Sri Lankan cricket has been mauled and marauded over the years but the sublime nature of the team has always won them applause and recognition. The passion for the game among us Sri Lankans has been consistently fuelled by the grit and determination of the little gladiators in the international arena.
If the 1996 World Cup victory settled all doubts that they had been unjustifiably fast-tracked into the corridors of Test cricket, the recent end to the country's civil war coincides with the national team's mind-blowing performance at the Twenty20 World Cup in England.
Diverse in many ways, teams had the ethnic balance and supported themselves in the face of controversy.
Arjuna Ranatunga stood by his Tamil teammate Muthiah Muralitharan in his early days in 1995 when Australian umpire Darrel Hair called him for "chucking". The bowler has justified that faith by becoming the highest wicket-taker in Tests and ODI format, and he still has some more fire left in his belly.
They have also had their share of political googlies and bouncers within the sports body but this did not take away the interest in the game by any standard.
And now, as Sri Lanka witnesses the ending of three decades of war with the militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the team bounced back from a terror attack in Lahore and political protests at the start of the tournament to reach the final without losing a game.
What is unique about the Sri Lankan team is the camaraderie and team work to produce the best results on the field.
Jayasuriya, who is 40 next week, is the big brother to the team, and yet he is prepared to listen to his younger teammates, the past and present captains Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.
Muralitharan shares his experience with fellow spinner Ajantha Mendis and Chaminda Vaas playing the "brotherly" role to the younger fast bowlers Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara, the best bowler in the world rankings.
The Sri Lankan cricket team have always been the paradise of players of all religions and race in perfect harmony, depicting team spirit in diversity.
The country has also produced some outstanding players, those who don't play by the book, such as the mercurial Jaysuriya, Muralitharan, Mendis, Malinga and some in the classic mould of Roy Dias, Sidath Wettimuny and Anura Tennekoon.
The Sri Lanka president, Mahindra Rajapakse, has gone on record to say that the word minorities has been eliminated from the country to bring the whole of Sri Lanka under one banner. Travel advisories restraining tourists and terrorism insurance premium charges are being withdrawn.
With the dawning of a peaceful era in Sri Lanka and the eradication of terrorism, the development of the economy in the future will take cricket to greater heights empowered by peace and ethnic harmony.
Win or lose today, the cricket team have given much hope to a bullet-ridden country just ahead of the 2011 World Cup.
@Email:apassela@thenational.ae
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
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THE POPE'S ITINERARY
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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