Sri Lanka Cricket AGM – nominations pickle

The handing over of nominations for the holding of office in Sri Lanka Cricket, the final day being Thursday, lacked the usual sparkle, if not fireworks, that goes with it. There were times when even gun fights nearly took place on nomination day.

But this time round other for the contestants, one group led by formerSLC Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala who was first with the nominations and when he and his team looked like being uncontested, comes a last minute nomination list that of incumbent Chairman Upali Dharmadasa and his team.

But apparently both Sumathipala and Dharmadasa will have a few ‘doosras’ to counter before being cleared to contest. Sumathipala's nomination is being scrutinized for issues relating to conflict with the standing rules ---that of being in the newspaper, sports goods business and involved in the gaming industry.

Played in a major tournament

The Sports Law requires that one has to have played in a major tournament and if not so to have a letter from the Sports Minister granting him the all clear to contest.

But Dharmadasa who had earlier made it known that he would not be contesting this time round owing to pressure of work, but made a sudden decision to contest, in his hurry to hand over nominations was not armed with a clearance letter from the Minister.

A protest on this has been lodged on this technicality.A committee has been appointed to look into the issues relating to Sumathipala. In both cases while it appears that each of them are on sticky wicket and it will be interesting to see how matters and decisions evolve.

Angelo Perera gets break

The Cricket selectors have played the right stroke by asking young and promising right hand batsman Angelo Perera to lead the Emerging team against the Bangladeshis in a three-day game in Matara.The selectors are on the right track in spotting and giving young talent a break. Perera is a highly talented batsman with the right temperament, technique and devastating strokes.

From the time he held a bat at St.Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, he has shown great talent and maintained that talent by scoring heavily.Joining the Nondescipts, he has given continuity to that form scoring heavily in the domestic cricket scene.

Critics took the selectors to task for not including him in the Test squad against Bangladesh. But the selectors who know their onions, probably would not have wanted to rush the youngster.By being asked to lead the Emerging team he has been given the experience he needs to come good.

It is hoped that Perera will repay the confidence placed in him by the selectors and take it from there by scoring consistently.

BCCI must relent

It is a pity that the agencies are not covering the Four Test series between Australia and India that is now on in India. This series is keenly followed by all cricket lovers.Apparently the agencies and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, have failed to come to an understanding and so millions of readers have been deprived access to read the action in the agencies.Probably all parties could not reach a consensus. Had they come down from their Ivory Towers and indulged in consultation, compromise and consensus this impasse would not have been.

Thanks to Cricinfo and ESPN Star Cricket, cricketers and cricket fans are able to follow the action. It is hoped that even at this late stage the warring parties will bury the hatchet and play cricket. They should not continue to be spoil sports.

Australia – India suffer

The absence of the Umpire Decision Referral System in the ongoing Test series between Australia and India in India, has probably left both teams rueing the decision not to play to the UDRS.In the First Test that was won by India by 8 wickets, there were some poor decisions by the umpires and had the UDRS been in place, both teams could have benefitted in defence of umpires Kumar Darmasena and Marias Erasmus it must be said that, overall they did a good job. But they are not infallible and made genuine mistakes.

But these mistakes could have been righted had the UDRS been in play.While the Aussies would have loved to see the UDRS as a part of the ongoing series, it is the all powerful BCCI and its cricketers to whom the UDRS is anathema.

And the guardian of the game, the International Cricket Council is hopelessly helpless to force the Indians to agree to play to the UDRS.When will the ICC shed their toothless tiger image and show that they have teeth?

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