Unenviable task for SLC's new interim committee

During the past few months the print and electronic media have with monotonous regularity highlighted the blatant corruption and the deplorable state of affairs of the SLC Interim Committee.

The sordid state of affairs necessitated even discussion of this problem in Parliament. On the back drop up of fast dwindling credibility of SLC, the Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage dismissed the Interim Committee and reconstituted the Committee with Upali Duarmadasa as Chairman.

The new Interim Committee appears to be the only one to truly live up to its name "Interim" as their mandate is expected to be restricted to just six months. The new committee's main role will be to ensure that all issues are smoothened out and the Board is able to hold elections by January 2012. To the thousands of cricket lovers who have been sick and tired of the deplorable state of SLC, this is of some relief.

Task

While the new Interim Committee is constituted with men of credibility with enviable track records and persons held in high esteem, its task is an unenviable one. Cleansing the Augean stables will not be easy. To make the SLC an effective cricket controlling body will require an in-depth study.

While the new chairman has stated that he does not intend "Digging the Past", he has a sacred responsibility to ascertain the causes for the debacle. Remember that the cricket lover will never ever forgive those who were responsible for this.

Salient Aspects

In the background of the inherent maladies and malignancies that devastated Sri Lanka cricket the following aspects should be considered and appropriate remedial measures will be required to be pursued to overcome these problems.

(a) Image building

(b) Restoration of transparency and accountability

(c) Financial discipline

(d) Establishment of a proper staff cadre

(e) Proper system of staff recruitment

(f) Effectively resisting outside interference

(g) Effective human resources management covering all salient aspects is human resources

(h) Ensuring discipline at all levels

The committee's mandate is for a period of six months the above salient aspects have to be considered with a view of eradicating the existing malignancies.

Image building

It is an undisputed fact that the SLC has been looked upon as a corrupt and inefficient institution. It will be a daunting task to pull out the SLC of the mud hole it has got into. According to various reports the corruption in the SLC stinks to high heavens.

While the Sri Lankans public lost confidence in SLC, other international cricketing institutions apparently has no faith in the SLC. The ICC the board of Control for Cricket in India, and the English Cricket Board have dealt with the SLC with circumspect.

While the BCCI refused to issue no objectionable certificates to Indians to participate in the premier league (T.20) cricket tournament. The ECB who had agreed to three test series, has now decided only to play two tests. This announcement by the ECB came just a day after Sri Lanka suffered a humiliating defeat.

The appointments of family members to the highest paid jobs and the mass scale World Cup Cricket scandal, the millions paid to Board Officials in the name of overseas Travel the Blatant financial irregularities and other allegations that were frequently highlighted by the media has caused irreparable damage to the image of the SLC.

So image building to restore confidence in the SLC, by the international institutions and the cricket loving institutions and the cricket loving public must be given adequate publicity.

Financial discipline

For effective administration of any institution there should be stringent measures to control its finances, with absolute transparency and accountability.

The sad state of affairs in the mismanagement and misuse of finances necessitated the Cope for the first time to inquire into the alleged large-scale frauds and corruption especially in the wake of the 2011 Cricket World Cup matches co-hosted by Sri Lanka.

Close on the heels of former national cricket captain's criticism of corruption the Committee of Public Enterprises has blamed the recently dismissed interim committee for plunging SLC into a financial crisis. The recently released Auditor General's reports confirm that there had been large-scale financial irregularities. Presently the SLC is in a financial predicament.

Establishment of a proper staff cadre

There has been no proper Human Resources plan setting out the staff cadre. Recruitment of staff has been done in the past haphazardly without evaluation of the "Job content" and requirements, staff far in excess of requirements have been recruited from time to time aggravating the financial position of the SLC with a staggering amount paid as salaries. The formulation of a Human Resources plan with an approved staff cadre is an essential necessity.

Recruiting policy /procedures

On the background of the questionable appointments made by the SLC, without the minimum qualifications, on considerations of affiliations and relationships, the need for a formal policy and procedure cannot be over-emphasized.

The Auditor General in his recent report has observed that 47 persons most of them without the required minimum qualifications had been recruited.

The appointment of in competent persons has been the bane of the SLC.

Restricting political and outside influence

The committee must firmly resolve to conduct its affairs in an ethical manner with a high degree of moral rectitude. Kumar Sangakkara has emphatically conveyed the need for the cricket administration to be free from influence. Jayantha Dharmadasa has asserted on assuming duties "that" he should have a free hand in handling matters pertaining to the affairs of the SLC.

Formulation of a human resources plan

Most of the problems that adversely affected the management of its staff and General Administration were due to the absence of systems and procedures. System - and procedures in respect of the following aspects of Human Resources must be explicitly set out.

(a) Staff Cadre

(b) Job content/Job description Job specifications

(C) The wage structure

The need to stipulate the approved staff cadre, method of recruitment, job contents and specifications are essential for the effective management and administration of the staff.

Ensuring disciplined conduct at all levels

Discipline must be maintained at all levels. This is essential for the effective administration of any institution. The whole infrastructure of the SLC will depend on the maintenance of discipline at all levels.

The importance of personal discipline must be continuously stressed and very endeavours made to inculcate the finer qualities of sportsmanship. Regular attendance at practices and physical training must be insisted upon. Punctuality adherence to the instructions and ethical conduct must be carefully instilled in the minds of the players. A sports scene that lacks these attributed is likely to fail.

A code of ethics must be prepared which should and will help to guide the young cricketers. Our National Cricketers are also sporting ambassadors and they have to be suitably prepared to perform this role effectively without upsetting the sensibilities and susceptibilities of any person or persons which may cause unwarranted embarrassment to the country. Abrasive words and un-cricketing and vulgar gesticulations can adversely affect our cricketing image.

Herculean task

The task of the new committee with a mandate for six months is not an easy task. It is an unenviable and a herculean task.

However it has been said over and again that cricket or for the matter any sports governing body should be run by people who know the game by being involved with it for over a period of time. Directing a highly specialized sports like cricket and who should head such a body is not a business deal but a vital area of national importance that should be handled by those experts whose credentials have been tested and whose integrity is beyond reproach.

Fortunately the newly constituted committee consists of persons of integrity with exemplary track records as administrations for excellence, so the cricket loving public can expect them to make a significant contribution for the transformation of Sri Lanka cricket.

SQN.LDR. J.T. Rex Fernando

S.L.A.F (RETD)