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Contrasting World Cups:
Then and Now
Exactly four years ago the ninth edition of the Cricket World Cup was
staged in the West Indies.Sri Lanka captained by Mahela Jayawardena
overcoming all odds made it to the finals their opponents, the much
fancied Australia led by Ricky Ponting.
This was the second occasion Sri Lanka featured in a cricket world
cup final and there was feverish anticipation gripping the entire nation
if our boys could pull it off for a second time.The atmosphere was
electric to say the least even though the country was at war.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa a keen follower of the game and who
maintained close rapport with the players left for the Caribbean to be
with Mahela and his boys bidding to win the trophy for a second time and
fly the Lion flag high thousands of miles away from home, to boost their
morale and confidence for the big occasion.
The match was to commence at 7 pm Sri Lankan time and millions of
cricket fans over here were glued to their TV sets for the long night
vigil to lap up the action from the very first ball.
But their joyous excitement turned into a nightmare and their
enthusiasm short lived when in the midst of it all the LTTE launched an
areal attack on the capital city from one of its crude light aircraft
plunging large swathes of the country into darkness.
Thus a sizable segment of Sri Lankans were denied the opportunity of
watching the gripping contest.On the contrary they were gripped by fear
what with terrorist helicopters droning overhead and Anti aircraft guns
crackling spewing sparks and shrapnel that fell on to homes causing
injuries to many.When the chaos eventually ended and lights switched on
the match was long over.
Contrast this with today's situation. All Sri Lankans could be
assured of viewing a full match on their Televisions without harbouring
thoughts of fear and anxiety about any lurking terrorist threat. That is
the difference between President Rajapaksa's last visit to the world cup
in the Caribbean exactly four years ago and this time around when he
will be in Mumbai to cheer the Lankan Lions. |
