Sports
Cricket’s day of reckoning
by Rex Clementine
Many attempts had been made by the cricket hierarchy since they stayed the appointment of an Interim Committee through an injunction that cricket is in good hands. We are made to buy into the theory that the ten-year plan will eventually pay dividends and Sri Lanka will before long become a force to be reckoned with in the sport.
Those theories can be debated on but what you can not simply stand is the administrators’ refusal to accept that there is a problem, and that problem needs to be addressed.
Despite a shocking World Cup campaign, they are still blowing their trumpets that the team not too long ago won a record number of ODIs. They have conveniently forgotten that some of these wins came against teams like Oman, UAE, Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands.
Today, the learned judges will decide whether the appointment of an Interim Committee to run cricket is legal or the grievances of the Executive Committee are fair and in fact who should be governing the sport. At a time when the public have little hope in the Executive and Legislature, the Judiciary is the only hope where they can expect fair play.
The public opinion is very much against the Executive Committee, which has made a series of blunder. However, knowledgeable judges do not go by the public opinion. They give rulings on what is legal and what is not.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe would have had a lot more support had he not dissolved the Rugby Union and Football Federation and got into trouble through international suspensions.
But his efforts need to be appreciated for his own Cabinet has turned against him as if cricket has been covering itself in glory. One thing is clear, the Executive Committee has powerful friends everywhere in the country and only a bold man like Roshan Ranasinghe would have taken them on.
The onus is on the Minister to ensure that the new constitution that has been mooted becomes an act of parliament soon. Whatever the outcome of the court ruling today, if cricket needs to make progress, whoever takes up positions at Maitland Place are required to do a massive clean-up job.
It should start with Consultant Coach Mahela Jayawardene, who has failed miserably to usher in new thinking and change the culture of the national cricket team. His policies have been a disaster and his coaching style outdated.
It was a pity listening to him the other day pinning blame for Sri Lanka’s miserable World Cup campaign on fitness standards. MJ had full authority to hire whoever he wanted and select whoever he wanted for the team, but he has failed in his duties.
Together with MJ, all his sidekicks, the national selection panel, Team Manager, Fielding Coach, Batting Coach, Bowling Coach and all need to pack their bags and go home. It is such a shame that they have all held onto their position after such a horrendous performance in India where Sri Lanka finished ninth and hit new lows.
A tough cookie like Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinha or Roshan Mahanama, men who earn the respect of the players need to take up the dual role of Team Manager and Chairman of Selectors.
Above all, the culture of the national cricket team needs to change. The present culture of lethargic, inactive happy-go-lucky bunch is not the cricket team that we admired growing up and that humbled the entire cricketing world. There was excitement in our cricket. Players cared for the game. You don’t sadly see those attributes anymore.
Every player whom you think will make a difference and change the culture one day eventually becomes part of the system be it Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama or Dunith Wellalage. So, the only hope is for Duleep Mendis, Mahanama or Gurusinha to take over and change this volatile culture.
In a diplomatic innings off the field, former Sri Lanka captain and 1996 World Cup hero Sanath Jayasuriya has made a heartfelt pitch to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his support to build an international cricket ground in Jaffna – a region teeming with raw, untapped talent.
The iconic Sri Lankan side that pulled off a fairy-tale triumph in the 1996 Cricket World Cup – scalping heavyweights like India in the semi-final and Australia in the final – was invited by the Indian High Commission in Colombo to meet the visiting Prime Minister. Modi, a self-confessed cricket aficionado, is currently on a three-day state visit to Sri Lanka.
While six members of the World Cup-winning squad were missing – either abroad on business or deep in the trenches of the Indian Premier League – the rest of the squad turned up for the high-profile meet at Colombo’s popular Taj Samudra Hotel.
“We had about 45 minutes with the Prime Minister, and it became clear early in the conversation that he’s not just a statesman but also a true cricket tragic,” said Jayasuriya, the Player of the Series in 1996 and now Head Coach of the Sri Lankan team, speaking to Telecom Asia Sport. “It gave us the perfect opportunity to thank him for India’s unwavering support during our economic collapse – when we were batting on a sticky wicket.”
The conversation then took a turn towards development and legacy.
“Sanath seized the moment and floated the idea of building an international-standard cricket ground in the north or east of the country,” said Marvan Atapattu, another former Test captain and Head Coach.
“He told the PM that the north and east are brimming with talent. But without proper infrastructure, those future stars are left playing in the rough. The PM was all ears. He nodded, said he’d take it to his team, and would get back to us.”
The meeting ended on a sentimental note. Aravinda de Silva, the architect of Sri Lanka’s historic World Cup final win, handed over a special souvenir to Prime Minister Modi – a commemorative box of medallions, each bearing the signature of the entire 1996 squad.
India and Sri Lanka, bound by geography and a shared cricketing heartbeat, have long been partners both on and off the field. Their friendship stretches back centuries, with recent years seeing a tightening of bilateral ties. Several new agreements were inked during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit.
