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Sports

Why overlook the Oval for England tour?
By Bernie Wijesekera

Trinco's LTTE military leader Pathuman and political head Thilak addressing the news conference

The one-time marshy land, Wanathamulla with match box shanties comparable to the slums of Soeweto in S. Africa was converted to a place for human habitat thanks to P. Saravanamuttu from S. Thomas' Mt. Lavinia.

With his own initiative and personal sacrifice (the Tamil Union C and AC formed in 1899 which was housed in Campbell Park until 1940?). It was in the 19th century that various ethnic groups of the then Ceylon gave rise to sports clubs bearing clubs in their names - Malay CC, BRC, Singhalese SC, Moors SC and Parsi CC.

P. 'Sara' with a vision with his typical Thomian grit created a venue in Wanathamulla - the Oval for all races, to indulge at international level to progress as fruit and flower to uplift and develop cricket in the motherland. In the process the venue gained international recognition thanks to its charm and beauty P. Sara's belief was not ethnicity, but that where there is compassion there is peace. The members of the above mentioned clubs interacted freely on and off the field. Camaraderie prevailed at all times - unlike at present times which are plagued by hatred, jealousy and power politics.

The Oval, from 1945 to '83, hosted more than 50 international games, majority of them featuring national teams. Some all time greats played at the Oval sward - the likes of Sir Don Bradman, Sir Leonard Hutton, Sir Learie Constantine, Sir Frank Worrell (who made a majestic 281), Sir Clyde Walcott, Sir Gary Sobers, Colin Cowdrey, George Headley, Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall, Vijay Merchant, Neil Harvey, Rohan Kanhai, Wes Hall, Javed Burki, Vinoo Mankad, Polly Umrigar, Fazal Mohamed, Richie Benaud etc.
Sir Don Bradman had this to say about the Oval Scoreboard in 1948 - worthy of mention is the Colombo Oval's scoreboard which gives more than any Board in the world at that time - a great tribute for the country. But sad to mention today despite many additions to the picturesque venue but still found not good enough even for a side game against the visiting English team later this year.

The mercurial M. Sathasivam, had the distinction of leading two countries Sri Lankan and Malaysia. The likes of C.I. Gunasekera who smashed Aussie spinner Lindsay Kline for five sixes in an over, Mahes Rodrigo, who made an epoch making 138 not out against the Windies in 1950 led by John Goddard, which team included the awesome pace duo Jones and Trim, Gerry Gomes, Weekes and Walcott. F.C. de Saram, Stanley Jayasinghe who made some heart-warming knocks at this venue. M. Tissera, Anura Tennakoon, Duleep Mendis etc., made cricket history at this venue. Stanley, who writes a column now to our sister paper "The Daily Mirror." He could well say whether the facilities at Asgiriya, Galle, CCC, NCC, Moratuwa is better than at the 'Sara' Stadium and not good enough even for a side game.

This venue that helped Sri Lanka gain admission to ICC status (test playing nation in 1981). It depended to the availability - the P. 'Sara' was a worthy Test venue. The 'Oval', the only acceptable venue according to the standards set by the ICC in June 1981 - was admitted.

The inaugural Test was staged here, Sri Lanka led by Bandula Warnapura and England by Keith Fletcher, in February 1982. It created a new chapter in the country's cricket history. It was here that the first Test win over India in 1985 under Duleep Mendis. India led by Kapil Dev.

The late Gamini Dissanayake, the then president with a no nonesense approach when it came to decision making, unlike at present times led a committee who had the vision for the future. There was no place for prejudice. Education was the enemy of prejudice. Today petty politics have crept into the running of its affairs apparently some of them lack the know how to run its affairs. Today sports in the country has hit a new low put aside cricket alone. As a result the country is suffering.

The talk of the town among cricketing circles, why the picturesque P. 'Sara' Stadium was overlooked for the England tour later this year. Is it because the then president of the Tamil Union Tryphon Mirando, who was also a former secretary of the BCCSL didn't want to get involved in politics in sports refrained from voting for either camp. That's a fundamental human right. In the end why should the venue suffer. Not only a laughing stock among the local cricketing fraternity but also the entire circketing world.

