SLC has lost its credibility

THE Dilmah cricket team sponsorship deal is a perfect eye-opener of how unstable Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is in the eyes of the cricket world.

Six companies (some from abroad) initially showed interest, but by the time the change over in administration had taken place (where the elected body was replaced by an interim), the only company that was left standing was Dilmah.

In the absence of competition from any other sponsors which would have made the bidding healthier, SLC had no choice but to accept what Dilmah offered, which was US$1.3 million less than the previous agreement.

Thus the losers in the bid was SLC and the national cricketers who despite the excellent performances they are putting on the world cricket floor have more or less been devalued.

"The biggest setback we are facing is the uncertainty that prevails in Sri Lanka Cricket," said SLC's marketing director Jayantha Kudahetty.

"It is very unfortunate that with the legal issues that are pending a lot of sponsors are hesitant to come forward with big money for a longer period. The sponsors have at the back of their mind what guarantee of continuity we can give them for the future. This has been a big challenge to me."

Kudahetty agreed that it was no fault of the cricketers they are being underpaid. "They deserve the maximum recognition and no one disputes that."

One of the key legal issues that stand out like a sore thumb is with television company WSG Nimbus who are suing SLC for wrongful termination of their contract. It is a battle that is still going on and one which there doesn't seem to be an end to.

In the past six years the reputation of Sri Lanka Cricket as a stable body has sunk to low levels because of the many interim committees that have been appointed to replace elected bodies. There have been four in that period.

Such committees create a certain degree of uncertainty in the minds of the sponsors who don't want to tarnish their reputation by signing up with them and also, possibly face legal issues later.

The termination of agreements which are already in existent is another reason why sponsors treat contracts with SLC with great trepidation.

It is sad to note that the present situation of SLC is such that big time sponsors have lost confidence in them. SLC needs a long haul to come out of its present predicament.

It has to regain its tarnished reputation and show the cricket world that it has a firm administration like Australia and England where sponsors don't have second thoughts of entering into an agreement. Until such an environment is created SLC will continue to struggle to find sponsors for long term agreements.

PSS and RPS

The P. Saravanamuttu Stadium and the R. Premadasa Stadium, two cricket venues which is not recognized as regular ones to host Test matches get an opportunity in the upcoming two Tests between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The Premadasa Stadium will play host to the first Test from September 12-16 and the Sara Stadium the second from September 20-24. One common factor that emerges from the two venues is that the last Test they hosted was against New Zealand.

Test cricket will return to the Premadasa Stadium (formerly known as Khettarama Stadium) after a lapse of seven years. The last of the five Test matches played here was against New Zealand in 1998, which Sri Lanka won by 167 runs.

The venue has been largely confined to host one-day internationals with its capacity to hold a crowd of 30,000 and also provide facility for day-night matches.

It is best remembered for producing the world Test record total of 952-6 declared by Sri Lanka against India in 1997 which included the highest ever partnership for any wicket in Test cricket of 576 for the second wicket by Sanath Jayasuriya who went on to make a triple century (340) and Roshan Mahanama (225).

The wicket was so placid that over the five days only 14 wickets fell while 1489 runs were scored and there were six centurions. Being a heartbreaker for bowlers with only two Tests producing a winning result it soon ceased to be a Test venue.

The Saravanamuttu Stadium is of sentimental value being the first properly constructed stadium to host international matches even in the pre-Test era. Opened on January 27, 1940 it has become part of Sri Lanka's cricketing history with so many giants of the past having bestrode the turf.

Originally known as the Colombo Oval, it was renamed the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium after the man who visualized and built this mighty edifice, which has stood the test of time.

With due respect to the stadium, it has in recent years come up for some step-motherly treatment from SLC for no fault of theirs. In the last 23 years, it has hosted just nine Tests, one of them being between Australia and Pakistan in 2002-03.

The last Test to be played there was against New Zealand in 2003. Apart from its historic value, the stadium was the venue for Sri Lanka's inaugural Test match against England in 1982 and it also produced the country's maiden Test victory when Sri Lanka beat India by 149 runs in 1985.