2018 could be a crucial one for Sri Lanka’s sport
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ICC anti-corruption unit is scheduled to come out with their findings shortly. - File pic by Amila Gamage
Some say, numerically, 2017 was bad for Sri Lanka, but, in general I do not believe in such baloney. Sport is our forte and we can definitely say its results come through sheer dedication, preparation and will to win. You can segmentise these three key factors into different sections until you get to the micro analysis, but, I am sure numerical favour would not be a segment to believe in.
In general areas in sport, in Sri Lanka this year, the biggest would be the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast and the South Asian Federation Junior Championships which would take place in April and May in Sri Lanka. At these games, although several athletes are set to take part in a number of disciplines, the public are indifferent to the goings on. This has apparently become a norm.
If our athletes do perform, definitely people would be right behind them. Remember the year 2000 — the moment that sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe stepped on to the Sydney track to take part in the Olympic 200 metres final, I think every Sri Lankan was glued on to their silver screen to be a part of that epic moment. But, sadly, today we have nothing to go by. Numerical or not we do not have any super stars in our midst.
Then prior to the athletes themselves get down to their act, there is uncertainty about the custodians of the respective sports in most instances. However, the two biggest organisations – I mean, where international sport is concerned, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) are riddled with controversy, uncertainty, SGMs and AGMs.
At the NOCSL, explainably there are two factions – both factions which have come within the same system – kissing cousins now turned arch foes. Now that the incumbent president Hemasiri Fernando has announced that he does not intend contesting for the post of president of the NOCSL, the mayhem has begun.
The NOCSL had its SGM on January 4, thus paving the way for the AGM, which is said to be held on February 23.
In Cricket there is an SGM which is scheduled for today, there they will form an Interim elected body once again under President Thilanga Sumathipala who will guide his team to the next AGM. There once again final date is not fixed. But, in the same breath it is also rumoured that Sumathipala may not be a part of the next AGM, as he is also in two minds about the issue. Strangely, Sumathipala at one point who was aspiring to sit at the head table as the ICC President; even does not attend the ICC executive committee meetings any more. The task of leading the Lankan cricket wagon at international level has been entrusted to CEO Ashley de Silva.
As for the Lankan cricketers it is going to be a busy year and once again they would be pitted against some of the best in the business and some others who are developing faster than the ones who are wielding the willow at our end. The easiest of all would be their first outing — a triangular tournament also involving Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Having said that, remember the last time around both these sides performed better than the Lankans while playing in Sri Lanka.
This is interspersed by the one-off Nidahas Trophy that would also involve India and this would be a T-20 affair in Sri Lanka.
But, thereafter the grind would begin. The midyear tussle against the West Indies in the Caribbean will have only three Test matches, but, at home always the West Indies is a different proposition.
The Lankan home season starts in August with a three Test series against South Africa and then go on to play three Tests, five ODI and three T-20s against England.
The Lankans play their last two series in 2018 against New Zealand and Australia, where there will be two test matches and three ODIs each. Additionally, Sri Lanka will play one T-20 match against New Zealand.
This means with the next ICC World Cup at hand in 2019, Sri Lanka would be playing only 14/15 One-day Internationals in 2018. Then just prior to the World Cup 2019 Sri Lanka will be involved in another two back-to-back series against South Africa where they would be involved in another ten ODIs. This means before the World Cup 2019 Sri Lanka will be involved in a minimum of 26 ODIs.
The question is: Would Chandika Hathurusinghe’s lads be ready? Right now battered by a string of defeats the Lankans ODI cricket is in disarray. The present status quo is – leave alone a stable squad that is in preparation for the ‘big one’ we are still looking for a captain, a vice captain, two stable opening batsmen, a middle order, allrounders, spinners and fast bowlers. They may have a list of names who may be able to fit in, but, there are no certainties.
The only certainty is that we have a highly paid professional coach who is seemingly running out of time.
While that is one side of the coin, there is another jar filled with dark-matter. We all are aware that a few weeks ago there was a visit by the ICC anti-corruption sleuths to our resplendent island.
The other day I met a former national cap who is now making a living out of cricket overseas. While discussing matters about the game that we both love, he began to talk about the degeneration of the game in the country. What he said really startled me; as for me it was bigger than bond scam that anyone pulled off, because if half of the revelation is substantiated Lankan cricket is going to stink through the globe and be across the universe.
He was explaining about cricket high authorities in numbers, coaches and selectors being involved with activities that are looked down by the ICC authorities. The allegations say some cricketers have bought palatial houses in London. It is believed that houses of famous cricketers have been raided in search of incriminating evidence. In the same breath he was also describing about national cricketers being involved in match fixing and spot fixing.
The former Lankan cricketer said that the ICC already has made inroads into the inquiries and may be in the near future the world body would make a statement about the findings. But, remember in reality there is a serious probe conducted by the ICC and the findings are to be released soon.
At my end I just was thinking about the match fixing scandal that came to our view in our club cricket realms. When the incident first came to focus, some said that they would even resign from their positions if the culprits are not brought to book. Now after the lot of hocus and pocus the findings were made public, only to end up as damp squib like any other investigation in Sri Lanka. But, I presume it may not be the same with the ICC investigations. I hope numerically there would a be shift of fortunes.
Right now we have one former Test cricketer who cannot attend to any official cricket function in Jayananda Warnaweera after he was investigated by the ICC. Would we have any more and what would be the numbers?