Cricket: Arjuna Ranatunga says SLC not playing with a straight bat

While being harsh on what now-retired T.M. Dilshan had said on his retirement, former Sri Lanka (SL) Cricket Captain Arjuna Ranatunga lambasted the present Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) administration, stating that, "No one should be ashamed of taking a step back to do the right thing". He said this at a forum on the subject of 'Preparing set goals with proper planning', where Ranatunga, now a minister in the present government, highlighted mismanagement and lack of foresight among present-day sports administrators. 

"Cricket being the most admired and most followed sport in SL, it has been the country's virtual national sport, thanks to people such as Mr. Ana Punchihewa and the set of administrators and sports ministers who served during the era we won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996. Success didn't reach us overnight, we planned for years, studying many aspects that are relevant to our mission. In the end we achieved it, transforming Cricket into a professional sport. Even with that setting, Cricket is now heading towards ruination, and so are other sports," Ranatunga told reporters. 

Ranatunga, 52, who called it a day on his Cricket career that spanned nearly 2 decades, in August 2000, was famous for standing firm as SL Captain, almost leading his team off the ground when Australian umpire Ross Emerson called off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for chucking, in a match against England. 

He stated that players should be firm and should not hesitate to call a spade a spade, when they are active and able. 

He made this point in relation to the remarks SL opener T.M. Dilshan made after announcing his retirement. 

Dilshan revealed he did not receive the fullest support from certain players, and on certain incidents that occurred when he captained the team, before being replaced in 2011. 

"As players, one must have the backbone to talk straight and be firm with whatever problems they may have to face during their career. I do not endorse what Dilshan did. There are misunderstandings and arguments among players from time to time. It was the same during my days too. But we managed to argue, discuss and get things sorted out. One must not forget that we may have different ideas as individuals, but collectively, the decision that is best for the team, even if one or more players don't agree. Dilshan may have felt he was a victim of circumstances or, may have been at the receiving end, a subject of unfair treatment. But we must not forget that he is not the only person to have gone through these sort of experiences," Ranatunga elaborated. 

"If it happened only to T.M. Dilshan, yes, he is fair in making public comments upon retirement. Even I was a subject of ill-treatment at a point, the selectors were looking to chuck me out, but I fought and kept my head firm until my retirement. When my time came to retire, I just made the announcement and walked out without pulling strings, attacking anyone, directly or indirectly. I would have preferred if Dilshan did not go to that extent, considering what he had said to the media," he added. 

Ranatunga pointed out that he was happy at winning a Test series at home, against a top side like Australia, but expressed his dissatisfaction on following the same plan on the shorter versions where SL lost the ODI series 1-4 and the T-20 series 0-2. 

He put the entire blame on the SLC administration for their shortsightedness, despite having one of the world's best coaching staff and the know-how from former players Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana. 

"Aravinda (de Silva), Sanath (Jayasuriya) and Romesh (Kaluwitharana) are being used by the present administration as shields. They (former players) do not realise this. Nor do they have any liberty to carry out their designated duties, even selecting players. If that is the case, Sanath (Jayasuriya) is not selecting the best team he should have picked. It's clear that even he has to please certain individuals," Ranatunga charged. 

Ranatunga was critical of the way incumbent President Thilanga Sumathipala runs SLC, and was certain that Cricket is heading to the graveyard. 

He asserted that, the present administration has done so much to please those who supported their election, by giving appointments, jobs, contracts and offerings. 

Incidentally, Ranatunga and Sumathipala are on the same side of the present government as Minister of Ports & Naval Affairs and Deputy Speaker of Parliament respectively. 

Ranatunga contested Sumathipala at the SLC elections, and lost. 

He later filed a petition with the Human Rights Commission, stating the election was rigged. 

"I do not intend to contest in the future, because it's a playground for mismanagement and malpractices. I will never spend money on campaigns. I will never treat anyone special just because that person helped me. I will never dump money because I have nothing to earn or lose. I have earned a reputation as a Cricketer and National Captain, and I don't have agendas or business plans to work for. I will have to sit on the outside as a spectator watching the ship sink, when we could have navigated it to safety with a plan," Ranatunga said regarding his nemesis. 

"Thilanga Sumathipala and I cannot and will not get along in Cricket administration. He never does what is best for the game and, even today, he is not doing the right thing. If he changes, leaving aside agendas, there may be a possibility of working together. We have sat and discussed and it's crystal clear that it's never going to work out in this world between the two of us. I feel sad for the game, the cancer has reached clubs, players, and now the tournament structures as well. Cricket is not in safe hands, I must say. It's the duty of the Sports Minister to take action and, as always, I will keep on writing to the government hierarchy on SLC's wrongdoings. At least, that's the best I could do for the game," the former Captain Cool, said with a tinge of sadness.