| Sports |
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SLC may go for a new ball manufacturer |
| By S.R. Pathiravithana |
Sri Lanka may consider the use of another make of balls for their international matches in the future as a result of the present Kookaburra balls (an Australian manufacture) keep changing shape almost new.
Earlier as many as eleven balls were changed as a result of balls going out of shape – some of them 3-4 overs old during the just concluded Pakistan Cricket series thus forcing the Lankan authorities to write to the Australian manufacturers.
However even during the first Test against New Zealand there were balls going out of shape early in the inning.
Commenting on the matter, secretary to the SLC Interim Committee Nishantha Ranatunga said, “It is very strange that this is happening only in Sri Lanka. We still have not heard of an incident of this nature involving another country. However it is serious because it is Sri Lanka’s image that is at stake when things like this occur.”
Speaking further Ranatunga said, “We have written to the manufacturers on the development and they in reply have asked us for the manufacture numbers of the ball boxes that is involved in the issue.”
Ranatunga also added, “Several other ball manufacturers have already approached us with their products, but we still have not made up our minds if there is going to be a change. However if we are to change the brand of manufacture in the future it will be after this series. However it would have to be done with the consent of the ICC as the present brand that we use has got their approval”.
Umpires dilemma
In the other development about the appointment of the umpires to the ICC panel where it was reported that the secretary and the chairman of the SLC interim committee were of two different views the IC secretary explained - “First it must be said that the SLC interim committee is satisfied with the selection process and there is no question there, but since the Minister of Sports Gamini Lokuge has requested us to probe into the process of selection of umpires we will be appointing an independent committee very soon and forward the report of its findings to the minister”. |
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