Lankan fans vent anger against commentator

CRICKET: Cricket, perhaps the most influential sporting force in Sri Lanka during the last few months, which even led to an unofficial ceasefire between the government and Tamil Tigers, is starting to drive fans up the wall.

The reason is not a poor performance by the team as in India’s case or a murder as in Pakistan’s, but the poor performance of the only Sri Lankan commentator used by the international television company that is providing global live broadcasts.

Commentator Ranjit Fernando may not face stones when he comes back home as Sri Lankan fans are fairly easy-going, but their frustration is carved in virtual stone in webblogs across the internet.

Sri Lankan cricket fans who are keen followers of the game say that Fernando’s commentaries have made watching a Sri Lankan cricket match a very painful experience, because he agrees with everything other commentators say and he has little original insights to add.

Tempers are running so high that the fans themselves have created a dedicated blog where they get, can some irritation out of the system.

According to the fans his repetition of obvious facts and his agreement with everything other commentators say even those seen as unfavourable to the Sri Lankan team is driving them up the wall.

Lanka business online