Did Dharmadasa accept his own resignation?
Was this Dharmadasa's resignation?
It all points to a turbulent exit of vice president of Sri Lanka Cricket Jayantha Dharmadasa from his position, thus bringing an end to all speculation. It is reported that he is serious and has taken a firm decision this time and he will not return.
A very senior SLC official told the Sunday Times “He has handed over his resignation and has not attended any of the executive committee meetings of late, so when it came to the Media conference of the Zimbabwe tour we did not extend an invitation”. SLC vice President Jayantha Dharmadasa’s absence on that particular day was very conspicuous.
On four occasions prior to this Jayantha Dharmadasa had tendered his resignation from the post of SLC vice president, but, persons of authority had managed to talk him out of the situation.
Finally he tendered his resignation taking up the onus of the Championship cricket debacle where the Lankans failed to reach the second round, while all three other Asian partners – Bangladesh, India and Pakistan entered the semi-finals along with hosts England.
However it is said that he was not in line with SLC’s thinking on some of the issues. Initially Dharmadasa was against the removal of the SLC’s women’s team manager Vanessa de Silva from her position and the appointment Apsari Tillakaratne into the SLC women’s corp. Besides he was very disappointed when the SLC authorities failed to inform about the resignation of Head Coach Graham Ford who left in a huff.
It is also reported that Ms de Silva now has been given employment by Dharmadasa in one his conglomerates.
Meanwhile Dharmadasa’s long time ally K. Mathivanan who was reportedly invited by Dharmadasa to follow suit is trying his level best the SLC match fixing conundrum.
There was a huge up roar towards the tail end of the local club cricket season when the premier ‘B’ division match between Kalutara Physical Culture Club and Panadura Sports Cub from January 23 to 25 was alleged to have been fixed. This was in order to bring Panadura Sports to get a promotion to ‘Tier A’. However SLC strongman Ravin Wickremaratne is a pivot at the Panadura SC.
Since then the matter has been dragging, but, vice president Mathivanan has taken personal interest on the matter and has vowed to punish all culprits if they are found guilty of any offences.
Mathivanan told the Sunday Times “Yes, we know the matter has been dragging but, within the next three or four days we will be in a position to finalise the case. But, ironically I will be overseas from 4 to 14 July and I have given implicit instructions to keep the finding under wraps until my return. I don’t want anything to go wrong at this time of day. I want the truth to prevail whatever the final outcome is”.
When the Sunday Times queried from Mathivanan about Dharmadasa’s stance, he said “I am sure that he will be back by next week”.
Meanwhile in another development Pakistan says that they would be hosting Sri Lanka for a bilateral tour in late 2017. According to the news published in Gulf News – “With the security situation improving in the country, Pakistani cricket fans having something to cheer for — as the Sri Lankan cricket team is expected to tour here at the end of this year.
Talking to APP, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official confirmed that the Sri Lankan cricket team is expected to tour Pakistan in November or December.
“Our Sri Lankan in the counterpart has expressed willingness in sending their team to Pakistan as the security situation is improving country,” he said.
He said the Sri Lankan team would be playing ODIs and Twenty20s against Pakistan which would be staged only in Lahore.
“The world had witnessed the type of security that was provided in the high-profile Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) final at Lahore. PSL final had proved a great breakthrough in reviving international cricket in Pakistan,” he said.
He said the World XI team would also be touring Pakistan in September which also includes foreign players from Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa.”
However an influential Lankan board official told the Sunday Times that they have made no plans to play Pakistan in Pakistan as yet and the scheduled FTP series against Pakistan in Dubai in October this would go ahead as scheduled.