''Sri Lanka should not win World Cup''

Colombo, Feb 11 (PTI) In a surprising move, a Sri Lankannewspaper today urged cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara to notwin the World Cup, fearing it would help the controversialinterim committee strengthen its position.

The privately-run but pro-government ''Island'' newspapersaid Sangakkara should not win the tournament for the "sake ofthe country."

"Call me a traitor, a quisling -anything," said thepaper''s sports writer Russell Palipane.

"I don''t want Sri Lanka to be the champions of thecricket World Cup 2011!"

Palipane argued that the current interim committee, whichruns the game, will make use of a cup victory to consolidateits hold on office without facing elections.

"Just imagine what will take place if Sri Lanka emergechamps. D S de Silva (the current head of Sri Lanka Cricket)and his cronies who make up the Interim Committee will claimit was their doing."

The writer also took swipes at two other key cricketofficials.

"Kumar (Sangakkara) dear, please spare the country. Don''twin it, for the majority of this country are nothing but apack of jokers, like that former Chairman of Selectors(Asantha de Mel), about whom Marvan Attapattu (former skipper)had a few things to say, before he retired from internationalcricket."

The ''Island'' outburst comes amid attempts by Sri Lankanauthorities to galvanise support for the national team for thebiggest event of the game.

Local radio and television stations have been adoptingtheir own songs and video clips to shore up support for SriLanka, which won the trophy in 1996.