Sri Lanka Cricket – reflects the decadent country mindset!
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Victory and defeat are a part and parcel of sporting events. So, there was no grave reason to cry about the result of the last test series in India. What produces tears however, was the abject manner in which the Sri Lanka team folded up within a space of three days. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne captured the ethos when he stuttered and muttered at the post-match interview, finally murmuring that our batters did not know when to attack or defend, rotate the strike and navigate the course of an innings. The bowlers came good up to a point and then lost their way.
India played two top quality spinners at Mohali and we went with just Lasith Embuldeniya indicating that we were not cued to the conditions. The skipper made a captain’s knock with a bold reply at Bengalaru though it was not enough by far to atone for our sins.
The performance of our cricketers resonates the general mindset of a nation that is adept at shooting itself in the foot. From the leaders of our land to all segments of society, what is grossly evident is a misplaced pride which canons into a display of arrogance and ignorance devoid of substance and sensibility.
Without leaving the sport to be run by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which is their want, the Ministry of Sports (MoS) and the government itself dabbles in the fortunes of our national pastime, insisting that they know what’s best for our country. True, we rejoice and celebrate when our team wins and they have demonstrated the giant-killing instincts that have propelled our nation to the top of the charts and regaled a few icons in the venerated halls of fame.
But it must remain as best as that and not let all and sundry don the pads to go bat for the motherland. Leave that to the lads and lasses who burnish the sport with superlative displays from time to time.
Pray, why did the MoS appoint a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), when SLC has and should choose who runs their affairs. And so, four masters of the game, Aravinda de Silva, Roshan Mahanama, Muttiah Muralidaran and Kumar Sangakkara were given that task and subsequently absorbed into the Cricket Committee.
The SLC Selection Committee is headed by the hard-nosed Pramodaya Wickramasinghe. They brought in some drastic changes targeting the World Cup 2023. Several seniors, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera and even ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne were axed.
But whether this policy has achieved anything of value remains doubtful. A recent parody was the reentry of Bhanuka Rajapaksa after ‘resigning’ from Sri Lanka Cricket, by the direct intervention of the Sports Minister himself; for God’s sake what has a legislator got to do with player retirement. Justice prevails it appears, as the pinch-hitter failed the skin-fold test and now finds himself in no man’s land.
Admittedly, a few pluses were realised as some youngsters grabbed the opportunities that came their way. Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka have proved to be good investments, but as a whole, we have failed to reverse the continuing slide, as the recent series to Australia and India revealed. It is hoped that the tough fitness regimes such as the 2km run and the skin-fold test will produce champions in the long term.
Interestingly, the selectors have been paid a cash bonus of Rs.1M for their service in picking the squad for the last World Cup, but we all know the meagre results with victories only against Bangladesh and the West Indies, leading to relegation from the ICC T20 ranks.
The icing on the cake is the appointment of Mahela Jayawardena (MJ) as Chairman of NSC. Not much has come out so far it seems; the Sports Law which they were charged with revising is still gestating on the drawing boards. Without doubt, MJ is one of the finest cricketing brains the country has produced. He is Consultant Coach of SLC but he is also Coach of the Mumbai Indians and the Southern Braves.
He attracts an unheard of salary and other perks and runs many parallel businesses including the marketing of cooked crabs, online grocery store and a taxi company, among other ventures. So, the question is, if he has the time to devote to all these pursuits, especially SLC which is our concern here.
Remote online arrangements for on-field high pressure sports management, may not be the easy answer; too many cooks spoil the soup, the well-known adage tells us! Disputes within TAC reflects these setbacks, which we understand is a reason for Roshan Mahanama to call it quits.
SLC is undergoing a clash of egos and eras, it is obvious. Many argue that the appointment of Tom Moody is a colossal waste of money. Why we need a foreigner to restructure our cricket is anybody’s guess. It is reported that he receives a package higher than that paid to our Grade 1 cricketers. The TAC group of stalwarts can surely see to this need as they understand our system very well. Moody it is known, was a key influencer in drafting of last year’s annual contracts; slashing of players’ salaries substantially, thus came under his watch.
Any investor knows that it is those who generate the highest revenues, are those who are justly rewarded. In this case, it is the cricketers who bring in the gravy and thus it is they who must be rewarded in line with industry standards.
Foreign coaches are paid on par with the rest of the world but when it comes to local players, they all but consult the Labor Department at Narahenpita. Local coaches too, get the same paint work. Chaminda Vaas realised and resisted successfully. One must also come to terms with the stupid decision to discontinue Mickey Arthur. He was settling in well with the players and even the SLC Ex-Co was warming up to that synergy, but no, the TAC ensured his exit. Three months on, no competent coach has been found for the national team. No top-notch coaches applied as they are aware of the volatility that exists in SLC who have a poor record of hire and fire that has even ended in litigation.
It is time we get off our high-horse and think logically. Taking on a thoroughbred Indian Cricket team is no walk in the park. More so, the top teams like Australia, New Zealand and England. Even Pakistan, who have given Australia a mammoth batting odyssey, albeit on a flat track, makes an ominous statement.
The World Cup 2023 is not too far away. It is time that SLC and the powers that be, come to terms with our egocentric management style and let the people who know how and those who care, be given the space to reverse our fortunes and rekindle our winning ways.