DS - saga of a cricketer and gentleman

Third man

Since the halcyon days when he donned the national cap of Sri Lanka with reverence and pride, whilst been appointed as the captain of the national team DS had gone from strength to strength and the contribution made by him as an administrator in the realm of cricket, by far should outstrip his exploits on the cricketing arena.

DS is a genial character easily approachable and willing to listen and also a very strong opinion maker. He was a father to all school cricketers who sought his advice and training, and a tower of strength for many national level players for guiding them through, specially at times when they were going through lean patches. He will spend time to be with such players, continuously reminding them of their ability, talent and potential thus contributing to bring them out of the temporary drawback.

School Cricket Development

DS knew the value of school cricket, the nursery of many great national players. During his tenure as an administrator he had visited all provinces and districts of Sri Lanka with a vision to develop school cricket to all schools in Sri Lanka.

Through this exercise he did justice to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s concept of ‘Gamata Cricket’ of introducing cricket to the village, as per the ‘Mahinda Chintana’.

During these sojourns he held meetings with the provincial, district and club officials principals, masters in charge, coaches and related officials and distributed cricket equipment such as mattings, cricket balls and other equipment needed for the game.

He also developed side wickets of concrete or astro turf to facilitate the practice process. When DS started on this enterprise there were only about 315 schools playing cricket but he managed develop the program to encompass over six hundred schools all over the country.

DS had a passion to develop school cricket but he was short of finances. Since the appointment as the advisor on cricket to the President he went to the international arena.

The famous fund raising program in UK “Festival of Cricket” where merchandise was sold and appearances of national cricketers such as Lasith Malinga provided much needed funding to take his mission forward. It is said that even at present funds are available at the designated account to be utilized for future developments.

National Cricket Infrastructure development

DS organized the distribution of mattings required by most of the district associations and refurbished Moratuwa Cricket Stadium including the Indoor practice arena.

He spearheaded the process to refurbish the offices of the Sri Lanka Cricket administrative block, provided a separate office area for the schools Cricket Association to ensure further development of schools cricket.

The development of twenty new practice wickets at Kettarama was also carried out during his tenure.

He also ensured that outstation cricket grounds such as St. John’s College, Panadura and Walasmulla Cricket grounds were developed.

Player development

When DS took over as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, there were only twenty five contracted players which increased fourfold to one hundred, thus providing a further seventy five potential players the opportunity to concentrate on the game to achieve national recognition. The women’s team also was provided a similar option where thirty potential national players were contracted.

Coaches Development

When the order of the day was to seek the services of international coaches, DS managed to negotiate with many ex-Sri Lanka players to coach the national teams thus providing the opportunity for many ex-national players to coach the Sri Lankan national teams.

Champika Ramanayake and Ruwan Kalpage returned from their foreign assignments and were appointed as national level coaches, Chandika Haturusinghe was promoted as shadow national coach and Marvan Atapattu was appoitned as the national batting coach. Other appointments such as Kaluwitarana to coach Sri Lanka “A” team, Nawad Nawaz as the Under 19 coach and Upul Chandana as the under 19 fielding coach, were revelations and the results justified the means employed.

Former stalwarts such as Anura Tennekoon and Ranjith Fernando were granted opportunity to manage the National team and the “A” team, respectively.

During the period of DS as Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman the salary scales of coaches were increased in a manner to ensure that their services could be deployed with dignity.

High ICC ratings for the national team

During DS’ tenure as the Chairman the national team grew from strength to strength. A high point of ranked as number three in tests, number two in one day cricket and number two in twenty-twenty speaks volumes about the standard of cricket dished out by the national team during this period.

DS was a players’ man and would have been a pillar of strength for them at all times. Within this period many national players also achieved top rankings of player ratings, as well.

The pinnacle of Cricket ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

When DS and his team took over the reins at Sri Lanka Cricket in April 2009, no concrete effort had been made to prepare the necessary infrastructure to stage the games in Sri Lanka, other than the signing of the agreement. From 2006 to 2009 it had been put into the back burner and no one had taken the initiative to commence the process.

It is said that when DS attended the initial ICC meeting upon appointed as the chairman they had inquired as to the progress reports pertaining to the development of stadiums to stage the World Cup 2011 in Sri Lanka.

He had no answer as nothing had been done, no blue prints, no plans, nothing had been done fro 2006 to 2009. And further more Sri Lanka Cricket was in debt to the ICC. A new start was given by DS and his team s they worked with new found vigour to ensure that the Stadiums are built and Sri Lanka is not black listed for not doing so as per the agreement. The original requirement of two stadiums, had to be enhanced to three with the ICC decision of not staging any games in Pakistan. The herculean task of refurbishing and renovating Ranasinghe Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, the half completed Pallekelle Stadium and the complete construction of Sooriyawewa, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium to international standards, fair and squarely, fell on DS and his team. It was a grueling exercise. Long trips to inspect the progress of stadiums and DS was kept busy and yet it was touch and go.

The quota of World Cup matches had increased from eight to twelve with the ICC decision and still Sri Lanka Cricket had to abide by the ETP (Future Tour Program) of ICC during the pre World Cup period, specially with regard to matches under lights. As such Rangiri Dambulla International cricket stadium was improved with regard to lighting and was ear marked to be the centre of action during this period.

This is the reason for the Damulla Stadium not to be considered as a World Cup venue, contrary to many other beliefs and opinions. The quota of One day International matches allocated and played at this picturesque stadium during this period consisted of fourteen, including the Asia Cup.

There were financial difficulties too. When DS and his team took over Sri Lanka Cricket was in debt to the tune of over US $ 3.5 million to the ICC but they managed to carefully more forward on the construction program.

The funds coming in from a newly negotiated Tri Nation Tournament which included India and the Asia Cup contributed to the positive trend.

It is unfortunate to note the adverse publicity on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 which was a grand success. True, that there are cash flow issues at Sri Lanka Cricket at present but the World Cup program provided a net income of over US 17 million which is more than Rupees 1.8 billion. When Kettarama was built up in 1991 with public funds by the then government without any funds expended by the Cricket Board, it stood through the travesties of time for nineteen years. No one should forget that the three stadiums are future investments and we will reap the dividends over many more years.

We have almost immediately reaped dividends by way of the granting of hosting rights of the entire ICC Twenty Twenty World Cup 2012, by the ICC> If the stadiums were not built up as promised, the offer to host these games would have been only a pipe dream.

Settling off the huge debt, DS and his men had plans, balance funds coming in from the ICC World Cup 2011, planned SLPL (akin to the IPL) to be staged in Sri Lanka, funds from staging of the Twenty twenty World Cup 2012, funds from the next ICC Cricket World Cup to be staged in Australia, new agreement to be signed for television rights were part of the solution. And mind you, looking at this scenario, it looks as if all is not lost, for Sri Lanka Cricket.

DS during his tenure of two years at the helm of Sri Lanka Cricket ensured that the third largest sporting event in the world, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was co-hosted magnificently, over one hundred potential national players contracted by Sri Lanka Cricket a fourfold increase, to witness Sri Lanka rise up the rankings of ICC to be Number three in Tests, and Number two on the shorter versions of one day and Twenty Twenty.

The legacy left for the future generations by ensuring three world class stadiums were built to stage the ICC World Cup 2011 will remain forever. If not, we would have been looked down upon by the international sporting organizations as a failed nation, for not complying with agreed conditions of providing suitable stadia to stage the World Cup 2011 games.