SLC crisis defused for time being
The SLC conundrum that erupted into a major administrative controversy last week, took a positive turn when its President Jayantha Dharmadasa decided to indefinitely postpone the proposed stakeholders gathering which was to be presented under the banner “Proposal for Development of Cricket”
Dav Whatmore
A major war of wits erupted between Sri Lanka Cricket President Dharmadasa and its Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga when two separate letters were sent out by them to the stakeholders – clubs and affiliated members — inviting them to be present at the above gathering on two separate dates at two different venues.
The two feuding SLC giants were intending to make monetary grants to the stakeholders through this programme towards the development of the standard of clubs.
Earlier this month, SLC secretary Ranatunga wrote a letter requesting the membership to be present at the board headquarters for the ceremony. But the SLC President in his capacity overruled the secretary’s request and asked the membership to be present at the North side hall at the R. Premadasa Stadium on August 27.
The standoff between the two heavyweights culminated with the Sports Minister on August 14 intervening in the dispute and requesting both parties to co-exist peacefully. However it was rumoured that the SLC President who was cheesed off with the situation would tender his resignation along with some of his confidants soon after the Pakistan-Sri Lanka second Test which incidentally was the farewell for Lankan senior cricketer Mahela Jayawardena. (For more on this, read Sunday Musings on Page 24). However, after the intervention of a VVIP on the same day, it is said that both parties have agreed to put aside their differences and work towards the progress of the game.
The Sunday Times also reliably learns that former Lankan national coach Davenell Whatmore is likely to make a comeback into the Lankan cricketing fold soon.
A senior insider told the Sunday Times “Well still we do not know in what capacity that he would fit in, but there are a lot of positives that Whatmore would be considered favourably.”
Whatmore was the first fulltime international coach of Sri Lanka cricket and jointed its ranks in July 1995 and was a member of the Lankan system when Sri Lanka won the ICC World Cup in 1996. However the differences between him and the then Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga saw Whatmore leaving the position in 1997.
He made a comeback in 1999 after Sri Lanka did badly in their ICC World Cup defence, and stayed on till 2003 and saw that the Lankans entered the 2003 ICC World Cup semi-finals.
