The Sri Lanka Cricket Board's umpires committee has picked a four-member panel to officiate the seven matches of the Singer World Series limited-over cricket tournament from August 26 to September 7.
Messrs. K.T. Francis, T.M. Samarasinghe, B.C. Cooray and W.A.U. Wickremasinghe will be joined by two ICC appointed umpires to officiate the matches played by Sri Lanka, Australia, India and Zimbabwe. West Indian Steve Bucknor and South African Cyril Mitchley are those appointed by the ICC. All appointments made by the umpires committee are subject to approval by the ExCo which will meet on August 17.
Local umpires who will officiate at the two -Test series between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe next month has been appointed by the Cricket Board's Umpires Committee. They will be joined by the West Indian Steve Bucknor and South African Cyril Mitchley who have been appointed by the ICC for Sri lanka's first ever home series against Zimbabwe.
The two local umpires for the two Tests between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe starting on September 11 and September 18, are K.T. Francis and B.C.Cooray,both members of the ICC international panel of umpires. All appointments made by the umpires committee are subject to approval by the ExCo which will meet on August 17.
The umpires committee has also named four umpires for side games - D.N. Pathirana, D.A.S. Dissanayake, E.K.G. Wijewardena and G. Pushparajah.
World Cup champions Sri Lanka will play their opening match of the second four-nation Singer World Series limited-over cricket tournament when they meet India under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium on August 28.
The four participating teams - defending champions India, host Sri Lanka, Australia and Zimbabwe play each other once on a league basis with the top two sides qualifying to play in the final on September 7.
All matches will be of 50 overs duration with the winners standing to collect prize money worth US$ 50,000 - US$ 35,000 more than what the winners India received at the inaugural tournament two years ago. The runner-up receives US$ 25,000 (formerly US $ 7,500).
St.Sebastian's College, Moratuwa entered the final of the Schools Singer Trophy under 17 division I cricket tournament when they beat St. Sylvester's College, Kandy on bonus points in the semifinal played at University Grounds, Peradeniya.
Rain affected play on both days, and on the first day,only 15 overs were bowled. The Sebastianites, batting first, scored 170 for 6 wickets off 60 overs and the Sylvestrians replied with 70 for 4 in 30 overs. St. Sebastians will now meet D.S Senanayake in the final to be played later this month.
Abroad
South Australian left hander Darren Lehmann is tipped to replace injured captain Mary Taylor in the Australian side which will tour Sri Lanka next week to play in the four-nati- on Singer World Series tournament starting on August 26.
The Australian Cricket Board is scheduled to meet today (16) to finalise its team for the Singer World Series Cup. A spokesman for the ACB said in Melbourne that Australia's cricket calender for the next 12 months will be discussed at the ACB meeting.
The ACB Executive Committee will also study an update on the security situation in Sri Lanka which hosts the limited over competition from August 26 to September 7.ACB sources said the replacement for captain Mark Taylor is likely to be Ian Healy. Taylor has been forced to pull out from the Sri Lankan tour due to a chronic back injury which requires surgical treatment.