Lankans can play - on

21 April 2011 12:44 pm - 47 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Sports Minister has informed Sri Lankan cricketers playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be in London on May 18th instead of attending practices in Colombo from May 5.

“We are favourably looking at giving players more time to play IPL (Indian Premier League) before joining the team for the England tour,” Mahindananda Aluthgamage told AFP.

“We have excellent relations with the government of India and the Indian cricket board. We don't want to upset India. We don't want to embarrass them (BCCI).”Aluthgamage said he will meet cricket administrators shortly and suggest players be allowed to join the team by May 18 in London.

The change of heart comes days after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) ordered its IPL players home by May 5 to prepare for the tour of England, more than three weeks before the money-spinning Twenty20 tournament ends.

The Test team was due to leave for England on May 10 ahead of a warm-up game on May 14 followed by the first Test at Cardiff on May 26.

The Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) wrote to SLC last Friday asking them to reconsider pulling out players early.

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Comments - 47

sxhabeeb Friday, 22 April 2011 05:33 AM

SLC must be an independent Institution headed by cricketing Brains....

Ajithkumar Friday, 22 April 2011 02:08 AM

Heroes … today they are Zeros … Do you think a true Hero is recognise today…

kenny_fdo Friday, 22 April 2011 02:23 AM

Honest means? well I'm seen most of the unfit players playing their best cricket in IPL.

sandra desilva Friday, 22 April 2011 02:24 AM

So the 4th most " INFLUENTIAL " person in the world has caved into indian money & might !weren't the INDIAN LEADERS at the bottom of that POLL ?

Nihal Friday, 22 April 2011 02:37 AM

ALL THESE MINISTERS BARKING TOWARDS THE MOON FOR NO USE.

CDH Friday, 22 April 2011 04:22 AM

Playing IPL is also like practicing for England tour..

Shan Friday, 22 April 2011 04:32 AM

ha ha ha ha Many thought this would happen; and it happened.

Village lad Friday, 22 April 2011 04:27 AM

Now the Sri lankan cricket is also like parliament...

The Liberal Friday, 22 April 2011 04:57 AM

"We don't want to embarrass them (BCCI)". yeah RIGHT!. It's the BCCI that just got embarrassed.

pran Friday, 22 April 2011 04:43 AM

Do you want him to influence India? Don't mix the words "INFLUENTIAL" and "POWERFUL".

Dhammika Friday, 22 April 2011 05:21 AM

General style of Ministers of our Govt.. Talk tough and later meekly give in.High time Politicians stop meddling in sport and have an elected Cricket board free of politics.

bren Friday, 22 April 2011 02:08 AM

lol are you like mad ...lol are you like wanna be president or some,,,,,

Ivor Friday, 22 April 2011 05:35 AM

Wimal Herbert very well said this is the miracle of Asis

Wde Barinam Wedak Na Friday, 22 April 2011 05:55 AM

Sad State of affairs!

Sumith Chandana Friday, 22 April 2011 06:04 AM

useless government

milliband Friday, 22 April 2011 06:07 AM

Will the Hon minister be resigned over the issue?

Lankan Friday, 22 April 2011 06:17 AM

Good decision. Our guys should be able earn some money. Some day cricketers will leave along. Than they have only money their family... Good decision...!!!!

ALOKA DE SILVA Friday, 22 April 2011 06:24 AM

WHAT AN EMBARASSMENT NOW FOR THE MINISTER. HE WAS MADE TO EAT HIS OWN WORDS.

DON'T THESE PEOPLE EVER LEARN?
PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU TALK BIG.

Ceylonese Friday, 22 April 2011 07:20 AM

Backyard Cricket (T20) ruins the real Cricket. Whatever the UNP people and SLFP people commented on this article.

Kan Friday, 22 April 2011 07:22 AM

Before country first , now money first.

Sri Lankan Friday, 22 April 2011 08:19 AM

SLC has been through a lot of pain after the world cup, the IPL combined with the success of the upcoming tour might rejuvenate it Best of Luck cricketers

TMA Friday, 22 April 2011 09:53 AM

No it's the SL cricket fans

Royle Friday, 22 April 2011 11:44 PM

Minister of Sports please think twice before you publish your decission or we all look fools to the BCCI

Wimal Herbert Thursday, 21 April 2011 05:12 PM

The President should get rid of this Minister who has caused all these problems. The cricketers are welcome home on April 3rd as HEROES. Then they go back to India to earn some money, by honest means, making use of their talents. Ten days later, without any provocation, the Minister issues a threat of disciplinary action if the players do not return by 5th of May. IS THAT THE WAY TO TREAT HEROES?
The BCCI attempt to arrive at a compromise solution are rebuffed. At the end of ultimatums and threats, the Minister now says that the Cricketers can continue to play in India and go to London by 18th of May. Why wasn't it possible to make this decision without causing a crisis?. Clearly the the Minister lacks the ability to think objectively.
Keeping him as the Minister of Sports is fraught with the danger of destruction of Sri Lanka Cricket which is one of the bright spots that has brought fame to the country.

#Pasindhu Thursday, 21 April 2011 01:08 PM

Is it for the Goodwill of both sporting nations or is it because SLC will be loosing 10% of the players salaries???

mahesh Thursday, 21 April 2011 01:35 PM

What's going on this country.... nothing is work in order or well shape... these are the things happening when everything has been politication.......

Deshan Thursday, 21 April 2011 01:44 PM

Very good move at the end

Sharon Thursday, 21 April 2011 01:49 PM

Thats more like it... A good lesson... ALWAYS THINK BEFORE YOU TALK...

S.Sriranjan Thursday, 21 April 2011 03:06 PM

Thanks God for The Minister's understandings of the consequinces of the Cricket Players by these disputes..

Roshan Jayawardena Thursday, 21 April 2011 03:06 PM

who’s the strongest of them all !!??

silva Thursday, 21 April 2011 03:13 PM

No Talk and Think face the Pressure and Change the Talk.

That is the Norm.

UN Thursday, 21 April 2011 04:54 PM

Mr. President, please stay out from SLC. We don't need politicians running sporting bodies.

Sam Thursday, 21 April 2011 05:04 PM

This is becoming the norm for this Government. Issue stupid statements and retract them when pressure mounts. From top to bottom this has become a habit. Very unprofessional.

pushpe Thursday, 21 April 2011 04:50 PM

Hi Ceylon Team Players!

Can't you remember about SF?

so do what ever they suggest..

Thariq Thursday, 21 April 2011 04:50 PM

now wil dilly boy come back for practices or play for money til 18th..

Nihantha1 Thursday, 21 April 2011 01:05 PM

Mr President . please solve this problem .anthimata ape kollan mentaly watena eka witharai wenne

clueless Thursday, 21 April 2011 05:10 PM

"spineless"!!!!!

Nihantha1 Thursday, 21 April 2011 07:08 PM

Board eke un pisu nataddi balan innada kiyanne . gon jorks danna epa man

Nihantha1 Thursday, 21 April 2011 07:22 PM

true

Maliya Thursday, 21 April 2011 07:27 PM

Money talks

alex Thursday, 21 April 2011 07:50 PM

It was expected isn't it?

thomas Thursday, 21 April 2011 07:53 PM

hope he got his money which he wanted..

dhana Thursday, 21 April 2011 08:54 PM

Sports Minster over estimated his position and finally learned a lesson for life from India. Keep it up India.

asoka abeywardena Friday, 22 April 2011 02:04 AM

mahindananda...hoooooooo hooooo hooooo

bren Friday, 22 April 2011 02:06 AM

Because SL is losing 10% lolz

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Lankans can play - on

Comments - 47

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