No remorse at all says Marvan

Former Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu left the island bound India last afternoon to captain the ‘Delhi Jets’ team in the Indian Cricket League twenty20 tournament which will take off five days hence with the Chandigarh Lions vs. Delhi Jets match on November 30 in Panchkula..

Prior to his departure the Lankan opener who showed the world that still had it in him with two gritty knocks against World Champions Australia said that he had no remorse about calling the national cricket selectors a bunch of Muppets led by a Joker. He said “I was saying right along that there are shortcomings in our system but no one seemed to listen to me when I said so in Sri Lanka.

So I had to find the right forum overseas where every one took notice of what I had to say. I do not agree with the present system of selection. For instance in Australia when someone decides to call it a day, the system exactly knows who is in line to fill that position. But, in Sri Lanka kissing goes by favour, rather than ability. Just imagine batsmen who even are carrying an average of twenty are considered if he has the right connections. Some times batsmen are given a chance, and then after one attempt they are put in cold storage and some just go on being in the squad without any outstanding performances. This is the system that has to be changed. It’s not good for the development of the game.

“However my cricket stint in Sri Lanka is seemingly over, now I will play for the ICL leading the ‘Delhi Jets’, then my negotiations with St. Georges Club in Australia are still on and I think things will fall into its jig-saw there very soon. Besides that I will continue to turn out for the Lashings Club in England. Definitely I will be involved as a player in the game for a couple more years even though it will not be at international level”.

When asked playing for ICL would be the end of his association with Sri Lanka cricket Marvan said “As far as I am concerned it is only Sri Lanka besides India (who is the most affected by the ICL) has banned its players from participation in any form of cricket – player and as well as administrative wise once we sign up with the ICL. But, who knows what the future would decide upon this? However I can find enough places to stay involved in the game.

“However coming back into the Muppets and Jokers thing, now everyone has taken note of this. I said what I had to say for the sake of the future cricketers of this country. For them not to experience the same stumbling blocks that we have experienced during our times” Said Atapattu in conclusion.

The head of the national selection committee Asantha de Mel refused to speak to The Sunday Times on the subject.

The ICL fixtures will be as follows:

Nov 30: Chandigarh Lions vs. Delhi Jets
Dec 1: Chennai Superstars vs. Kolkata Tigers; Mumbai Champs vs. Hyderabad Heroes
Dec 2: Delhi Jets vs. Hyderabad Heroes; Chandigarh Lions vs. Kolkta Tigers
Dec 3: Mumbai Champs vs. Chennai Superstars
Dec 5: Hyderabad Heroes vs. Chandigarh Lions
Dec 7: Mumbai Champs vs. Delhi Jets
Dec 8: Chennai Superstars vs. Chandigarh Lions; Delhi Jets vs. Kolkata Tigers
Dec 9: Hyderabad Heroes vs. Chennai Superstars; Mumbai Champs vs. Chandigarh Lions
Dec 10: Mumbai Champs vs. Kolkata Tigers
Dec 12: Chennai Superstars vs. Delhi Jets; Hyderabad Heroes vs. Kolkata Tigers
Dec 14: Semi-final I
Dec 15: 5/6 classification; Semi-final II
Dec 16: 3/4 classification; Final