Canvassing on for Presidency of Sri Lanka Cricket

Now that the date has been announced for the holding of the Annual General Meeting of Sri Lanka Cricket, there will be a hive of activity taking place with canvassing going on apace for votes.

The big day is March 30 and at the time of writing there are two likely contestants both former Presidents --Thilanga Sumathipala and Jayantha Dharmadasa. Sumathipala has previously been an elected President, while Dharmadasa has served as Interim Committee President. Both are formidable candidates .A very keen and tough election will be on the cards.

When the date for closing of entries draws near there will certainly be more contestants. But the real contest will be between Sumathipala and Dharmadasa, and an exciting match for the post could be witnessed.

Campaign managers on the pitch

From now on the two candidates will get their campaign managers on the pitch. As is usual, promises will be made to those with voting power and whether the winning candidate can deliver will be known once he takes strike.

This will be the second AGM after the nauseating Interim Committees were bowled out. The Interim Committees were a bane on the game withclubs and associations utterly helpless.

It is surprising to note that the sitting member Upali Dharmadasda is not seeking re-election. He was only one year in office and would have liked to have another innings.But he has said that pressure of work has not given him the courage and the urge to join in the fray and have another go. Dharmadaa in the year he served, it must be said did a commendable job.

President as administrator

Whoever is elected President of Sri Lanka Cricket,his job will be more to be leader , a visionary and one who will ensure sound governance and administration. He must have the skills and give directions to his staff to do a job of work.

He must not get involved in the running of the game. Competent people have been appointed to streamline and run the game. The President must be interested in the progress of the game.

A fine example of what a President should be was former President of cricket Gamini Dissanayake. Cricket will never again get an administrator of the class and caliber of Dissanayake. Dissanayake once unaninmously elected proved a popular choice.

He had with him men of high honesty and integrity in Abu Fuard, R.Rajamahendren and Dham Wimalasena to whom he delegated the running of the game.

Fuard cannot be forgotten

When talking of the game, one cannot but fail to mention the sweat and toil that Fuard especially put in to see Sri Lanka attain that elusive Test status that had been denied Sri Lanka for far too long. Along with Rajamahendren and Wimalasena, Fuard briefed Dissanayake on what ails the game and the importance of being a Test playing nation so that the player, the game and the administration could move on.

And when Dissanayake took on the lords at Lord’s at a crucial meeting on which depended Sri Lanka’s inclusion into the elite of Test playing nations, he was so well padded up and the manner in which presented the case with his superb oratory skills stunned the lords at Lord’s.

He hit for six the bouncers directed by the lords who were trying their best to keep Sri Lanka in the wilderness of Test cricket.

Dissanayake when he finished with his case had the lords transfixed and bowing to him and Test status was granted.

So who ever the new President taking the hot seat after the AGM must have Dissanayeke as his Patron Saint. He was no an example but a shining example the way he guarded, guided and directed Sri Lanka cricket. A moment’s silence should be observed in his memory before the AGM.

Kudos for Sanath Jayasuriya

Classed the master blaster after the West Indian batting great Sir Vivian Richards, Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya who stunned the cricketing world with his Jessopian hitting has kudos coming his way.

Now a Member of Parliament, Jayasuriya who deserved being made Chairman of cricket selectors has praise coming from former Sri Lanka wicket keeper batsman Ranjit Fernando and honour from the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. In a conversation with me, Fernando said that Jayasuriya who took on the onerous job of Chief selector, has made a good opening like he did when he opened batting for the country.

Fernando said for starters he has along with his co selectors have picked a well balanced squad to meet the Bangladeshis in a Two match Test series starting early next month with the First Test in Galle.

Good balance in all aspects

According to Fernando a better balanced squad could not have been picked. ‘It has good balance in all aspects – strong in all departments and if the team plays to form they should pocket both Test matches’, said Fernando who knows what he is talking about.

Fernando who took over the glove duties from the great Dr.H.I.K.Fernando, after his playing day for Nondescripts CC and Sri Lanka were over has served as manager, selector, chief executive and coach and Jayasuriya and his team can take a bow.

Then comes the appointment from the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau as Sri Lankan Tourism Ambassador.

Jayasuriya deserves this honour and will certainly be the ideal ambassador.

Jayasuriya is known all over the cricket world. I have been on tour to all Test playing countries and every time I hail a taxi and mention that I am on tour with the Sri Lanka cricket team, the first question the driver poses is: How’s Sanath Jayasuriya and regales me with the exploits of Jayasuriya with his bat, saying he never misses watching a match that Jayasuriya was playing in.

Jayasuriya must keep on the good work.

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