"Thaaththa" Bindu Udagedera asked, "why didn't we get a holiday when we won the World Cup?"

"Why", Bindu's father Percy said, "the government said that we already have the highest number of holidays in the world; so we shouldn't have any more...."

"Yes" Bindu agreed, "we must be having the most holidays in the world because this government declared September 26th also as a holiday...."

"Anyway" Percy said, "the government doesn't need a holiday because most of the Ministers in the government were on holiday in Pakistan watching the match last Sunday...."

"And, after the match, the Minister of Sports was jumping on to the stage as if he was 'man of the match'...." Bindu portested.

"Ah, yes," Percy agreed, "he could do sweet nothing when the Australians and the West Indies refused to come here. Then, Lakshman K. had to do all the talking...."

"Doesn't it always happen?" Bindu asked; "when we win, there are so many people who say they were responsible but when we lose, no one takes the blame...."

"Yes" Percy agreed, "we seem to be forgetting some people who helped our cricket get to where it is today...."

"Who are they, Thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.

"There are so many, Bindu, from the Saravanamuttus, F.C. de Sarams and Sathasivams to the Gamini Goonasenas, Michael Tisseras and Tennekoons. And, more recently, the Warnapuras, Madugalles, Roy Dias and D.S. de Silva. These are just a few. There are so many more...."

"Yes" Bindu agreed, "they are hardly remembered now...."

"And" Percy said, "we shouldn't also forget Gamini who played a role in getting test cricket status for us...."

"And even the likes of Premasara Epasinghe and Palitha Perera who helped a great deal to popularise the game in the rural areas.... " Bindu suggested.

"Yes" Percy said, "do you realise that this winning team doesn't have a single Royalist or a Thomian...."

"That shows how well the game has spread to other areas. Even Kaluwitharana and Jayasuriya are from the outstations...."

"Now" Percy said, "we must try to maintain these high standards. That won't be easy...." "why do you say that, Thaaththa?"

"The players must make sure that they won't be corrupted by the big money coming their way...."

"But we have really a good team and one of the best captains in the world.... " Bindu argued.

"Yes" Percy agreed, "very few captains, holding that cup in their hands in what must be his own moment of glory will have the grace to thank Wasim and Azhar and the people of Pakistan. That was one of the greatest moments in the tournament.

"What is the other great moment in the tournament, Thaaththa? " Bindu wanted to know. "Sanath collecting the player of the series award or Aravinda's century in the finals?"

"It's neither" Percy retorted.

"Then what?"

"Shane Warne being hammered in the last over and going wicketless...." Percy suggested.

Many would agree with that, Bindu knew.

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