Another twist in the tail
First the good news.
Slinger Malinga, a veteran of the trade, appropriately hits the headlines for something really special
Much has been written about the pyrotechnics of Lasith Malinga who captured 4 wickets in 4 successive deliveries, for the 2nd time in his career, whilst defending a total of a mere 125/8. He ended with stunning figures of 5/6, that resulted in a consolation victory against the touring Black Caps, who, nevertheless, won the series 2-1. Admittedly, both teams had injury issues, still, the packed crowd at the Pallekele stadium went into raptures, as Sri Lanka snatched a 37-run win. Indeed, in a recent TV interview, the Indian fast bowling sensation Jasprit Burmah paid a glowing tribute to Malinga, stating “Malinga is the best in the world.”
Malinga’s T20 bowling record puts him at the top of the T20 bowling statistics: 104 wickets in 76 innings, at an average of 19.02. The next highest is Pakistani Shahid Afridi (since retired) who has captured 98 wickets at an average of 24.44.
However, there was a scare at Pallekele, before Sri Lanka won the game, when the New Zealand skipper hit mystery leg-spin-googly bowler Lakshan Sandakhan for 3 sixes in an over – and thereby hangs a tale and a sad reflection on our selection policies. Judging from constant media reports, it seems that, the Chairman of Selectors rules the roost. Sandakan, as mentioned, is a mystery bowler who combines all the ‘complicated’ deliveries in an over. As a result, he may bowl even 3 or 4 poor deliveries in the over, but the 5th or 6th delivery may be the match-winning delivery. Having said that, it is quite clear that Sandakan, at the moment, is not a candidate for the shortest form of the game, because, in T20 games the totals are, at best, not very high.
Sandakan is, in the writer’s view, a Test match bowler, provided he is given an extended run in the game, which would help boost his confidence. As Australian Great, the late Sir Don Bradman commented in his autobiography, about another left-arm-googly bowler Fleetwood Smith: “…..is a left-arm googly bowler and much to be feared.” During the 1936-37 England tour of Australia, the hosts, captained by Bradman, were in a weak position “with Hammond still not out, I feared the result…..walking onto the field on the 6th day, I handed the ball to Fleetwood Smith and endeavoured to inspire the erratic genius, by telling him that the result of the match was in his hands. He rose to the occasion grandly, bowling Hammond with a glorious sinuous ball….if ever, the result of a Test match can be said to have been decided by a single ball, this was the occasion.”
Now for the bad news.
Back to Sri Lanka. Reportedly, 10 Sri Lankan players have withdrawn from the forthcoming tour of Pakistan, citing security fears, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board assuring the highest level of security, as the same level extended to Heads of States. However, at the 11th hour, the tour has been thrown into doubt, after the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) is said to have received news of a “possible terrorist threat on the Sri Lanka team”.
Although the Sri Lanka team was scheduled to leave for the tour in less than two weeks, the tour now is based on a “reassessment of the security situation in Pakistan”. Earlier, a Sri Lankan delegation went to Pakistan to assess the security situation, and returned, stating our Board was quite satisfied that the team was safe. But this latest threat received by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on September 10, has shed new light on the current security situation.
Now SLC is seeking assistance from the SLG for a re-assessment of the security situation in Pakistan. This Board release had been taken following a reliable warning received from our Prime Minister’s office. However, whether the SLG will have time to go into the feasibility of a “reassessment” of a cricket tour, with the current problems on their plate, is another matter.
Obviously, the new players who had, originally, agreed to travel to Pakistan, may, justifiably, have second thoughts. The first match was scheduled for September 27.
It is not easy to forget when, in 2009, the Sri Lanka team, on their way to the ground in Lahore, was attacked by gunmen, and cricket in Pakistan came to a virtual halt by touring teams.
At the time of writing, the tour is very much in the balance, with the COPE Committee also breathing down the necks of SLC officials. It would certainly be interesting to watch how this imbroglio would eventually be sorted out, but the chances are, in the writer’s view, the tour may not be a reality.
Though one should not forget that Pakistan was the first nation, along with India, to support our application for Full Member status, and when there were supposedly security fears in 1996, a combined XI of Pakistan and Indian players visited Sri Lanka and played a friendly game, to allay any security fears. Of course, Australia and “Mary’s Lamb”, the West Indies, refused to come to Sri Lanka and forfeited points, which, naturally, helped Sri Lanka.
Finally, Australia was trounced in the final by 7 wickets by Sri Lanka (who remained unbeaten throughout the competition) and the stunned looks of the Australian players at the presentation ceremony, will always remain in the minds of those who supported Sri Lanka.