In the cricketing realm, India has played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s journey. It was India that championed Sri Lanka’s Test status in 1981, and welcomed the islanders for a Test Match in Madras the following year.
Now, as both nations prepare to co-host the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, the hope is that this partnership will grow from strength to strength.
(Telecom Asia Sport)
Kandy Sports Club survived some anxious moments against a fighting CR&FC outfit before winning the Clifford Cup final with a 41 points to 33 win in the decider which was worked off at Nittawela grounds in Kandy on Sunday (yesterday).
Kandy SC played attacking rugby in both halves of the game and scored five tries, five conversions and a penalty, but CR were hot on the heels of the Kandy side and responded with five tries and four conversions. Kandy led 17-14 at half time.
The game began with a bang with Kandy SC scoring early in the game with a try by Diluksha Dange and a penalty and conversion by Nigel Ratwatte. But that lead for Kandy was short lived because CR’s Chamod Muthunayake sliced through the Kandy defence with a jinxing run and ended up under the posts. Murshid Doray’s conversion coming right gave indications that it would be a long day for Kandy.
CR pressed with their forwards and earned a try through Omalka Guneratne. But Kandy were in no surrendering mood and snatched the lead back with a peach of a try by Ratwatte, who retired from rugby on Sunday after playing his final game.
Kandy kept rolling with their forwards and earned their third try after half time when Kenula Hettiarachchi went over off a forwards rush. Ratwatte’s conversion put the winners ahead by ten points with the scores reading Kandy 24 as against CR’s14.
CR hit back strongly at this stage of the game and produced two vital tries through Omalka Guneratne and Murshid Doray and saw that their team was only trailing Kandy by a point. It was at this stage that the game got a bit out of hand in the middle, but referee Gihan Yatawara steadied proceedings by offering two yellow cards to CR and one to Kandy. The referee was clearly heard barking out orders to both sides to maintain discipline.
Kandy’s replacement player Dilshad Fareed smashed his way to a try with the game eight minutes away from full time. Zumry made a classis touchline conversion. But CR made one last gasp attempt to wrestle control of the game with a try by Manika Ruberu. Doray added the extra points and gave some hope for CR who were now just point behind Kandy. But when it seemed like everyone was struggling to produce the next try, scrum half Heshan Jansen ran through the CR defence to score close to the posts and seal the game for Kandy.
By A Special Sports Correspondent
The highly anticipated 91st Battle of the Saints cricket encounter between St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College, sponsored by Dialog Axiata PLC, concluded in a tame draw at the SSC Grounds on Saturday.
St. Joseph’s resumed day two at 150-3, chasing St. Peter’s first innings total of
243. Despite Yenula Dewthusa’s composed knock of 86, which anchored the Josephian innings, they failed to capitalize fully on their solid overnight position. Dewthusa formed crucial partnerships of 91 runs with Senuja Wakunugoda (48) for the fourth wicket and a further 64 runs with Rishma Amarasinghe (27) for the fifth—but the Josephian batting order couldn’t push for a substantial lead, declaring at 240-7.
Joshua Sebastian emerged as the pick of the Peterite bowlers, claiming four wickets for 80 runs, while Lashmika Perera provided excellent support with figures of 3 for 64.
Under pressure to set a challenging target, St. Peter’s faltered dramatically in the second innings, losing three wickets for just 29 runs before collapsing further to 30-4. Nathan David offered resistance with a fighting half-century (53), while Jason Fernando contributed 45, but the Peterite middle order struggled against Maanasa Madubashana’s devastating spell of 5-57.
St. Peter’s were event)lly dismissed for 168, setting St. Joseph’s a modest victory target of 172. However, with limited overs remaining, the Josephians managed only 70-2 when stumps were drawn, with Abishek Jayaweera unbeaten on 31.
Special Awards
Best Fielder:
Senuja Wakunugoda (St. Joseph’s)
Best Bowler:
Manasa Madubashana (St. Joseph’s)
Best Batsman:
Nathan David (St. Peter’s)
Best All-rounder:
Lashmika Perera (St. Peter’s)
Man of the Match:
Yenula Dewthusa (St. Joseph’s)
MoU on Defence a significant new addition to Ranil-Modi consensus
Harsha says govt. grabbed credit for what he initiated
Patali, Sarath concerned over Defence MoU
-
Features1 day agoStarlink in the Global South
-
Business2 days agoDaraz Sri Lanka ushers in the New Year with 4.4 Avurudu Wasi Pro Max – Sri Lanka’s biggest online Avurudu sale
-
Business3 days agoStrengthening SDG integration into provincial planning and development process
-
Business2 days agoNew SL Sovereign Bonds win foreign investor confidence
-
Sports4 days agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
Features1 day agoModi’s Sri Lanka Sojourn
-
Latest News6 days agoIPL 2025: Rookies Ashwani and Rickelton lead Mumbai Indians to first win
-
Sports3 days agoNew Zealand under 85kg rugby team set for historic tour of Sri Lanka