SLBA denies own team from FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers
The national men’s basketball team has suffered in silence after their slot at this month’s 2022 FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers went in vain due to the inability of Sri Lanka Basketball Federation (SLBF) to find funds and sponsors, the Sunday Times exclusively learns.
Despite qualified and grouped well in advance, only this Thursday, the team through the federation and captain had got the heartbreaking news that they’re yet to come to terms with it. A top player speaking to the Sunday Times, on condition of anonymity, said in explosive remarks, “there are so many of us who want to give up now”.
“Since our chances have been snatched away from us, till 2025, Sri Lanka won’t get a chance at the 5×5 basketball tournament”.
This player complained, had SLBF started the administrative and funds finding mission on time, they would have gone by now, The cager, having featured for the country’s team for many years, accused his federation labelling it as SLBF’s ignorance.
However, the discriminatory treatment for them has been, even last month for the 3×3 tournament, eight have been sent to represent Sri Lanka.
“If eight can go, they can easily find the airfare for four more and send us too,” he said of the step-motherly treatment dished out on him and his team.
“They are focusing on 3×3, and letting down 5×5”, he exposed.
The 5×5 is the basic and origin of this sport, while the 3×3 is a shorter format and a growing version of the game. The same way in cricket, where Tests are the basic, and T20 is a shorter format and the fastest version of the game. The Sunday Times also reliably found the captain of this team is threatening to quit.
“Since Qatar is the host country, they are arranging the accommodation and visa fees. Only cost involved was that of the ticket cost. They could have easily facilitated this”.
The Sports Ministry had agreed to release funds, but only on the condition they will take up 50% of the expense.
“We were qualified, but there was no news nor support from the federation, hence we also went occupied with our personal work,” he added.
This said player, along with some others, claimed they are in their prime form, but their purpose of playing this fast-moving fascinating game is becoming purposeless. Also along with them, juniors are also victimised since they have lost a golden opportunity as this is a major Asian Cup.
Chandana Liyanage, the Secretary of the SLBF, said to the Sunday Times, “We were supposed to take part in the tournament. But, because of the country’s situation, we requested ourselves to be exempted”.
Though SLBF had managed to secure little over half of the budget, from Qatar-based Lankans, that luck came by the cagers way only after the exemption was granted.
The Qatar-based, Lankan-born expatriates, were willing to donate Rs. 2.5 million, of the 5-6-million required as the final cost for the two coaches, 12 players and a manager. Per player the cost is estimated at Rs. 200,000, and the only other cost to be invested by the visiting team, as airfare.
The exemption, coincidentally, was accepted by the organisers on May 9, the day country was on fire. However, by then the deal was sealed.
Liyanage, however, said, “This pre-qualifier has two stages. One is this tournament starting in a few days. The other is coming next February. We got ourselves exempted from this. We’ve another opportunity in February”.
The tournament gets underway from May 31 to June 5.