrecks England; The Tamil who had broken the ethnic divide to do pride for his country; Murali on top of the cricketing world. And so, Murali, the 26-year-old revels in glory. His special aptitude flows from the fact that not only his fingers spin the ball, but also his wrist rotation giving more impetus to the spin is unmatched in the history of the game, bamboozling not only many a batsman, but also many an umpire. This two in one action keeps the ball spinning right up to the batsman, unlike other finger and wrist spinners whose spin is likely to rev down as the ball reaches the batsman. 

As the England Captain, Alec Stewart said, "As with others, you cannot use your footwork to get away from him; he is something special". It is this specialty that seems to have bogged down the judgment of some umpires here in Australia and New Zealand to have the naivete to 'call' him for chucking. Obviously Murali's double action seems to have given them that impression to commit the mortal 'sin' of preventing this brilliant spinner from achieving his 203 wickets sooner than now, but still he has beaten the so called champion spinner, Shane Warne's tally at this point in Shane's career. Mr. Darrel Hair, please note that the England Captain, Alec Stewart has graciously said, "The ICC has passed his action as legitimate" and the fact that this small man from small Sri Lanka should not have prejudiced or'coloured' one's vision for those reasons alone in this, a gentleman's game. For that matter, please see England and what it has done. The England's coach, David Loyd's feeble attempts to "make things known to the proper authorities" has been set aside as 'insensitive and inappropriate'. Besides the umpires in India, Pakistan, West Indies, U.K, and South Africa have never 'called' him and they did not wear goggles during matches. 

So it is just that as Alec Stewart said, "He spins it much more than any others I have seen". He also said, "He is something special and a bowler of great quality". In fact he is on top of the World at the moment to the extent that the Sri Lankan Captain, Arjuna in his ecstasy said that he is the best in the world, and so be it'.

More Sports * An astrologer warned Jamaldeen * Local playing conditions  * Focus * ICC accepts four Sri Lankan proposals * Military Police champs  * Seethadevi BMV take girls' hockey title * Schoolboy cricketers excel in Hong Kong * Countdown begins * Golf Classic draws 125 

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