Sports Letters

We are still friends

I, as a South African, apologise for the Proteas pulling out of the tri-series. In fact, I am embarrassed.

But we, like Sri Lankans, know what it is like to have people amongst us who will stop at nothing to attack "soft targets" like children at play, the aged and sick in hospitals, innocent bystanders and guests from overseas.

Rodrigopulle himself vouches for the fact that it is not safe to be on the roads alone in broad daylight in South Africa for fear of being killed. He himself attests to the incident when Lionel Ranasinghe during the Sri Lanka tour to South Africa in march 1998 was mugged and robbed of all his belongings. Maybe we are "sissies" for pulling out, as Rodrigopulle suggests, but at least our sportsmen have come home alive.

But, no matter what has happened, we are still friends - your country and mine. Our close ties date back to the early 19th century when Sri Lankans settled here. In the late 19th century, the British Government sent many of our Dutch resistance fighters into exile there. And, today, your country is our valued trading partner and an important tourist destination for South African holiday makers.

We have to realise that urban terrorism is not just a matter of friend against foe. It is also designed to set friend against friend. In lashing out, in invective, in unkind and insidious remarks, in hurling insults, we are playing directly into the hands of those who have much to benefit from our being - and staying - angry with one another.

Let us forgive. Let us forget. Let us try rather to work together to repair the damage that has been done to our bonds of close friendship.

Dr. Salem bin Daoud,
Via e-mail.

Cricket Fair vs Hair

For pleasure and recreation, from times colonial, The game of cricket had attractions, perennial A legacy of the British, this white man's game Among Asians, achieved lasting fame.

India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka too, Malaysia, Singapore and Bangla do Play this game with some regularity As it has earned much popularity.

Asians soon acquired the skills to play, No longer were they unequal in the fray, The men, mainly down under, felt the heat, And wondered how best the Asians to beat.

When batting, bowling and fielding we were adept, Forced were they, other means to select. An umpire's help was then sought, And a man called 'Hair' was then brought.

The hare-brained man hair-splitting decisions he made, Justice and fairplay to vanish, the foundation he laid. Playing the uniting and binding game today, 'Vantage Paks' were made to 'call it a day'!

This umpire has carried on regardless, We are made to feel 'appealing is useless' Until this man and others like Hair Know and imbibe the meaning of 'fair'.

The English and the Paks are getting on well, But with umpires like Hair who can tell? Unless ICC steps in to arrest the deterioration, For this gentlemen's game there is no salvation.

Let us hope that ICC plays straight, And assesses the damage before it's too late. Individuals don't matter greater is the game Don't give excuses that are obviously lame!

Dr. Nanda Amarasekera,
Rajagiriya.

A big thank you

I do appreciate, to welcome and fully agree, with the reasonable point of argument raised and views expressed by S. Wiqar Moulana of Wellawatte, in his interesting, brief, candid letter under the caption, 'Let's remember the coach too', that appeared in the Daily News issue ('Sports Letters' column) of 16.8.2006 and let me also take this opportunity to wish wholeheartedly, not only our present coach Tom Moody but also our able ex-skipper (a Thomian) and present manager of the cricket team Michael Tissera for their splendid (joint) untiring efforts, responsibility, hard work, training, efficient supervision of the players, to keep up cordial (social) manners and respect, with high standard of discipline maintenance, within our team always, during their entire encounters, with the foreign nations abroad.

Both of them have done yeoman services, to establish progressive cricket of our country at large. Excellent! May I too happily say 'Well done and thank you' to Tom and Mike.

S. T. Arasu,
Dehiwela.

Seven sixes, is it a record?

Heshan Chamara a right-hand batsman playing for St. Benedict's College under-15 team in the Division I cricket tournament, scored seven sixes in one over inclusive of a no-ball against Zahira College, Maradana played at De Mazenod College grounds, Kandana.

He was unbeaten on 42 when the declaration was made in the Ben's first innings.

If my memory is correct another former Ceylon and Benedictine cricketer Lionel Fernando scored a double century and captured all ten wickets against St. Anne's Kurunegala in 1957 - a world record.

Fr. Eustace Abeyratne,
Negombo.