The most absurd law of all
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Those were uncomplicated as well as undulated times. The year was 1985, and cricket in Sri Lanka had just begun to walk, per se. Cricketwise, generally, the best possible combination crossed the boundary line behind the captain, and the administrators assisted the cricketers in whatever manner possible—it was cohesive existence.I still remember, during that time an administrator hogs the limelight only on the day of the annual general meeting (AGM) and, thereafter, the cricket wagon used to run without encountering any potholes or administrative doosras. Yet, the year 1985 was different from the others – that the juncture at which we really cut our teeth in the game. From that point onwards, Lankan cricket used to get noticed. That was the point at which the world began to think – “Hey! These lads are capable of upsetting cricket’s applecart”.
Lankans were taking on mighty India. Like Kohli and the bandwagon at present, at that juncture the Indian list was studded with players of the calibre of Captain Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, D.B. Vengsarkar, Mohammed Azharuddin, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, along with present Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri.
When the Indians arrived in the island in August, hardly anyone was even willing to bet a double on a win only. The Indians had their sack full of favourites. Yet, by the time the Lankans ended the 1st Test, the series was still alive, as the Lankans, spurred by centuries from one drop batsman Ranjan Madugalle and middle-order batsman Arjuna Ranatunga, thwarted any Indian winning hopes.
Then the 2nd Test was a revelation. It was wicket-keeper opener Amal Silva (111) and Roy Dias (95) who came to the party. Their batting efforts were backed by the Lankan bowlers, our medium pacies – Asantha de Mel, Rumesh Ratnayake and Saliya Ahangama — bagged 19 of the 20 Indian wickets to fall, and Lanka recorded its first Test victory, winning the game by 149 runs.
After the loss I was there by the Oval dressing room, a riled-up Kapil Dev remarked, “Sri Lanka will never win a Test match outside Sri Lanka”, and they went out for the 3rd Test in Kandy, to make amends.
In Kandy, the 1st inning was close. India registered a 51-run lead when Sri Lanka were shot out for 198, in reply to India’s 249 all out. However, the Indian 2nd innings was bolstered by all-rounders Shastri (81) and Mohinder Amarnath (116) and the Indians declared their 2nd innings on 325 for 5, leaving the home side 377 to win, with ample time to spare.
Then came the 216-run stand between the Captain-Vice Captain combination of Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias. Mendis curbed his natural instinct to thump the ball where it hurts, and occupied the crease for more than 300 minutes, to dash Indian hopes. The two batsmen scored 106 and 124 respectively, and the Lankans finished not only the 1st Test match, but the 1st Test series. Yet, after many years, I still remember the resolve of the two Lankan greats. Indeed, it is a partnership that I cherish.
Likewise, right now I am enjoying my little partnership with legal eagle Panduka Keerthinanda who is hell bent on seeing the right thing happening in the sports arena. Right now, we are batting for cricket and this inning is all about what’s going on within the administration of cricket, and nothing about the players.
Now Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is trying to hold its AGM but, its incumbent President being Thilanga Sumathipala with multifaceted agendas, the AGM is running around in circles. Initially, when the date was announced, the Attorney General pointed out some discrepancy and the date of the AGM was changed.
But, Keerthinanda is still of the view that the whole effort is full of gaping holes. Now the latest being the attempt to change the SLC Constitution, unconstitutionally. Keerthinanda points to an amendment the present administrators are allegedly counting on in their bid to prolong the life of the incumbent administration, in case of an obstacle. The amendment reads: “The term of office specified in Subsection (2) (ii) of Section 5 of the National Association of Sports Regulation No.1 of 2016, as amended by Regulation dated 13th February 2017, published in Gazette Notification bearing No.2006/13 of any amendment that may be made thereto,
“We hereby resolve to amend the Constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket by the insertion of the following Article numbered 7A, immediately after Article 7 of the Constitution of SLC.
“7A INCUMBENT OFFICE BEARERS TO REMAIN IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY”
“In the event of the AGM or, any other meeting held to elect the office bearers of SLC is postponed or cancelled by a directive of the Minister of Sports (MoS), issued in terms of Sports Law No.25 of 1973 or, if the holding of such meeting is prevented by an order made in any judicial proceedings, the incumbent office bearers shall remain in office for a period not exceeding twelve (12) months, until the election of new office bearers, commencing from the date scheduled for such meeting or, the date of such directive by the MoS or, the date of such order by a Court of Law, whichever is earlier”.
“Provided that such incumbent office bearers shall not remain in office beyond a period specified in Subsection (2) (ii) of Section 5 of the National Association of Sports Regulation No.1 of 2016, as amended by Regulation dated 13th February 2017, published in Gazette Notification bearing No2006/13 or, any amendment that may be made thereto”.
Keerthinanda says the above amendment is not only draconian – it is against the prevailing Sports Law or, any other laws prevailing in this country. He said, “In any case, if this law is to be enacted, a resolution has to be sent to the Director of Sports within 45 days for ratification. Yet, even then, a Law cannot be enacted with retrospective effect. This runs against all fundamental rights. Yet, some others may try to explain it as the work of some insecure weakling.”
That was the gist of what Lawyer Keerthinanda took pains to explain.
Why I, initially, picked Sri Lanka’s first Test victory and series in a nutshell, is because, during that time, the game in this country was very different and, while even reading through the episode, I still feel the peaceful vibes besides a few retorts that came by the way of a Kapil Dev sentiment.
What’s wrong today is that, the administration has put its tentacles into the core of the game, and that is why there are negative vibes of match-fixing, spot-fixing and persons getting involved in the gaming industry surfacing and probed by the ICC.
At the same time, there is a growing number of ex-national cricketers and entrepreneurs who are disenchanted by the prevailing status quo of cricket in the country. In cricket, Sri Lanka has slid to be among the minnows in the preferential list of the international cricket ladder. That is why South Africa cancelled an ICC’s FTP International series not so long ago – just like what Australia did to Bangladesh just the other day.
In the ICC T-20 rankings, Sri Lanka is even below Afghanistan. I wonder what would happen when they meet each other in a bilateral series.
That is on the field. Off the field, where entrepreneurs are concerned — for instance, although it is well over three years since Kumar Sangakkara played his last international innings for Sri Lanka, he still is the biggest commercial icon that Sri Lanka possesses. There isn’t a single established player in the IPL circuit who could hold his own with Kumar S.