What wrong has Mendis done?

The question that is being asked in sports circles is: What wrong has Duleep Mendis, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket done and why the hurry to replace him prematurely? Let us at the outset state that we are not holding a brief for Mendis. But to the credit of this former “BLACK BLASTER” it must be said that after assuming the post of CEO, he did an efficient and honest job to the satisfaction of all concerned.

During his playing days,he was one of the most eye-catching batsmen produced by Sri Lanka. Spectators used to throng the venues where ever Mendis was to take strike and more often than not he did not let them down playing some dashing knocks.

There were many breath taking knocks by this brilliant batsman too numerous to mention. He was in the mould of the three terrible Ws of West Indian cricket - Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott. His twin hundreds against India and the near miss of similar innings against England will remain etched in the memory of all those who were fortunate to witness those devastating knocks. Then can one forget the blasting he gave the Windies bowlers at the SSC.

As the second captain of Sri Lanka after the country attained Test status, he led from the front and made the country’s dream of a First Test victory a reality when his team beat the mighty Indians led by Kapil Dev at the then Colombo Oval. He was so highly respected by his team mates that they gave him 100 per cent and more on the field and off it as well.

Once his playing days were over and he took on the job of CEO of SLC, although his bat was not straight when batting, he wielded a straight bat as CEO and adorned that post admirably and he formed a good rapport with CEO’s of all other Test playing countries and the International Cricket Council. He ran into turbulence just over an year ago and since then he has been a marked man.

The consensus is that before dismissing an employee, it is common courtesy to, if he has done some wrong to issue him with a charge sheet. Isn’t it said that even a criminal is not guilty, until he is found guilty.

From what we can gather and from inquiries made, the consensus is that Mendis has done a wonderful job as CEO and his termination or his resignation comes, unable to face the underhand deliveries of his detractors, then it could be the most disappointing dismissal in his career as a never to be forgotten cricketer, captain and administrator.

Mendis’ job is an unenviable one. But he has accustomed himself with honesty and dignity and endeared himself with whom he had dealings with. So why this sudden hurry to bowl him out.

Apparently that he was in line for dismissal was known sometime back and is now being given continuity. Mendis must be asking himself what a way to go out after serving with responsibility and playing straight. Being a batsman Mendis knew that it is not easy to read a googly, because it is bowled with the same action as a leg break. To spot the googly coaches ask batsmen to watch the bowler’s hand. Obviously Mendis failed to do this and so apparently seems to be bowled “through the gate”. Only cricketers would understand this statement in cricketing parlance.

Jayasekera a good choice

If and when the ousting of Duleep Mendis comes, the likely successor being spoken of is former Thomian and Adastrians stylish right hand batsman Ajit Jayasekera. Now Mendis can rest assured that Jayasekera who like Mendis is a Thomian, did not move the pawns to secure the job.

As an opening batsman for his school, he formed a dreaded pair with former team mate and later Warden of the school by the sea David Ponniah. This formidable opening pair was to the Thomians what Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes were to the West Indies.

After he shed his batting and wicket keeping gloves,Jayasekera took on the onerous role of manager of the national cricket team and to his credit it must be said that he did an admirable job and he was liked by the cricketers.

Jayasekera maintained a good rapport with the all-important media and what I will always remember was how he woke me up one midnight in Australia to inform me that the Sri Lanka management had decided to report Australian batsman Darrel Lehman for casting some racial abuse at the Lankan cricketers when he returned to the pavilion. I was covering that tour for the “DAILY NEWS” and the “SUNDAY OBSERVER” and was the only journalist to break the news which was exclusive, and the foreign journalists could not believe that I was the first to break the news and they were fuming the next day in the “Press Box” unable to understand how they missed the story. Jayasekera was the manager of the Sri Lanka team.

After the inquiry and what happened to Lehman is now history and needs no reiteration now. The story was the result of the wonderful rapport Jayasekera had with me and for the trust and respect we had for each other. While wishing Jayasekera a fruitful stay at the wicket as CEO of SLC, he must be wary. Jayasekera can count on us.

Peterites take Archbishop Trophy

The honour of holding aloft the Archbishop Trophy that was on offer for the first time fell on Peterite skipper Angelo Perera when his school beat the hosts Benedictines by eight wickets in the first Saints Twenty20 tournament final played under floodlights at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

The Bambalapitiya Saints had it easy against the Josephian Saints from Darley Road in the first semi-final and had it even more easy against the Benedictine Saints from Kotahena and richly deserved their victory. The Bens beat the Antonian Saints from Kandy in the other semi-final. The Peterites were nicely tuned for this style of game with their allround ability and admirably led by Angelo Perera.

Full marks to the Bens Old Boys Union and the Organising Committee of the first Saints Twenty20 Quadrangular for a job well planned and successfully executed without a hitch.

The Bens have shown the way like in the words of their school anthem being - true to our God and true to all man - and now it is up to the hosts of the future to give strength to this tourney that was given birth by the Bens and to see it grow like the Old Boys 50 over Quadrangular which was also given birth by the Bens in 1964 which in the words of Johnny Walker is still going strong.