FRIDAY, 12.30PM:
THE Sri Lankan touring cricket squad, who arrived in the country on Wednesday, are set to thrill the crowds with their brand of entertaining and exciting cricket.
True to form, the Lankans promised to play “positive cricket” during the upcoming triangular series against South Africa and Pakistan. Team manager Dulip Mendis said the team will play to entertain, whether they were “winning or losing, it doesn’t matter”.
Meanwhile, the United Cricket Board received a financial surprise at a function in Johannesburg on Thursday morning, when a cheque for R200 000 was handed over to UCBSA MD Dr Ali Bacher. The cheque, the latest in a series totalling more tham R1-million, will go towards cricket development. The funds were generated from the annual businessmen’s breakfast organised by Dr Bertie Lubner and Herby Rosenberg.
The breakfast was attended by the Sri Lankan cricket team, and several young cricketers from the development programme were introduced to guests at the breakfast.
The touring squad:
Arjuna Ranatunga (capt), Aravinda de Silva (v-capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillekeratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Sajeeva de Silva, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Pramodya Wickramasinghe.
SPORT BRIEFS
NEW BOOTS FOR ACKERMAN
NEW South African cricket recruit HD Ackerman will get a new pair of boots to help him alleviate the pain that an injured toe is causing him. Ackerman’s toe took the full force of a Shoaib Akhtar yorker, and he now needs to cut the toes off his old boots.
RAMAALA TO MISS CHAMPS
NATIONAL 10 000m record-holder Hendrick Ramaala will miss the Absa Track and Field championships in Germiston this weekend. Ramaala will instead compete at a World Cross Country Challenge event in San Vittori, Italy, as part of his preparation for the world championships in Morocco on March 22.
RADEBE BACK AT LEEDS
BAFANA Bafana skipper Lucas Radebe is back with his English club Leeds after going Awol for a while. Radebe was accused of unprofessionalism by club manager George Graham, and faces a possible fine. Graham said the matter is internal and that it will stay that way, adding that he will not disclose whether Radebe has been disciplined.
EKSTEEN LEADS GAUTENG
THE Gauteng cricket side will be captained by off-spinner Clive Eksteen when they meet the Sri Lankan touring squad in a three-day friendly at the Wanderers, starting on Saturday.
Gauteng team:
Mark Benfield, Andre Seymore, Neil McKenzie, Daryll Cullinan, Geoffrey Toyana, Derek Crookes, Nick Pothas, Clive Eksteen(c), Richard Snell, Johnson Mafa and Wayne Kidwell.
WOMEN’S CYCLING TEAM
A SOUTH African women’s cycling team is leaving for a tour of Australia and New Zealand next week.
The team: Anke Erlank, Erica Green, Anriette Schoeman and Ronelle van Wyk. They will take part in four competitions, one in New Zealand and three in Australia.