When you have crossed the boundaries of your own native country allegiance to your land notches up by more than a few digits. Then when someone puts across various questions about the happenings of things back home sometimes it puts you in a state of utter despair, especially when you are caught on the wrong foot.
In spite of being the height of the Footie season, still there are some Australians who are interested in cricket and are quite keen to learn how the game is progressing in the talented little land of Sri Lanka.
There were some frequently asked questions. One of the leading was “How is Sanath Jayasuriya still representing the country at 40+ while he is failing?” “Is it true that he has a lot of political backing and is using it for his survival in the arena and what is he gaining by doing that except for disrespect?” “How come there is a thing called the interim committee who runs the cricketing affairs in the country and isn’t it done by the politicians whose cricketing knowledge is still far below average?”
For the lower set of the questions I had the answers – I explained that the Interim Committees was a direct result of a law enacted in Sri Lanka many moons ago called the ‘Sports Law’ which came to light for all the right reasons, but gradually lost its sheen at the whimsies of lesser beings.
However on the question of Sanath Jayasuriya plodding along at the age of 40+ and at the expense of young promising cricketers along with the team harmony was a question that I had to bow my head and bite my lip.
The other day I read a statement made by the Hon member of parliament for Matara Mr. Sanath Jayasuriya to a Indian newspaper to the effect that he is in the game because the people of Sri Lanka wants him to do so. I beg your pardon Sir may I take the liberty Sir to ask you about how many people it would be and are every one of them who says that, real cricket lovers?
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| Jayasuriya walking back to the Pavilion,a very frequent sight in Sri Lanka cricket now. 15 runs in 6 matches at the T20. |
It was a bonus for Sri Lanka to come to the semi-final stage of the T-20 World cup. Though in reality T-20 cricket does not come within the pursuits of the purists it is a necessary evil which is played purely for the monetary gains that it could provide for the sustenance of the game.
In the run of play Sri Lanka exploded while Mahela found touch, and then imploded when Mahela failed. However the most intriguing scenario was the continuance of Jayasuriya who came into the side as a number seven batsman and scored 0 not out and then a three ball 3 batting at number eight to gain a promotion as an opening batsman. Then may I ask you how many runs he scored in that slot? Was it fair by skipper Sangakkara to bench in-touch Dinesh Chandimal and perambulate with Jayasuriya whose very presence in the side was an implosion.
Even prior to the departure we learned that Sanath Jayasuriya was not in the original list but was air dropped at the eleventh hour. Then on the same tone skipper Sangakkara threatened to step down in a moment of despair. On the same tone down the grapevine we learned that though included in the squad Jayasuriya was not to be included in any of the games.
Then came the news from the Western end of the World that the worm has changed. The only true member of parliament who was a in field member of the WC playing group had become unmanageable and was openly challenging the team management. The result was the build up in divisions in the side.
Sadly all these ill effects are bugging the national cricket which is the only game that Sri Lanka has gained real international status with the ICC World Cup seven months away and it will be played on our own home soil. Even at that time if Sanath Jayasuriya is still there against the wishes of the majority of its members Sri Lanka is doomed even before the games have begun. The reason with one influential member running against the wind the rest of the team will run out of breath.
Then comes the SLC and its preparation for the World Cup? Can the main venue - the Khettarama Stadium be up and running in time for the World Cup? The SLC is in the red financially. At present it is running on loans and the management even has gone to the extent of asking its employees on their ideas about cutting costs. But, yet we see the secretary of the SLC Mr. Nishantha Ranatunga flying to the United States on board expenses.
There is a new Minister of Sports and we wonder if he is aware of what is going on at the cricket Citadel?
We wonder if the new minister could moot a method that cricket could be taken out of the political grasp and put it on the trait that really it is due on. |
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