Mahanama seek injunction order citing Trinity’s ‘excessive usage of roller’
The upcoming semi-final and final of the Inter-School Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Cricket Tournament have been suspended following an injunction order issued by the Colombo District Court. District Judge Sandun Withana issued the injunction, preventing the semi-final clash between Royal College, Colombo, and Trinity College, Kandy, from taking place.
The order follows a petition filed by W.A.H.S. Bandara, Deputy Principal of Mahanama College, Colombo, who claims that his team was unfairly denied a chance to progress beyond the quarter-final stage.
Represented by Nithika Partners Legal Firm, the petitioner alleges that the quarter-final encounter between Trinity College and Mahanama College was marred by irregularities that led to his team’s elimination. He further contends that the conduct of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) unfairly disadvantaged Mahanama College while benefiting their opponents, Trinity College.
Naming the President, Secretary, Treasurer, and officials of SLSCA and Trinity College as the respondents, the petitioner was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Ishan Alawathure and Ranil Samarasuriya. They highlighted that the SLSCA had acted against its own tournament rules in addressing the situation created by excessive rolling of the pitch by the ground staff at the Royal Central College ground in Polonnaruwa.
The petitioners argue that the aggrieved Mahanama College team led Group ‘A’ of the tournament with the most points in Division I Tier ‘A,’ which consists of two groups of nine teams each. They emphasise that the conditions of the venue were altered to favour Trinity College, which benefited from the quarter-final match, putting Mahanama College at a clear disadvantage.
After complaining about the excessive use of the roller on the pitch, Mahanama College team officials protested and requested that the SLSCA provide an alternative venue, as the final stages of the ongoing tournament were being held at neutral locations. The petitioners further allege that the Tournament Committee of the SLSCA included individuals accused of match-fixing and having close ties with Trinity College alumni. While Mahanama College awaited a resolution to their protest, the Tournament Committee scheduled the semi-final match between Trinity College and Royal College, which the petitioners deem a clear violation of the SLSCA Tournament Rules and an arbitrary decision against Mahanama College.
According to the petitioners’ legal representatives, to preserve the integrity of the sport, an injunction should be issued to prevent the semi-final between Trinity College and Royal College from taking place, as well as the final between the two winning semi-finalists. The District Court has instructed both parties to submit their arguments before February 25.
The quarter-final match between Mahanama College and Trinity College was scheduled to be played at the Royal Central College ground in Polonnaruwa from February 5 to 7 but came to a complete halt after the first day’s play. Batting first, Mahanama was skittled out for 74 in 35.4 overs, while Trinity responded with 141-5 after 50 overs.