Date-stamped : 02 Apr96 - 02:19 Singer Cup, Singapore Pakistan v Sri Lanka Padang Stadium, Singapore 1 April 1996 ====> PREVIEW (Dawn, Pakistan) Pakistan take on Lanka in Singapore Samiul Hasan SINGAPORE, March 31: The stage is set for fireworks at the Padang where Pakistan take on the newly-crowned world champions, Sri Lanka, in the opening, match of the three-nation one-dayer. It is an important and tough inaugural for Pakistan; a win will boost Pakistan`s morale and chances in the tournament, a loss will have an opposite effect. The wicket is solid and tailor-made for the batsmen while the ground is not of international standards by any means. It is a 65-yard ground, more an oval-shaped, with either side of the wicket not more than 58 yards. After having a look at the ground, one is forced to question the logic and wisdom of staging an international competition here with arch-rivals playing and enthusiasts of the game back home anxiously looking forward to settle World Cup scores - Pakistan from India and India from Sri Lanka. It is anybody`s guess what an uproar will be raised in Pakistan and India if Sri Lanka once again ran away with the honours. After the end of the competition, some of the critics will be after the skippers and the others would be gunning after the managers. But no one will take into account the playing problems the teams are confronted with. It is also very surprising to note that the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave the go-ahead to the tough competition without consulting the technical people who are supposed to have a look at the venue before giving a clean signal. When further investigations were carried out, it came into knowledge that it is, in fact, a soccer field and two weeks ago a soccer tournament was played on it. The only reason for staging the event here appears to be a tussle between the sponsors and the CBFS. The latter turned down the Singer offer and instead awarded the sponsorship rights to Pepsi who are the sponsors of the Sharjah Cup to be played between April 11 and 19. The people here in Singapore are also unaware of what cricket is. There were quite a few spectators at the stadium watching the preparation in surprise. The level of knowledge of the people about the game can be gauged from the fact that a couple of peo- ple have been asking about the result of the recently-concluded World Cup. The arrangements here have also been done on a makeshift basis. There are no proper stands and pavilions for the spectators and to overcome the problems a temporary arrangement has been done. Similar is the case with the players dressing rooms. At the mo- ment it appears that they will have to change kits in the open air. "We are professional cricketers and are supposed to appear and perform under any condition and facility," Pakistan skipper Aamir Sohail said on Monday, admitting that under the conditions here it would be luck instead of the skills that would decide the out- come of the matches as well as the tournament. Aamir Sohail`s counterpart, Arjuna Ranatunga, had smiles on his face. However, he neither criticised the arrangements nor said that the conditions would give his team an extra edge. "It will be cricket that will get a boost here," he instead said. But Ranatunga knows that these conditions will prove beneficial to his players, especially Romesh Kaluwitharana, Sanath Jayasuri- ya and Aravinda de Silva. Although neither of the two teams has announced the outfits for Monday`s game, Pakistan are certain to leave out Basit Ali and Ataur Rahman. The third player to miss the final 11 is expected to be Mushtaq Ahmad. Sri Lanka are certain to retain the same side which won the World Cup final at Lahore on March 17. And there appears no logic for changing the team because they have made a good winning combina- tion and neither of their players is facing any injury problem. The Pakistan formation will have to exhibit its true potential, both in batting and bowling. Perhaps the batsmen can exploit the friendly strip. Bowling may be a bit difficult since fielding is Pakistan`s weak point. Contrariwise the Sri Lankans will prove a tough proposition as in the World Cup with their powerful batting lineup. Their lively fielding will aid and assist the bowling. However, a cricket triangular so early after the World Cup will be interesting for the residents here, even though they may not turn up in large numbers. The two teams may be: PAKISTAN: Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Ejaz Ahmad, In- zamamul Haq, Salim Malik, Ramiz Raja, Rashid Latif (wicket- keeper), Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed and Mohammad Akram. SRI LANKA: Romesh Kaluwitharana, Sanath Jayasuriya, Asanka Gurusinha, Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillekeratne, Chaminda Vass, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Promodiya Wickremasinghe. UMPIRES: Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe) and David Orchard (South Afri- ca). TV UMPIRE: George Sharpe (England). MATCH REFEREE: Howard Gardiner (Zimbabwe). ====> REPORT (Dawn, Pakistan) 2nd April, 1996 Rain comes to the rescue of Pakistan From Samiul Hasan SINGAPORE, April 1: Rain came down in force in the afternoon and steered Pakistan to shore after they were struggling in the tri- angular opener against world champions Sri Lanka at The Padang here on Monday. The rains, that hit the island in the morning and did not stop till late in the afternoon resulting in no-play at all in the first session, came down just before the start of the 11th over and at no better time than the Pakistanis would have liked be- cause they were precariously placed at 54 for three in 10 overs in a match that was reduced to 25-over-a-side. A fresh match will now be played on Tuesday with new toss and a chance for the top three-order Pakistan batsmen to make up amends for their bad shots they played today. However, the chances of a scheduled start is unlikely as the out- field has become more soggy. The wicket, which had a wet patch, must have also been affected because a little drizzle had again started before the start of the eighth over. At the time of filing this report, the rain though had stopped, dark clouds were still hanging over the sky. There is forecast