Against the system
Imagine Lanasia virtually an Indian colony in S. Africa was afforded with a match against Sri Lanka in last year's tour. There was no petty politics in the UCBSA administration. Sports for all races. Nelson Mandela, who was in jail for 27 years, he fought for the rights for all races. But he was against the system - (apartheid). Keeping P. 'Sara' out despite better facilities, apparently its another form of segregation opined by people that matters.

In the holocaust - 1983 July, the main clubhouse suffered irreparable damage including P. 'Sara's statue. Without any financial assistance from the BCCSL, they fought back well with the support rendered by a handful of wellwishers said, a senior official of the club.

Since 1985 except for one or two occasions, the club failed to come into reckoning for reasons best known to the powers that be. But the dawn of the Centenary of the club which coincided with the (Millennium) had a new development programme. It culminated the first Test match against Bangladesh awarded to the P. 'Sara' Stadium in July 2002 - after a 8-year drought.

It was in 1996 the Colts CC president, Gamini Goonesena, suggested that P. 'Sara' be again considered for Tests. Funds should be allocated to them, for re-development. It was accepted by the then president Upali Dharmadasa. Mirando was the secretary, but nothing materialised. But never gave up under the leadership of S. Skandakumar, a man of few words, but glutton for work.

The reins were taken over by Tryphon Mirando. But no let up. In July 2000 the Cricket Board under Thilanga Sumathipala allocated funds to construct two new dressing rooms.

The P. 'Sara' Stadium Dev. Fund in June 1997-'98 with no assistance from the BCCSL under Chandra Schaffter provided more facilities. A sports Complex which included squash courts (upto Int. Standards) and badminton. If any assistance was forthcoming from the BCCSL then it should be utilised for the improvement of the cricket infrastructure. According to Mirando, Mr. Upali Dharmadasa of Nawaloka Group helped the club in numerous ways with no financial burden to its coffers.

Better facilities
The Janashakthi Sports Complex fully equipped is a boom to the membership.
There is a swimming pool, too-worthy of an International venue. According to sources it was during the tenure of Mr. Hemaka Amarasuriya as chairman of the Interim committee, that the P. 'Sara' was made one of the venues for a Test match against England, due to the weather pattern prevailing this part of the year during the month of November and December (evening showers and bad light) and the ground conditions.

This was done in good faith. Which venue has better facilities Asgiriya or P. 'Sara'? Did the new administration study the weather conditions or get the advice of the Meteorological Department. It should have been better if they moved the Test venue to Dambulla than Asgiriya for this five-day contest.

For the first time in the history of world cricket, a Test match was held in a neutral venue between Pakistan and Australia - that rare feat was achieved by the Tamil Union at the P. 'Sara' Stadium from October 3 to 7, 2002. Chairman of Interim Committee was responsible for facilitating arrangements. It became a reality.

Both the visiting teams were happy with the arrangements. The Aussies won the Test in a keen contest. Shoaib Akthar and the young Pakistani hopefuls excelled. It was a good pitch prepared by Milroy Muthuveloe which lasted the duration. From 1945 to '83, the BCCSL relied with the Tamil Union's (Oval) more than 60 Internationals and majority against national teams were staged here, the only venue the cricketing world has known. The pitches prepared by Marie Amma and her daughter Innassi Amma which won world acclaim from all visiting teams.

But a section of the present hierarchy (tour organising committee) sees otherwise that still its found wanting. The tour organising committee: M. Muzammil (Chairman), Ravin Wickremaratne, Hiranth Fernando and Errol Seneviratne. The Itinerary: First one day, second one day, third one day (both day and night); First practice match Sri Lanka 'A': November 15 Moratuwa.

Three-day practice match: CCC grounds Vs. Sri Lanka 'A'.
First Test: December 2 to 6 Galle Esplanade.
Second Test: December 10 -14 (Asgiriya).
Third Test December 18-22 SSC grounds.

This is what Tim Lamb, the former CEO England and Wales Cricket Board had to say about the P 'Sara': We recall with sadness the events of 1983 and their impact on your Stadium because I know the Oval to Sri Lanka cricket was in many ways, what Lord's is to us today. I have no doubt that you will receive the fullest support in your efforts to restore the stadium to its former glory. This was sent to S. Skandakumar, who was also a former secretary of the BCCSL.

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