Lanka out of ICC’s host list: Dharmadasa vows to protest
Sri Lanka Cricket President Jayantha Dharmadasa says the latest ICC tournament list where Sri Lanka has been denied an opportunity to host any events for the next ten years is subject to review.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Dharmadasa said the agenda was a rushed one and it had drawn criticism from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the other major player who was overlooked for ICC events.
SLC chief Jayantha Dharmadasa stresses a point. - Pix by Amila Gamage
Dharmadasa explained, “When the meeting ended on that Wednesday, there was a backlog. We were scheduled to meet on Thursday afternoon. But ICC President Alan Isaac asked if we could bring forward the meeting for 9 a.m. – which we did. When we met in the morning, there were some extra papers and one was this (the tournament calendar for the next ten years).
“We had no time study the paper, but when I went through it, I realised that there were no ICC events for Sri Lanka in that document and asked why. Then a member said that it may be because Sri Lanka had only hosted the 2011 World Cup and the recent T-20 World Championships men/women.
“Then I replied that was history. In the recent past we have built four new international class venues at Galle, Hambantota, Pallekele and Colombo (Khettarama). Besides that, now we also have the Dambulla Stadium – making it five. I was firm and I said that we should at least get two ICC events during this period.
“At this point, the Pakistan delegate complained that there could be trouble in Pakistan today, but, how anyone could say what would be taking place ten years hence. Then the ICC President said that they would further analyse the situation and come out with a reply. It was not a hundred per cent concrete decision. They just presented that paper to the stakeholders.”
The SLC chief said if Bangladesh could be on the events list why Sri Lanka had been left out. “We did not know anything about this schedule till we saw the paper on the conference table.”
The SLC President said Sri Lanka and Pakistan accepted the explanation and did not make any official protest because the paper was not officially ratified.
The Sunday Times pointed out that India will be the sole host of the 2023 World Cup whereas in 1996 and 2011 the tournament was shared among the sub-continent neighbours – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Dharmadasa’s reply was: “They have to discuss this again. We can make a formal protest only after they (ICC) discuss the issue and comeback to us. We insist that the World Cup 2023 should be shared between India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. If Pakistan is still not in a position to play host, then the event should be shared between the others.
Then the Sunday Times asked what the SLC’s position was on player behaviour, in view of the latest controversy over an A Team player’s tantrums and whether the SLC had a player code of ethics.
The Sunday Times also pointed out that recent incidents have been passed on with a wag of a finger without any deterrent punishment.
The SLC President said, “We do have the player code of ethics in place. But what happens is that at times some players tend to go overboard. Earlier SLC has taken action. I do not want to comment about incidents which took place before my time. But I know the players have been warned. However with regard to this issue we have appointed a committee to probe into the matter. Upon its recommendations, we would take a blanket rule for everyone, without considering positions or connections.”
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