Vaas escapade: Scapegoats and escaping goats
View(s):The recent news on ‘Vaas to be sacked’ was rather disturbing. The news item said the executive committee of Sri Lanka Crickethad decided to terminate the services of national fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas after the ongoing seven ODI series against England.
In the aftermath of the news we took time to learn as to what had prompted the latest SLC move and the real situation. What we learned was the story of a storm in a tea cup. For even a fairy tale to be concocted there has to be the proper plot initially. So shall we go right to the bottom of the story?
The development arose when some fast bowlers in the national squad made representations to chief coach Marvan Atapattu even before the Indian tour and asked if there was a way that they could also utilise the services of Champaka Ramanayake whom they had been working with before Vaas took over.
Atapattu duly called up officials involved in the coaching setup, including Vaas, and had a frank discussion with them. There weren’t any more developments on the issue thereafter.
However, in a sudden move the Lankans were forced to undertake the now infamous Indian tour, which ended up in an ignominious 5-0 whitewash.
Upon the return of the Lankan squad, the SLC’s executive committee met. While discussing the debacle the subject of bowling also cropped up at this meeting. In a response to the question, CEO Ashley de Silva explained that even prior to the tour there had been some concern and the subject was discussed in detail, but no decision was taken to remove Vaas.
A very senior member of the executive committee explained later, “There was some discussion on the subject, but, there were no conclusive decisions taken. Right now we are preparing for the important World Cup. Our priority should be focusing towards that and not about some concerns that had cropped up some time ago.
“Now it is a case of damage control and we had a chat with Vaas and resolved the matter, but, whoever leaked the story out should have been more responsible.”
This is where the fundamental flaw of the whole episode lies. For a scribe, a story of that nature is sweeter than music. It is the kind of thing that they crave for. As for the executive committee of cricket’s apex body, this is the kind of news that they should guard with all intensity. But, from what has been protruded with this development is that whoever the person who leaked the news was not aware of the intensity of neither the news nor the negative repercussions that news of that nature could bring forth.
At this end, we fervently believe that there is a flaw in the present administrative system in the game of cricket. Maybe the ideology behind it – the game of cricket being governed by its stakeholders — is a plausible explanation. But then, in exercising the matter the very fundamental flaw had sets in.
The cricket in this country has basically been stabilised by the schools and the club structure. But, over the years, the very formation of these clubs changed. The interests of the clubs also diversified into other areas and the result was the culmination of persons rather than cricketers holding pivotal positions and getting elected to run the respective clubs. Yes, in this island of 20 million inhabitants there are 19 million cricket fanatics. But, the entirety of the given one million people is not suited to run the administration of the biggest sport in this country.
Then also there is another group of people. They make their visits to No 8 Maitland Place not for the betterment of the game as a whole, but, with the narrow interest of looking after the wellbeing of their clubs, at times even at the cost of the betterment of the game in the country. The end result of this situation is that they create camps and perch in them and keep nibbling into the fat of the game, while securing their positions. For them, it does not matter if Vaas is sacked or there would be a huge setback to Sri Lanka’s World Cup plans. What they envisage is by doing what they do, they would create enough instability within the system and the people that matter would keep seeking their support at the end of the term.As a matter of fact, how many people in this present executive committee have played the game at the highest level? How many people in this present executive committee are qualified enough to sack a coach in the calibre of Chaminda Vaas? Could he explain what technical flaws that Vaas carries in his coaching manual?
The quality of people who were placed in the Interim Committees and in the executive committee should be blamed for the deterioration of the standards of the game in this country.
For instance there are too many clubs in the Premier League tournament. But, the executive committee is too block-headed to change the status quo. Why? Their own club might be at the receiving end. Even if the club performances are nil, the club will find all the tools to fight relegation. Then the people who seek the vote of these elements take the torch and begin their share of the marathon.
Before sacking Vaas there are other matters that have to be looked into. For instance in the Premier League tournament a cricketer is paid Rs. 2500 a day. The scorer gets paid Rs. 3,500. An umpire gets Rs. 7,000 and a match referee gets Rs. 7500. This is like the editor getting a lesser salary than the proof reader.
Do the members of the executive committee know as to why the fast bowlers keep falling by the way? Do they know that during the entire season of the Premier League tournament, a fast bowler might bowl as many overs as he would bowl in two Test matches. Do they know why the Lankan wicket structure is bad.
Before sacking Vaas, are they aware that the Lankan schools’ system does not produce any more Aravinda de Silvas and Arjuna Ranatungas. Do they know the school cricket system is an unproductive, overgrown sham at present?
Yet, the SLC politics keep spilling over the counter. The latest victim is Bloomfield C and SC. Suddenly SLC President Jayantha Dharmadasa has become interested in this Premier Club. Why? Is it because the Club is presently headed by Hirantha Perera who is a loyalist of his arch foe Nishantha Ranatunga? Or is it because the club ultimately would get a state-of-the-art pavilion courtesy Race Course redevelopment project?Maybe the SLC executive committee could stay on as a strictly as an administrative body. The present structure is not qualified enough to take cricketing decisions. Maybe a very strong cricket committee with powers and its chairman being co-opted member of the SLC ex-co might bridge the gap. If not, today it will be Vaas and tomorrow who? Sangakkara? Mathews or the entire team.