5th Column

My dear Arjuna, Aravinda and the World Cup winning cricket team,

I thought of writing to you this week because in just three days you would be celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of your famous victory in Lahore. I know it is an occasion to be proud of but at this time, it is difficult to decide whether we should be happy or sad and whether we should laugh or cry.

Most Sri Lankans remember how you took on the mighty Aussies and made them eat humble pie. The victory in Lahore was not even a close finish. We won decisively, by seven wickets with nearly five overs to spare, prompting Tony Greig to say “These Sri Lankans are giving the Aussies a real hiding”.

Arjuna, most of the credit of that victory must go to you. If not for your leadership, right from the moment Murali was ‘no-balled’ in Australia a year earlier to when you hit the winning runs in Lahore, it was you who kept the team together and instilled the belief in them that they could indeed win.

Unfortunately, though we benefited from your leadership twenty-five years ago, we haven’t been able to use those skills in managing cricket in the country since then. Even if you were to one day become the President of the country, I don’t think you can ever become President of Sri Lanka Cricket!

Aravinda and Asanka, you were both key players on that day twenty-five years ago. Asanka, you held up one end when the two openers departed in quick succession and Aravinda, you shone with both bat and ball, stroking a memorable century with nerves of steel to guide us to our most famous victory.

Even so, Aravinda and Asanka, when both of you tried to help our cricket authorities in different capacities and at different times, you weren’t taken very seriously. You were cast aside after short stints, probably because you were principled enough to say ‘no’ to the requests of powerful people.

Sanath and Kalu, you took the cricket world by surprise by your dashing opening partnerships which paved the way for our success. Later, you formed another partnership as selectors but that was short lived and you had to make way for others, after insisting on maintaining discipline among players.

Sanath, it is a pity that you chose to take to politics. People who remembered you warmly for your cricketing exploits began to see you as yet another politician. Kalu, you have chosen to hide away in the hideaway you have built in Udawalawe–not a bad idea considering the state of our cricket now.

Roshan and Kumar, you were the silent achievers in that champion team, providing stability when the chips were down. You have continued to do so for world cricket as a match referee and umpire respectively and your achievements are a credit to us as nation as well as to your old school.

Hashan and Pramodya, you are still engaged with the current cricket set up as a coach and a selector respectively. What’s more, Hashan, your better half has also been given a responsibility to manage women’s cricket. Judging by how cricket is now, I’m not sure whether you made the best choices.

Vaas, we heard of your recent spat with the authorities, when you were publicly shamed for asking to be paid your dues. You were a faithful servant of Sri Lankan cricket, leading our fast bowling attack for many years. After what happened, you may want to think again about serving the same master.

Murali, you benefited most from being in that champion team. Plagued by accusations of ‘chucking’ you cleared your name and went on to become the Bradman of bowling. You could have helped our cricket more–instead of helping other nations–but you may also have your reasons for keeping away.

As we remember your great deeds twenty-five years ago, it is sad that all we can do now is search the internet for video clips of cricket matches of your era to bring us some joy. It is also frightening that the dark forces who took over cricket shortly after you won, are still in charge, even if it is by proxy!

The legends that you were, you did groom a generation to follow you. They learnt from you, were inspired by you and they went on achieve great deeds themselves and brought honour to our nation, establishing many records and wining quite a few games. However, they were not the same as you.

Some of them sported outlandish hairstyles, some wanted to build hospitals and others spoke with posh accents. They were all great ambassadors for their country at some time. Yet, they all lost their way, losing sight of the fact that they were playing for their country, playing instead for money first.

That is why, Arjuna, Aravinda and the World Cup winning team, we remember you fondly. Sadly, so long as those in charge of our cricket remain in office because the Constitution governing the game cannot be changed, twenty-five years from now, yours will still be the only World Cup we have won!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS- Your win at the World Cup made cricket a lucrative sport in the country. In addition to many other benefits, we heard that you were given a plot of land as a token of the country’s gratitude. I hope it was not in Sigiriya because if it was, you might have neighbours who might seem a little familiar!