Chaminda Vaas Benefit T20 Cricket Cup – 2011, now official

Mangalore: Veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder, renowned fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, was in city to officially announce the Chaminda Vaas Benefit T20 Cricket Cup – 2011 on 29 October.

As it is the first time in the history of the city that an international cricket team is visiting here to play the one day T20 Cricket match on 19 November at NMPT Grounds Cricket stadium, it is a great opportunity for players of Mangalore to play with international players.

On various queries put forth by the reporters, Vaas said that there is a need for separate bowling coach since fast bowlers in sub-continent teams (India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan) are not able to get wickets since their analysis is poor on different situations and are depended on a coach most of times.

He added that as a cricketer one should be capable of playing all versions of cricket by practicing different tactics involved in the game.

He opined that test cricket is the supreme form of cricket as the player in the test cricket can achieve more compared to one-dayer.

Speaking about Indian cricket squad, he said that Uttappa is a promising player who can come up to the level of Sachin.

He also feels that Rohith Sharma and Virat Kohli are good players.

In a light remark to a query on cricketers turning into politicians, Vaas said cricket is his breath. “I am known to people as a cricketer and I don’t want to be into politics,” he asserted.

He could not play for IPL match since he is more associated with county cricket, he said to another query by a media person.

Vaas was of the opinion that since he played 20 years in international cricket matches, he is satisfied with the game and does not want to continue as young players need opportunities.

He said he would continue serving the game of cricket by being the coach in future.

Answering yet another query as to who was his rival Indian batsman who spoilt his night’s sleep, he immediately said it is certainly Sachin Tendulkar.

Chaminda Vas refused to comment on the Sangakkara’s remark where he had said in a lecture at Melbourne Cricket Club that mismanagement in Sri Lankan Cricket board has cost a lot to the game in the land (Sri Lanka) and the game was not developed in a right manner.

On Sri Lankan national cricketers not being paid their salaries since the world cup, Vaas said that the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka would look into the issue and that it would be amicably resolved before the end of the year.

Dr. Srikanth Rai, President of DKCA, Sudhir Ghate of Magnum Intergrafiks Pvt. Ltd. and Joseph Rego were present at the press meet.