Cricket: Schoolboy cricketer victimised; ban decried in Match Fixing Case

The Panadura match fixing conundrum has more implications than meets the eye. 

The best example is the banning of promising Isipathana schoolboy cricketer Ayana Siriwardena who represented the Kalutara Physical Culture Circle in that fateful SLC tournament match against Panadura SC. 

which has now entered into a chaotic stage. 

Ayana has been banned for one-year from all types of cricket under the wing of Sri Lanka Cricket. 

Siriwardena who moved from Royal Institute a few seasons back became a pivotal arm of Isipathana batting. A fourth-year coloursman, Ayana was to captain the school this season. 

His performances also found him a place in the Sri Lanka under 19 team on its tour to Australia a few months ago. 

Besides he is also in the under 19 national pool for the Under 19 World Cup which is scheduled to be held in New Zealand next year. 

Now because of someone else’ crooked scheme, Ayana’s entire cricketing future is in jeopardy. 

According to Sunil Jayaweera, Special Consultant Sports of the Education Ministry, he sees no reason that Ayana should be kept away from school cricket. 

Jayaweera said, “We are not bound by the rules and regulations of Sri Lanka Cricket and we see no reason as to why this cricketer should be deprived of cricket this season. However it is upto the school principal to take a decision on this matter”. 

However, Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association – a subsidiary of SLC is bound by its rules. SLSCA Secretary Kapila Jayalath commenting on the matter said, “As an individual we wouldn’t mind Ayana continuing with his cricket, but, as SLSCA is a pivotal part of Sri Lanka Cricket, we are bound by its rules; so we have recommended the one-year ban on the player. However, the school concerned could make an appeal against the decision through its principal.” 

Isipathana’s Cricket Committee Chairman Harshana Jayasinghe said that they are on the ball. 

“We have sent an appeal through the school to Sri Lanka Cricket. In fact we supported the idea of Ayana getting club cricket exposure and when cricket personality Ranjan Paranavithana who is a part of the Kalutara PCC requested the services of Ayana we did not hesitate to give him permission. But, we never expected an eventuality of this nature.” 

Bewildered young Ayana is distraught. 

He said, “Cricket is my life and there is the Under 19 Asia Cup tournament prior to the World Cup in 2018; now everything is hazy. I only wanted some cricket after my O’ levels. I wanted to play some division III cricket, but, people at Kalutara PCC offered me the opportunity of Premier League exposure and I took it up with both arms, but, this eventuality is very anti-climax and unexpected. 

Meanwhile, a former National cricket captain who is now working closely with junior cricket said, “I am all for young cricketers getting club exposure. To be included in a Premier League club innately the young cricketer should be good. To add to it, he even has represented cricket at national under 19 level. Then what has happened to him is very unfortunate. He may be a cricketer who is destined for great deeds – one can never say. I feel the authorities should have found out the real culprits who fixed that game and given them the capital punishment. Obviously a cricketer like Ayana knowing that he has a good future awaiting him would not be a part of a plot of this nature.”