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Comment by Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle

Minister Johnston Fernando echoed the sentiments of many when at a meeting with International Cricket Conference President Eshan Mani he wished that Thilanga Sumathipala, the President of Sri Lanka Cricket take the post of Mani as the ICC head one day. Sumathipala was the youngest to adorn the post of President of the BCCSL and there was no doubt that he had set his sights on being the big boss of the ICC.

He had youth on his side and also all the credentials required to hold this prestigious post.

But the Sri Lankans have the knack of not letting their own man prosper. They will do everything possible even stooping low to character assassinate or sling mud to cut down a man who is set for big things in life.

It was no different with Sumathipala. Here was a man on the up and up or in ascendancy and what happens. Unfounded allegations were levelled at everything he was doing, until he was unceremoniously removed as President of the BCCSL on two occasions. It is said that you can't keep a good man down. And Sumathipala hit back with a vengeance to cock a snook at his detractors and adorn the top post in cricket for a record third time.

He kicked aside the allegations made against him in the building of the Dambulla Stadium. The legal system was resorted to try and bowl him out for good.

But his detractors had to finally bite the dust as Sumathipala came out of all allegations clearing himself with flying colours and now his detractors are stooping to level more unfounded allegations in their frustration to bring him down. But Sumathipala who has been a cricketer, knows how to let go or duck the bouncers bowled by his critics. He realises that staying at the wicket is very important if he is to score.

His critics resorted to cocktails of untruths and slander to dismiss him. But Sumathipala is made of sterner stuff and he knows that playing straight is what matters to counter the vicious underarm deliveries of his detractors.

In the short time that he has taken office, he unveiled a five-year programme that if efficiently executed should take the game to heights like when we won the World Cup under the able leadership of 'Captain Cool' Arjuna Ranatunga. Mani praised this five year plan and also the shedding of the BCCSL tag and moving on to Sri Lanka Cricket like did Australia and New Zealand.

Sumathipala has more plans to unravel for the player, the administrator and the game. He has a good team and if he can lead them to play as a team, then the game here is in for more fruitful times.

Sumathipala must keep moving on.

Gooneratne sad loss

The passing away of Gerry Gooneratne brings to end another era in the history of cricket in the country.

All good things have been written about Gooneratne - his career and coaching. It is this writer's intention to say something that he did for his old club Saracens.

The year was 1972 when the club enjoyed one of its best years. That year the club entered the final round of the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy.

The high ups at the club who had done wonders for its progress - Mohammed, Hilmi and Mecci Macan Markar, Hilmy Cader and Kuthmi Ibrahim wanted Gooneratne to come and fine tune the team in an endeavour to win the plum.

Saracens had some of the best cricketers of that era led by dashing opening batsman Shanti Pieris. Other names that come to mind in that team were Ralston Burke, B. N. Mohammed, M. Saheer, H. M. M. Aly, Nihal Seneviratne, T. K. Palitha, Aubrey Kuruppu, M. Weerabangsa, Nihal Silva, Sarath Basnayake, Percy Perera, Faleel Mowlana and yours truly. Gooneratne watched the boys at practice, found little or none wanting in their technique who had all made a name for themselves in school as well as club cricket - told them to stay focused and concentrate and that the pieces will fall right.

The first game was against the Nondescripts who were the hosts led by Michael Tissera and what a leather hunt we sent them on. Ralston Burke a brilliant all-rounder made a century and the writer 72 as we put on a near 150 run stand for the 5th wicket.

Saracens went over the 300-run mark and after NCC lost early wickets that Kunju Balendran and Annesley de Silva batted doggedly to save NCC from defeat.

Then the Nomads with a fine crop of cricketers led by S. Sivanathan suffered an outright defeat with Burke and yours truly going over the half century mark each again. Although Saracens did not win the P. Sara trophy that year, it was the consensus that the club enjoyed its best year in its history that year.

There was no doubt that it was Gooneratne's fine tuning of the team and the words of encouragement that went a long way to helping the lads keep the flag flying for the Rifle Green Club.

That year Ralston Burke, Nihal Seneviratne and yours truly were picked to play for the Cricket Board President's XI against Hong Kong under Michael Tissera.

In later years Aubrey Kuruppu a left hander went on to play in the Gopalan Trophy fixture against Madras.

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