Dropped women’s cricketer lobs sex bomb
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) executive committee will appoint an Independent Inquiring Committee to look into the now infamous Women’s Cricket scandal triggered by a player who was dropped from the national T-20 side claiming she was victimized for refusing sexual favours sought by a selector.
SLC CEO Ashley de Silva speaking to the Sunday Times yesterday said “we had discussions with the three parties concerned – the Coach,
Trevor Penney
Manager and Selection Committee representative and also had a round of talks with some senior members of the (women’s cricket) team. Following these talks we have requested the executive committee (of SLC) to appoint an Independent Inquiring Committee to probe into the matter and submit a report”
De Silva said that the SLC was going into the matter purely because of the negative publicity that has been generated over the claim made through the media. He said “once the report is completed we will ascertain if further action is needed” adding that the meeting with the parties concerned last Thursday was an informal inquiry.
The Sunday Times learns that the national (women’s) selectors had welcomed an independent inquiry into the incident. They had vehemently denied the allegations saying they were made due to pique on the part of the complainant who was dropped the T-20 fixtures due to her poor form and asked if she played in the 50 overs side and other members of the 14 member squad were playing due to sexual favours being granted to the selectors.
They had told the informal inquiry that the allegations were an “insult” to the whole team.
Jeremy Snape
SLC sources said that the adverse publicity was harming the future of women’s cricket in Sri Lanka.
De Silva added; “anyway the inquiry is a must because the people who are involved in the matter have to clear their names”.
The matter was also raised in Parliament this week by Opposition MP Ajith Perera, and the Government has yet to respond to the question.
At the same time other senior members of the SLC also feel whoever is appointed to inquire into the matter should be fully conversant with the SLC’s legal background and constitution.
Meanwhile Sports psychologist Jeremy Snape who played for England as an off spinner will work along with the Lankan team in their run upto the World Cup in February.
The SLC CEO explained “Snape who is a world renowned psychologist will work with us in three slots. The first two slots will be seventeen days each. During the England tour he will do the first slot and then when our boys move to New Zealand he will do his second slot. Thereafter we will have a discussion and see how he would assist our players during the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.”
Highly rated Trevor Penny, who did a stint with Sri Lanka Cricket as Assistant Coach with Tom Moody in 2007, will join the Lankan team on November 28 as Assistant Coach. Penny will also be in charge of the fielding aspect of the Lankan team.
Penney was India’s fielding coach from 2011 to 2014, and had also worked with Kolkata Knight Riders during that time.