 Lanka
can bounce back to win series
Everything is not lost for Sri Lanka. True they are two down in the
five match one-day international series against India, but that does not
mean that they press the panic button.
After being one down in the three-match series in Pakistan, they
showed resilence and bounced back to crop the Pakistanis in the next two
games and cause mayhem not only in their cricket, but also their
administration.
That victory saw the Pakistan Cricket Board dethroning their captain
Sahaib Malik and replacing him with Younus Khan. Former captain Javed
Miandad who held a top post in the PCB also quit, alleging interference.
Another former captain and the one who led them to their only World
Cup triumph Imran Khan who always likes to join in a controversy, took
the PCB to task and lashed out at those holding office and called on the
President of the country to reorganise the PCB.
Just because they lost a series, what happened in Pakistan should not
have happened. It shows poor thinking and poor sportsmanship.
When this is being read, the third one-day between Sri Lanka and
India would begin in a few hours and when the two captains Mahela
Jayawardena and Mahendra Singh Dhoni walk out to toss, Jayawardena will
be praying for the toss to turn his way, which is so very important in a
day-nighter.
Even after losing the toss on Saturday, they had the opportunities of
levelling the series. A bit more of positive thinking could have given
them a win.
The series is still not lost with three to go. If the Lankans show
the same resilence they showed in Pakistan, then there is no reason why
they should not emerge victorious in the remaining three.
When Yuvraj Singh was ruled out LBW off bat, a dear friend of mine
called and said that skipper Jayawardena should have called the batsman
back. Had he done so and the Lankans lost with Singh blasting a hundred,
the skipper would have been lynched. Today the game has become
commercialised, that it has gone to hit the virtues of sport into a
cocked hat. How Sachin Tendulkar and Singh would have been yearning for
the referral system.
Tendulkar has not been allowed a move on because of some poor
umpiring. To see Tendulkar in full cry is the longing of the spectators.
SLC big attraction
From the time Arjuna Ranatunga’s world beaters won the World Cup in
Lahore, Pakistan in 1996 beating their arch rival Australia, money began
to flow into Sri Lanka Cricket.
Our estimation rocketed sky high and our cricketers, television
rights and many other aspects were in great demand and sponsors were
willing to spin in millions of dollars to secure the rights.
With the dollars spinning in like torrents, with it also came the men
who were falling head over heels, even indulging in cut throatism,
hitting below the belt and resorting to everything that is tactics, but
not sport to hold office in Sri Lanka Cricket.
Some of them were wanting to hold office, not to do anyting
beneficial for the cricketer and the game, but to if possible to fill
their pockets, if not enjoy the perks and prestige that goes with it.
With the Annual General Meetings of Sri Lanka Cricket not being what
it should be, sports Ministers having watched the unsporting things
taking place, were forced to resort to appointing Interim Committees
hoping that the ills that afflict the SLC would be put right and
everything would be streamlined.
Sadly Interim Committees proved to be failures.
Arjuna Ranatunga’s Interim Committee is the latest to be dissolved.
Now the Minister of Sport and Recreation Gamini Lokuge is in a
quandary not knowing whether to appoint another Interim Committee or go
for an Annual General Meeting.
What must be understood is that if it is going to be another Interim
Committee then it is not necessarily that men with cricketing ability or
those who have sported the national cap be appointed.
What Sri Lanka Cricket’s need of the hour is that it needs men of
impeccable character and integrity, men with business acumen, men who
will not cheat, men who can be relied on and men with experience in
financial administration.
And two men who fall into this category and whom the Minister will do
well to include if he is contemplating on appointing an Interim
Committee are the two Fernandos who have done wonders for sport and who
have no blotch on their characters Manilal and Hemasiri.
We need not dwell on their scores for football and the Olympic
movement.
They are men of proven ability. One holds office in the Asian
Football Boday as vice president, with the presidency in waiting while
the other holds office in the Olympic movement.
This is the moment that the words of wisdom uttered by J.H. Holland
the famed poet rings true. To quote him:
‘God give us men, a time like this demands.
Strong minds, great hearts,
True faith and ready hands,
Men whom the lust of office does not kill,
Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy,
Men who possess opinion and a will,
Men who love honour, men who cannot lie.
And the men who fit this bill are Manilal and Hemasiri Fernando.
Manilal has played cricket and served on the Cricket Board. He has
also been the President of the Kalutara District Cricket Association.
Hemasiri has also played cricket. He will be the tournament director
when the next World Cup is played in the sub continent.
Their credentials cannot be challenged.
Cricket development must be the sole preserve of a committee manned
by top class cricketers. |
