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Was there a breach of contract?
The Moody Blues
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Sri Lanka Cricket Coach Tom Moody may have to spend his first Christmas in the island in hot water, not because of his team’s dismal performance against India, but if he is found to have violated his contract with his employee Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

The former Australian test cricketer who was signed up by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) earlier this year has written articles to one of India’s leading newspapers, during Sri Lanka’s tour to India, thus violating his contract with SLC.

When The Sunday Times brought this to the notice of the SLC Interim committee Secretary Adel Hashim, he expressed surprise and said, “We have only given permission for Tom to write to the Indian newspapers during the one day series and not during the test series”. However, unconfirmed reports reaching here indicate that Moody has written articles to an Indian newspaper during the test series. “SLC will certainly investigate this matter to ascertain if Moody has written any articles during the test matches”, Hashim said.

Hashim admits that a coach writing to a newspaper during a tour is certainly not accepted. However he says that this has been the practice in the past and the Interim Committee has continued in the same manner. “This is of a serious concern to us. In fact when it came up last time we discussed it at length before finally permitting Moody to write for the one dayers. Maybe we have to re-think this all over again now”, commented Hashim.

It is ridiculous for SLC to grant permission to their coach to write to a newspaper while he is on tour as it will only divert his energies, resources and concentration towards this end instead of coaching his team. In addition his comments and views could also be made good use by his own opponents.
SLC today is paying Moody a tidy pay packet plus for his assignment with the Sri Lanka team. Hence, the coach should not be permitted, under any circumstances to get involved with any extra activities, especially if it has the tendency to adversely impact his core job.

Moody as the coach should realize that his honeymoon with the team is over during which Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh, a below par West Indies team and won the Asia Cup at home. He is now facing the real test. Results are already showing. Humiliated in India in both the tests and one day series, Sri Lanka now moves to a tougher terrain to meet New Zealand first and later Australia and South Africa in a triangular which will be followed by an England tour. Moody’s credentials as a coach will be judged during this period.

Hence, it is best for Moody to concentrate on coaching the boys and help them to counter their strong opponents successfully rather than pen his comments and views to newspapers. Sri Lanka Cricket authorities should also put down their feet and insist that the coach concentrates purely on the job for which he is paid and on nothing else.

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