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From the press box by Saadi Thawfeeq

Last week there were two disturbing news items connected with cricket which, if proved right, is bad for the game as well as for the image of this country.

Sports Minister Johnston Fernando went on record accusing former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga of conspiring to split the national cricket team into two because he thought it could do well at the 2003 World Cup tournament in South Africa. Ranatunga remains the only Sri Lankan captain to have won a World Cup for his country in 1996.

Having met both captain Sanath Jayasuriya and coach Dav Whatmore personally soon after they arrived from England, the Minister told them to put the disasters of the tour behind them and concentrate on building a team to win the World Cup. He said that they had his fullest support.

The Minister went on to further emphasise on the print media that certain individuals were trying to gain political mileage by appearing on private television channels with national cricketers and as a result, he has banned all national cricketers from appearing on such programs till the 2003 World Cup.

The most recent instance was the appearance of Muttiah Muralitharan with Ranatunga in a private channel, which led to the off-spinner being reprimanded by the Cricket Board for making derogatory remarks against the administration, selectors and the domestic tournament. Muralitharan, we reliably understand has told the interim committee that he was unaware that Ranatunga was appearing with him on the same program. That is something that we find hard to swallow.

The bowler owes a lot to his past captain who stood by him and even put his neck on the line to save him from being 'chucked' out of cricket in Australia. The other disturbing news was that Ranatunga, now an elected Member of Parliament was facing charges of assaulting a bunch of schoolchildren which again, if convicted, he stands to lose his seat in Parliament. The report said that he was seeking an out of court settlement with the aggrieved parties.

These startling revelations are not good for the game at large in this country. A couple of decades back these incidents were totally unheard of. What it means in today's context is that there is a certain of lack of discipline at all levels in the country which is gradually eroding our culture and traditions which our ancestors have fought for and what we today, enjoy the benefits of.

That Muralitharan got away with only a cautionary warning was like telling an accused man that he should not repeat the offence again in future and allowed to go scot free. The Cricket Board interim committee may have been lenient with him as this was the first time in his career the off-spinner had transgressed his contract. But to allow him to get away with only a warning for all the damage he has done publicly, is totally unacceptable especially in fairness to another former Sri Lanka Test cricketer who was handed out a suspension for a lesser offence some years ago.

Asanka Gurusinha, who played a vital role in Sri Lanka winning the 1996 World Cup was forced out of the game by the treatment he received at the hands of the Cricket Board of that time. When he could have served the country for a good many more years, he decided to quit the scene at his prime to take up a player-coaching assignment in Australia where he is doing extremely well.

Gurusinha's crime was to come out in public and say the truth. For doing that he fell foul of those who ran cricket at the time which subsequently led to his premature retirement from the game.

Kudos for selectors

The national selection committee should be handed the kudos for showing the cricketing world that Sri Lanka can yet win a Test match without Muralitharan. Critics might be quick to point out that Bangladesh were hardly an opposition to crow about. But wasn't it against this opposition that some of the senior players including Muralitharan clamoured to play against and even went to the extent of going to the higher authorities to ensure that it was done.

The selectors comprising Guy de Alwis, Roger Wijesuriya and Ranil Abeynaike have to be commended for taking a bold initiative and opting for youth. Against a weak team like Bangladesh it was the ideal opportunity to give the youngsters a break in the big league. But this policy became unacceptable to certain senior players in the national team who thought that the best way to turn things around following the aftermath of the England tour was to play a full strength side even against the minnows of Test cricket.

The Minister, not wanting to upset them agreed to go with the team the captain wanted for the first Test, but stood by the selectors for the second despite Muralitharan making a big hue and cry to play.

Opinions will be divided on whether Muralitharan should have been given the opportunity to play against Bangladesh and get closer to the world record for the highest number of Test wickets. But being only 30, he has plenty of time on his hands to do so. Why the hurry to get there and against such weak opposition? Had the selectors not gone ahead with their plans, the cricketing world would never have heard of the likes Chamila Gamage, Sanjeewa de Silva, Michael van Dort, Jehan Mubarak and Naveed Nawaz. The changes also gave Tilan Samaraweera the opportunity to show that he can also win matches bowling his little used off-breaks.

The win at the SSC should widen skipper Jayasuriya's horizon. He knows now that he needn't have to depend always on one bowler all the time for success, at least against weaker opposition. 

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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