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Once again we find the Minister of Sports embroiled in a situation where the national selectors hand picked by him and the national captain are at loggerheads over team selection to South Africa.

It is quite clear from what has already appeared in print that the captain is not being given the team he wants, which has led to a situation that should be avoided in the future. Either way, there has to be a compromise, a give and take policy.

The national selectors are of the view that following the success they had with youngsters in the home series against lowly Bangladesh, they should persist with that policy for the South African tour as well. However, the captain who has to take the flak when the team fares badly, wants a little bit of experience included which, in South African conditions and pitches may become useful.

This is the second time in the space of three months the selection committee and the captain have failed to see eye to eye on team selections. The early instance was during Bangladesh's tour here in July-August when the captain wanted a full strength team for the two Tests to enable his players regain confidence following an abysmal tour to England. He eventually got a full team for the first Test, and an inexperienced side for the second. But the end result on both occasions was a win for Sri Lanka that has no doubt encouraged the selectors to opt for youth. However playing South African in their conditions is a totally different proposition. Past tours to that country by Sri Lanka have proved that even with experience they are not easy to beat. Thus the captains concern to have a team of his choice is justifiable.

These two incidents coming in successive Test series is an eye opener for the Sports Minister to reconsider the appointment of selectors and the Sports Law that governs it. The funniest part is that it is the Minister who picks the members who should serve in the selection committee and then he finds himself in a situation where he has his hands tied which side he should take the selectors or the captains when a situation of this nature arises.

It is best that he leaves the appointment of selectors to the national controlling body so that he is free to deal with any misdemeanors. Following Sri Lankas disastrous tour to England and the subsequent pressure brought about by certain sections to replace the captain and the coach, the Minister gave a firm assurance to both that he is firmly behind them and that they should utilize all their energies in trying to win the World Cup in South Africa next year. Also, the Sports Law makes a mockery of the Sports Minister's appointment of selectors because the team they pick has to go back to the Minister once again for ratification. Does that mean the Minister has no faith in the officials he appoints to the selection committee?

Bouquets from ICC

The bouquets the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) interim committee chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya earned from the International Cricket Council (ICC) hierarchy after successfully hosting the ICC Champions trophy mini World Cup, once more emphasises what hand picked people can accomplish.

It was the interim committee headed by Rienzie Wijetilleke which first earned the praises of the ICC, when they successfully hosted the ICC under 19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2000. And it was during the interim administration under Vijay Malalasekera that the Sri Lanka cricket team had its best run of success in Test cricket winning nine matches in a row.

These results prove that in the circumstances, Sri Lanka cricket is best served under an interim administration where the people appointed are not under any obligation to anyone. This may not go down well with everyone, but the facts are too stubborn to ignore. It was during the interim period that a sense of professionalism too also crept in to some of the key areas of Cricket Board administration.

The question that can be asked then is: what chance these men have of getting elected if they were to come through the normal electoral system of the Cricket Board?

A forgotten era

Raheman Hathy who passed away at the age of 85 a few days ago, was a stalwart of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (Ceylon then) during the pre-Test era when the controlling body for the sport found it extremely difficult to make ends meet and did not have a proper roof above its head to conduct its monthly meetings. Players and administrators of the present era will hardly know with what great difficulties the BCCSL conducted their day to day activities.

When Hathy decided not to seek re-election as treasurer after a run of 16 consecutive years as treasurer of the Cricket Board, this is what the then president Robert Senanayake had to say: It is common knowledge that he (Hathy) held this office with the complete acceptance of all, but what many members do not know is that at the time he was elected to this office, which coincided with my election as President, the Board of Control for Cricket in Ceylon was saddled with a debt of over Rs. 20,000 and our prestige low. Hathy, a qualified chartered accountant not only pulled the Cricket Board out of the financial woods so to say, but ensured they did not sink to the abysmal depths they had when he took over.

Over the years the Cricket Board has been served by many stalwarts like Hathy namely, A.C.M. Rauf, who succeeded him as treasurer, M.K.M. Ismail, who was the first secretary after the controlling body was founded as the BCCSL in 1948, Nisal Senaratne, Rauf Naina Marikar, A.C.M. Rauf, Neil Perera, M. Fazleali, P. Somasundaram, Major-General Russell Heyn, Gamini Dissanayake, Nuski Mohamed, Abu Fuard, and S. Skandakumar amongst others.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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