of more rain. If there would be no play on Tuesday as well, the two teams will equally share two points between them. The rescheduled start is at 9.30 a.m. (S.S.T), 6:30 a.m. (P.S.T). The two umpires, Russell Tiffin from Zimbabwe and South African David Orchard made visits to the wicket four times in the first session only to decide on the fifth one that a reduced overs game would start at 1:45 (S.S.T). That decision was not appreciated and Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam couldn`t hide his displeasure when he said: "If they (um- pires) say that the match will start, we have no other choice but to play." The disappointment in the Pakistan camp must have grown when Aamir Sohail was beaten by Arjuna Ranatunga on the spin of coin and was asked to bat first. Pakistan, trying to adjust to the latest conditions, changed their initial team combination and dropped Ramiz Raja and brought in Basit Ali who was to bat at No 6. Paceman Ataur Rahman, who bowled a tight spell of 10-0-40-1 against India at Bangalore, made way for Mohammad Akram while Saqlain Mushtaq was named in place of Mushtaq Ahmad. Unlike the toss, Pakistan had a lucky start when skipper Aamir Sohail was dropped on the second ball off Pramodiya Wickremasinghe by Asanka Gurusinha at deep square-leg. But that joy was short-lived as Saeed Anwar attempted a massive shot at square-leg on the last ball of the second over to be caught just outside the 30-yard circle by Kumar Dharmasena off Chaminda Vaas. The score was then nine and Saeed could contribute only three. Sohail again had a lucky escape when on the first ball of the fourth over he was dropped by Aravinda de Silva off Chaminda Vaas at fine-leg that was placed inside the 30-yard circle. Sohail punished the Lankans for that lapse hitting the first boundary of the match two balls later. In the fifth over bowled by Wickremasinghe, Sohail slammed a six and new-man Inzamamul Haq struck a four that resulted in 12 runs coming from that over. Sohail finally ran out of luck for the third time when in the sixth over he tried a pull against a well pitched ball off Cha- minda Vaas only to get an inner edge and Romesh Kaluwitharana picked up the catch with ease. The score was then 32 and Sohail struck a six and a four in his 21-ball 22. Pakistan suffered the second blow of the day when Inzamamul Haq tried to hit Arjuna Ranatunga over mid-on but ended up spooning the ball in the air and Vaas got into act for the third time. In- zamam hit three boundaries in his 11-ball 15. Ejaz Ahmad and Salim Malik joined together having two tasks aheadstabilise Pakistan`s position and put up a fighting score. But they could not perform their duties as rain came down at 2:40 (S.S.T) after only 50 minutes of play and the umpires were left with no option but to abandon the play. The two brothers-in-law were six each at the close. Source :: Dawn Group Of Newspapers (http://www.cricket.org/link_to_database/SUPPORT/DAWN/) Contributed by Dawn (dws@biruni.erum.com.pk) ====> REPORT (Daily News, Sri Lanka) Sri Lanka - Pakistan match abandoned due to rain Fresh match on again today Ranjan Anandappa reporting SINGAPORE (April 1) - Only 10 overs were possible in the 43 minutes in the opening match of the Singer Triangular Cricket tournament between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Padang here, yesterday. Put into bat Pakistan were 54 for 3 when a heavy drizzle forced the players into the pavilion. A fresh match will be played today (Tuesday). OVERNIGHT RAIN The overnight rain delayed play till 1.50 p.m. when umpires David Orchard of South Africa and Russell Tiffinor Zimbabwe decided that the game will be a 25 overs perside affair. It was a fore- gone conclusion that the side wins the toss will have an added advantage. Likewise skipper Ranatunga on his first assignment after the World Cup success called correct. Being a working day the crowd was disappointing. Sri Lankan opted for their champion outfit leaving out Atapattu, Chandana and Pushpakumara. Pakistan were minus of their star leg spinner Mush- taq Aimed, Rameez Raja and atta-ur-Rehman. SHORT PERIOD In the short period of play Chaminda Vaas excelled with a short beret of left arm bowling claiming the wickets of Beret Berth (9) caught by Dharmasena at deep square leg and then having skipper Aamir Sohail caught behind in consecutive overs. Sohail was dropped by Gurusinha diving at square leg and again was let off by Aravinda de Silva at fine leg, early in the innings. But Rana- tunga replacing Vaas who had the figures of 2 for II off 33 overs induced Inzamam to a big drive and Vaas was there to take the catch at deep mid on. IMPRESSED Talking to Ian Chappell the former Australian captain during the break he said that he was greatly impressed with the Sri Lankans performances. Chappell was the Australian captain in the first World Cup in England 1975. In that tournament the Lankans displayed their batting prowess chasing a massive Australian score of over 300 in a 60 over game. "Since then Sri Lankans progress has been amazing said Chappell. "In 21 years they have reached great heights Sri Lanka has always produced good batsmen. Royal Dias and Michael Tissera have been technically sound and the other players are basically aggressive not allowing the bowlers to dictate terms. PRESENT Among the present lot Aravinda looks the best. If he continue to bat the way he did at the World Cup final in every match the bowlers will no doubt have a tough task ahead of them." said Chappell. "Aravinda hits up a few through the infield besides his shots over the ropes, and if he could curb this he could score more runs" said Chappell. He further said that Sri Lanka batting has variety with the other players like Ranatunga, Mahanama and Tillkeratne Gurusinghe who cold play steadily when the situation demands. DISAPPOINTED When asked how the Australian reacted when they lost the World Cup final to Sri Lanka Chappell said that as a nation people were disappointed but there was no recrimination liked in India or Pakistan. Concluding he said that the people forget it and also said that the people have a great deal of respect to Mark Taylor as the Australian captain. Source :: Daily News (http.//www.lanka.net) Contributed by Shash (shs2@*.cwru.edu)