Going back in time to American writer Mario Puzo’s epic novel and later the award winning film, the ‘Godfather’ my mind began to wander once again to current affairs in today’s sports. "Don" Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia "family", is kind and benevolent to those who give him respect, but given to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the family. An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further his plan.

Drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo is looking for Mafia Families to offer him protection in exchange for a profit of the drug money and the story goes on until it ends in tragedy. Here in Sri Lanka a partnership between two families took shape gradually during the pre-world cup win era in 1996 when Sri Lankan Cricket was not the same phenomenon what it is now. However, as all families do they too saw to the future and did not hesitate to do their thing and take over the controlling strings in just a matter of time.

The machine started working very smoothly with the ‘Don’ overlooking the proceedings with much concern, the confidante running the day-to-day activities while the gifted prodigy – the craftiest of them all doing his thing in the middle.

By this time Lankan cricket had transformed from zero to hero and conquering giants had become habit rather than an effort. Ironically, as all rises go the performances began to transform from the hype to the wipe and so the tumble began. Cracks started appearing in the association between the two families. It didn’t take long for the ‘Don’ to send the ‘confidante’ packing and not so long after the prodigy was also forced to call it a day while the ‘Don’ who also lost grace with the rulers of the country courtesy the ‘crafty one’ and was sent into oblivion may be, so they thought.

There then came a lull period where the Lankan cricket was void of the direct control of the two families, though there was a plethora of activity just beyond reach of the normal eye. But, by this time Lankan cricket had risen from its tumble and the two families were vowed enemies.

The ‘Don’ the man that he is did not take things lying down. Whenever the rulers were bold enough to call an interim, he bounced back and carried on regardless. However, at the same time he made sure that he kept his archenemy in abeyance. Nevertheless, by this time the ‘crafty one’ had joined his family tradition and was riding on his popularity that he brought along with his exploits in the middle. He had become a people’s representative.

Both families moved in tandem. None was willing to give in but, as the ‘crafty one’ was graduating in his new field, the ‘Don’ too moved in from the peripheries to active politics but in the opposite camp to the crafty one.

The ‘Don’ is always a quick learner. The ‘Don’ learned that to subdue the ‘crafty one’ he had to be in the same camp that he was. Now the ‘crafty one’ has used the numerals to his benefit and taken the seat that he always aspired for, but he always knows that he is not the favourite son of the ‘father figure’ and his only outlet one day would be another association with the ‘Don’. The ‘Don’ too knows that keeping the ‘Crafty one’ subdued would be to his own advantage and now it seems that another ‘unholy alliance’ is in the horizon, till the next tragedy befalls.

Just a minute! In this scenario there is another family who is rather concerned about the developments. Though not famous for their in field exploits, the ‘Doc’ family too has been in this trade for some time now and they also have the distinction of two members of it having ruling rights of the empire from time to time.
At the same time, the ‘Doc’ family considers both the ‘Craft’ family and the ‘Don’ family as their arch enemies and are watching every move that is related to their moves.

This is one of the most crucial eras for the fate and future of the game. At present none from either of the families could make a single move without the consent of the one above and all are playing a waiting game.

At one point the ‘Don’ trained a clan to say “yeah’ when the time of counting became crucial. Subsequently the ‘Doc’ also picked the trail and built up another clan who would sing him the ‘hosannas’ if ever needed. But, he still is happy if the current system of picking the ‘right one’ and given on a platter continues, especially if it is a one close to his heart.

Both the ‘Don’ clan and the ‘Doc’ clan have the clout with the ‘Father Figure’ mainly through their standing in today’s social context. The ‘Crafty’ family does not have the same nod of approval, but, he too has some significance in ‘FF’s’ menu and he has exploited that to the maximum at one juncture.

They say in politics there are no permanent allies or enemies. However anything that happens regarding this popular sport during the next few moons will have a permanent bearing on the game, and the fortunes of the three families. One or more of the three pronged clan may have all or not and at least one will go to the oblivion.
Just wait and see.