Cricket vote-buying commences as nominations close on Feb 25 Source: Sundayobserver In an unprecedented development, nominations of candidates to contest the election of office bearers to Sri Lanka Cricket will close a week short of three months in advance meaning all contestants will have to submit their papers on or before February 25 for the ballot on May 20. The Sunday Observer learns that already vote buying and jockeying for positions are moving at a brisk pace to entice 147 votes on offer as ex-cricketers and former administrators have begun to frown on the process which they say has contributed to a breakdown in the Sri Lanka team, its morale and discipline while administrators, some of whom have been there for donkeys years, hold sway with little or no accountability. ...

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Sri Lanka Cricket officials under thundering scrutiny-BY CALLISTUS DAVY As their keepers were investigated for financial misdeeds, some of Sri Lanka’s cricketers also failed a fitness test ahead of a major tour of the West Indies. Isuru Udana (right) who passed the test talks to Grant Luden physical performance manager Source: Sundayobserver Probe team shocked to hear public property left in the hands of private individuals who come and go without accountability: In an unprecedented exposure to public curiosity, officials running Sri Lanka Cricket came under intense scrutiny like never before as the entity responsible for the country’s sporting passion was brought into disrepute on Thursday at a hearing conducted by COPE which is a parliamentary authority probing financial indiscipline and malpractices at public institutions. Long standing Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva and its first time president Shammi Silva faced the brunt of the questioning and were ...

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SL cricketers not prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination – Prof. de Silva-Dhammika Ratnaweera Professor Arjuna de Silva Source:Dailynews Head of the Medical Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Professor Arjuna de Silva yesterday said that the Sri Lankan cricketers are not included in the priority list for the COVID-19 free vaccination. “We can’t include them to the priority list at this moment as the government has already named frontline health workers and security personnel for the vaccination,” he said during a discussion with SLC officials. ...

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Sri Lanka’s tour of West Indies postponed   Source:Dailynews Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies in February-March 2021, which included two Tests, three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals has been postponed after Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur and player Lahiru Thirimanne tested positive for the coronavirus. The players who were also in close contact with them have been asked to self-quarantine. ...

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Sri Lanka Cricket board in virtual ruins with everything fixed-BY CALLISTUS DAVY Source:Sundayobserver Match fixing, club fixing, fitness fixing, coach fixing, media fixing, tour fixing and buck fixing have led to a complete breakdown of a so-called elected membership running Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) resulting in player values and discipline shamefully exposed while the powers that be turn a blind eye and followers of the sport have called for an immediate sacking of the administration. Presently the administration at Sri Lanka Cricket has gone into a virtual reclusive state with a puppet media section where can be found some blind mice. ...

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National Pool formed for WI tour dissolved-by Althaf Nawaz The nets at the Galle Stadium being sterilized Source:Dailynews The 15-member National Cricket Pool formed in preparation for the upcoming tour of the West Indies was dissolved, after two players, Chamika Karunarathne and Binura Fernando tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing PCR tests yesterday. Some of the players from the initial 22-member National Pool selected for the England series, will be added to this pool after the conclusion of the second Test. ...

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Two cricketers tests COVID-19 positive Source:Dailynews Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne have tested positive for COVID-19. The National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak confirmed that the players have contracted COVID-19 quoting Sri Lanka Cricket. ...

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Media allowed to cover second Test? Source:Dailynews Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday cleared the first hurdle in obtaining the clearance from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in accommodating Sri Lankan media personnel to cover the Sri Lanka-England second Test, which begins at the Galle Stadium on Friday. After an initial agreement between the two cricket boards, SLC made a fresh request to the ECB seeking permission to accommodate the media, for which the greenlight was granted, following several requests from media organisations. SLC has written to the local health authorities seeking their permission and the guidelines to allow journalists to cover the second Test. ...

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Sports Journalists barred from Test series coverage Source:Dailynews The cricket loving public in the country will be deprived of much valuable coverage, especially close of play interviews by the captains, coaches and other tidbits, as the sports journalists, especially those assigned to cover cricket, have not been granted permission to cover the upcoming Test Series between Sri Lanka and England beginning today. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has steadfastly denied permission for the media to cover the series in Galle citing Health Ministry regulations. ...

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Sri Lanka rope in Grant Luden to coaching staff-by Rex Clementine Source:Island Sri Lanka Cricket has roped in Grant Luden to their coaching staff ahead of the two Test series against England. South African Luden has worked with several international teams and will function as SLC’s trainer. SLC sources said that Luden was set to join in November last year, but his recruitment was delayed due to the pandemic. Luden entered the Sri Lankan team’s bubble in South Africa and arrived in the island in the chartered flight that carried the Sri Lankan team and he is at present in Galle with the team. Luden is credited for raising Pakistan’s fielding standards as they went onto win the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. During his time in Pakistan, he doubled up as Fielding and Conditioning Coach working alongside current Head Coach Mickey Arthur. ...

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