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Comment by Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle

Indians and Pakistanis wherever they may be will put their hands together and clap resoundingly, now that the leaders of the two countries have decided to restore sporting ties between the two countries after 14 long years.

Sport is the great leveller, it is said. Now that the leaders have decided to put their differences aside for the sake of the game, it is hoped that this move will lead to better and long lasting relations between these two Asian giants. No world champions in any sport could be judged without these countries being pitted against each other.

In the past world hockey supremacy was decided after these two countries met. Like in hockey even in cricket, it was a must that these two countries met. That they did not bat, bowl and field against each for 14 years was a matter for regret. But now that a good pitch has been laid out, every Indian and Pakistani would be following the developments very closely and waiting to flock in their numbers and cheer their countrymen when India plays Pakistan in Pakistan next year.

The agitators and the terrorists who are playing a game of their own and which has no takers in the world, will certainly not want to disrupt sport or take the lives of sportsmen.

True they will make threats. But it will always remain threats and nothing else. Sportsmen need not fear to ply their trade.

The Australians and the West Indies made flimsy excuses citing terrorists threats and refused to tour here during the 1995 World Cup Cricket tournament hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

They were later left to rue their folly.

However it was sad what 'Black September' did to the Israel sportsmen during the Munich Olympics in West Germany in 1972. We were covering the Games for the now defunct 'Times Group' and what we saw was horrific to say the least and an act only performed by sick and unsound minds. The whole world stood stunned by this barbaric act that those only wrong in the head could perform.

It was former Australian Prime Minister Sir. Robert Menzes who once said when the Indians and Pakistanis were at war that had the leaders of the two countries been sportsmen this war would not have been. How true!

Anyway now that the Indians and Pakistanis would be fronting up to each other in the field of play, it is now up to the International Cricket Council and others concerned to see that nothing will come in between and derail the wonderful process set in motion by the leaders of these countries.

De Silva taken to task

That India and Pakistan meet in friendly combat in sport is a must. Asoka de Silva, Sri Lanka's former leg spinner and now an international umpire was certainly not the darling of the Bangladeshi crowds during the First Test between England and Bangladesh at the Bangabandu Stadium.

Everytime de Silva said 'not out' to appeals or ruled a home team batsman out, he was taken to task by the supporters who jeered him. Some even carried placards, which to say the least was unsporting. De Silva was performing his duties to the best of his ability and in the process may have made a mistake, most umpires do these days, but why did the spectators have to take him as the bite?

Maybe that de Silva fell short of the expected umpiring standards in the West Indies when they were playing the Australians. But like all cricketers, de Silva too was going through a lean patch. But he is back at his best now and it was unsporting of the Bangla spectators to single him out for booing.

Anyway one can understand the frustration because their team was once again at the losing end against England which has now become the rule rather than the exception. One wonders whether the booing and the placard carrying was an organised one.

Atapattu passes away

It was shocking to hear and read about the sudden passing away of Anil Atapattu, a writer and sub-Editor par excellence following a sudden heart attack in Hong Kong last week.

Atapattu began his journalistic career under me on the Sports Desk in the now defunct 'Times of Ceylon' in the 70s and was quick to learn the ropes as it were in subbing and lay out.

When the Times was breathing its last, Atapattu move onto the Sun, where he continued the good work before seeking pastures anew in Hong Kong. At the Times where we had excellent writers of that time in M. B. Marjan, M.E. Marikar, Austin Daniel, Gamini Perera, Ranil Weerasinghe and D. C. Wijesekera, many were the wonderfull times we spent writing and watching sport and later analysing our work over a few beers.

That was also the time when we had as a guest writer Mohammed Vazir Muhsin, now Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the World Bank. Muhsin was our mentor and guide.

Atapattu will always be remembered by us.

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