Global sports

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker will be working with Mark Philippoussis to prepare the Australian for the upcoming Grand Slam spectacle in england, British newspapers reported on Sunday.

Becker, who won at the All-England Club in 1985, 1986 and 1989, will advise Philippoussis at this week’s Queen’s Club Tournament in London and part-time at the June 26-July nine Wimbledon, the reports said.

Sumathipala re-elected

COLOMBO: Thilanga Sumathipala, who was ousted from office last year by a court order, was re-elected President of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board on Monday in a controversial election after his lone rival withdrew at the last moment.

Sumathipala was declared elected unopposed after rival candidate Jayantha Dharamdasa pulled out objecting to officials accepting his (Sumathipala’s) nomination despite complaints that he was connected with the betting industry – a charge Sumathipala has consistently denied. Dharamdasa said he was pulling out of the race as he believed that the elections would not be free and fair and he did not want to lend credibility to it.

Atapattu vice-captain

COLOMBO: Opener Marvan Atapattu was named as Sri Lanka’s new vice-captain on Monday for their three-Test series against Pakistan starting in Colombo on Wednesday.

Atapattu replaces Mahela Jayawardene, who has suffered poor form with the bat in recent games but was included in a squad of 16 for the opening test. Also among the party was former captain Arjuna Ranatungawho, if he plays, would create cricket history by appearing in both his country’s inaugural and 100th test matches.

The squad: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, Arjuna Ranatunga, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Upul Chandana, Rangana Herath, Avishka Gunawardana, Prasanna Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dilhara Fernando.