Galle, rising like the Phoenix

ONE of the main reasons for the harsh criticism Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee is undergoing from various sections of the media is there lack of foresight to keep the media informed of their latest developments.

The image they have created in the eyes of the public is that they are just lying dormant waiting for things to happen. On the surface it seems so.

But silently without much fanfare they have gone about developing the infrastructure of cricket in the country, although on an austere note, apparently keeping in mind that they are at the helm of the country's cricket administration today because the Minister of Sport found the elected body of SLC to be mismanaging funds.

Thus as far as finances go they are treading with a great deal of circumspection.

Two major tasks the interim committee have undertaken is the reconstruction of the Galle International Cricket Stadium and the Welagedera Stadium in Kurunegala.

Despite moves to shift the venue from Galle to elsewhere in the South after it was devastated by the December tsunami, wiser counsel seems to have prevailed and cricketers and cricket fans alike, both at home and abroad who were unhappy at the move, can be rest assured that the Galle Stadium will remain intact and that by June 2006 will be ready to recommence hosting of Test matches.

This assurance has been given by the SLC National Development Committee chairman Priyantha Algama who said that work has already commenced at Galle with the erection of fences around the ground.

Two new structures will also come up - a media centre which is a long felt need and a pavilion for Galle CC.

Algama said the existing structures will be demolished and replaced by the new ones. He said the drainage and sprinkler system for the entire ground will be replaced and the pitches relit. Even the scoreboard is being upgraded and given a new look.

Algama said that two-thirds of the entire cost (Rs. 100 million) is being borne by donations from overseas, the Victorian Foundation and the Shane Warne Foundation from Australia being the main contributors.

The Galle venue holds many fond memories for several cricketers and one of them is Australia's legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne who took his 500th Test wicket there in March 2004.

For a cricketer who had played at virtually every international cricket venue Galle seemed to hold a special place in Warne's heart.

No sooner he heard of the devastation he was on the plane to Sri Lanka with his manager to assess the situation at first hand and was among the first few to lend a helping hand in putting back the stadium to its originality.

Former England all-rounder Ian Botham who had been to Galle as a television commentator during England's tour here in 2003 was another cricketer who was awe struck by the tragedy and flew to Sri Lanka offering help to rebuild the stadium.

With two of the game's icons showing personal interest in the welfare of the stadium, trying to move its international status elsewhere would have been anathema and a tragedy.

The indoor nets which was completely destroyed by the tsunami, Algama said would figure in the second stage of the development.

SLC acquires Welagedera Stadium

The Welagedera Stadium has been neglected as a venue for hosting matches against touring international sides for more than a decade, largely because the ground belonged to the Kurunegala Municipal Council and was thus open to host not only cricket matches but other sports as well as political meetings and carnivals.

But now the interim committee has stuck a deal with the Municipal authorities and like the Galle Stadium will have it on a 33-year lease period which makes the ground exclusively a property of SLC.

Thus moves are afoot to upgrade the stadium to international standards with the construction of a media centre, pavilion and scoreboard. The cost is estimated to be Rs. 56 million and work is due to commence by next month.

Colombo Colts CC is another ground which the interim committee has funded greatly and upgraded it to a point where matches against international touring teams have become a common feature.

If only the interim committee can shed its veil of secrecy and come out in the open with their future agendas, they can overcome to a great extent the rebuke they face from the media.