It is up to the President and PM to pad up and bat to save the day for cricket – Wettimuny
Master sirs - give cricket its due place. The President, Premier and former interim committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny at Kumar Sangakkara's farewell, when things were moving well - File pic by Amila Gamage
A majority of Sri Lanka’s top level past cricketers are of the view that it is now up to the President and the Prime Minister to pad up and bat to save the day for the game, according to former Interim Committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Wettimuny explained what transpired after the meeting that he held with the Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha. The meeting centred on steps to be taken to resuscitate the game of cricket in the present context.
Wettimuny said, “There was something positive; the minister gave the impression that he is very keen to do something for the game of cricket, only time will tell how that goes. What I can say is we did mention to him very clearly that unless there is a change of the constitution; unless there is better management of the cricket board which is directed at the welfare of the game of cricket strictly and nothing else, we will keep stumbling and going back.
“As we can see now we have lost three – our captain, the coach and manager due to poor management decisions. If there was a proper sensible board, I don’t think that situation would have ever arisen, that is my opinion. It was extremely bad on our part and it shouldn’t have happened. I think these are what we see due to the lack of proper direction and administration.
“We have made it very clear as you know all of us, the cricketers — I can speak for myself — have said unless the place is cleaned up and there is a proper constitution in place, nothing can happen in going forward. I think it is incumbent on the minister, the President and the Prime Minister of this country to put this right.”
Wettimuny explained “The players have always said any plan should have the blessings of the President and the Prime Minister because the government seems to be split; we do not want to get involved, there is too much chaos. So I think the president and the prime minister will have to get together on this and do something for the game of cricket. If not, our cricket is going to suffer even more than we have already suffered. There is the ICC World Cup coming in 2019; so I think the minister is well aware and he has spoken to many people on this subject; he knows what’s to be done and I am sure that there is the political element and all that, but, ultimately he will have to speak to the president and the prime minister and get this issue resolved”.
He said that the past cricketing greats would be very happy to offer a workable constitution. “A Constitution which the ICC would be in agreement with — as I have said earlier we were told to follow the South African and the Irish constitutions which were supposed to be good; they both changed their constitutions and they are running perfectly.
“Whichever committee is there should make the proposals of the constitution, hand it over to the parliament and resign. Once the parliament enacts such a constitution, may be they can appoint another interim committee or reforms committee or whatever to make sure that the system is in place. What people need to understand is that the past cricketers are not interested in this to come and compete in an election. I can talk only for myself at this particular point — I will not compete in elections. All we are interested in is making sure that there is a good constitution in place, so that anybody could contest and be part of the board. But they should be elected through a de-politicised, uncorrupt and solid constitution which will bring better calibre of people to manage our cricket. I think that is the key. It’s about having a system that will encourage people of repute, respectable people to get involved and run our cricket. There, there would be a constitution that would have the safeguards so that whoever comes cannot corrupt the system, cannot get involved in activity that is not good for the game of cricket.
“All of us – the cricketers — are hoping that the minister would have the courage to do this and I am sure he knows what’s needed to be done. So it is up to him to make the next move”.