Sports
No one is indispensable
By Rex Clementine
When Sri Lanka’s selectors benched a whole lot of seniors, they were going to build the side on three prolific young players. Kusal Mendis had been earmarked as the man destined to break Kumar Sangakkara’s batting records, Niroshan Dickwella with an ability to get under the skin of the opposition had been identified as captain material and Danushka Gunathilaka, the man best suited to bat the power plays. Alas, their excesses in England breaching the bio-bubble saw them being sent home from the tour and handed one year suspensions plus a hefty fine. It’s all back to square one now as the selectors have been forced to look for replacements.
There was little doubt that Mendis was destined for greatness from the moment he was picked to make his Test debut with less than a handful of First Class games to his credit. The other two although were not the same class as Mendis, SLC had heavily invested on them. Now, they have thrown it away and it’s a classic case of talent going astray; they have dug their own graves. When they are ready to return, as we have seen time and again, they may not have their slots available as there’s a good possibility of other players establishing themselves.
Sri Lanka Cricket has received some flack for reducing the sentences from two year bans to one year. Rightly so. Over the years, SLC had soft-peddled when some of these players have stepped out of line and there is a general feeling that the board hasn’t been firm. Here was a good opportunity to uphold the decision of the Disciplinary Committee but the board has taken the middle path!
SLC has argued that they have in fact doubled the fine from Rs. five million each to Rs. ten million. However, if you think that fines are going to make them feel the pinch, you are badly mistaken. Ten million is big money for an ordinary cricket fan but not for a cricketer. All he’s got to do is to go on one tour to recover that money. What the board also needs to find out is whether there was any remorse after the players were sent home after breaching the bio-secure bubble.
If there was no remorse, by reducing the sentence you are sending the wrong signal that these players are indispensable. The game is bigger than individuals and no one is indispensable.
As long as you treat grown up men with kids gloves, however much you try, it’s just a matter of time before they get into trouble again. Danushka Gunathilaka in particular has been a serial offender with a horrible history. In conclusion, all what you can say is that he has got away with a slap on the wrist.
It is learned that the Disciplinary Committee was looking at one year suspensions but the three players were not honest with their confessions such as the time of their rerun to the hotel. Players’ representatives have grossly denied these allegations. It will be interesting to read the learned judge’s observations.
There are more important questions that need to be asked.
How come those from middle class families once they become icons, fall apart. There is something wrong in the system and you need to introduce a player education system which can ensure that players remain grounded. In sports or for that matter in any walk of life, nothing will be achieved if you lack discipline.
Forced to follow on after being dismissed for 111 runs, Risinu Kithmuka scored an unbeaten half century to anchor St. Servarius’ batting line up to force a draw to their Under 19 cricket encounter against S. Thomas’ at Mount Lavinia on Friday.
The dogged knock facing 121 balls, helped the visitor post 93 for five wickets at close.
In a match dominated by the home team, Aaron David’s century was the highlight for S. Thomas’. They posted 269 for four wickets at close on day one and declared on the overnight score.
Meanwhile at Kotahena, Mevan Dissanayake top scored with 91 runs inclusive of eight fours and three sixes for St. Benedict’s to post 295 for 9 declared against Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya.
Results
Thomians dominate against St. Servatius’ at Mount Lavinia
Scores
S. Thomas’ 269 for 4 decl. in 73.3 overs (Jaden Amaraweera 40, Avinash Fernando 50, Aaron David 100n.o., Reshon Soloman 56; Lasindu Ramanayaka 2/87)
St. Servatius’ 111 all out 54.4 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 26, Thathsilu Bandara 20; Minon Warnasuriya 2/14, Chamash Gunawardena 2/24, Shanil Perera 3/18, Reshon Solomon 2/09) and 93 for 5 in 36 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 51n.o.; Aaron de Silva 2/30, Shanil Perera 3/23)
Bens 295 for 9 decl., Sri Dharmaloka 87/2 at Kotahena
Scores
St. Benedict’s 295 for 9 decl. in 56.4 overs (Mevan Dissanayake 91, Vihanga Rathnayake 42, Yohan Edirisinghe 31, Ayesh Gajanayake 49; Sathindu Praboda 4/98, Tharusha Mihiranga 2/66)
Sri Dharmaloka 87 for 2 in 25 overs (Senuka Pehesara 40, Kaveen Deneth 40n.o.; Ayesh Gajanayake 2/27)
by Reemus Fernando
Pakistan marched into the final of the Under 19 Asia Cup with a clinical eight wicket win over Bangladesh in the rain-hit semi-final in Dubai, after a dominant bowling performance led by Abdul Subban set up a straightforward chase. The victory sets up a final clash against India, who won the first semi final against Sri Lanka earlier in the day.
Opting to field after winning the toss in the rain-reduced 27-overs-a-side contest, Pakistan made early inroads as Bangladesh slipped to 24 for 2 inside six overs. Captain Azizul Hakim offered brief resistance to steady the innings, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
Fast bowler Subhan was the standout with the ball, picking up four wickets to dismantle the middle order. From 55 for 2 in the 13th over, Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 38 runs, collapsing to 93 for 7. The lower order struggled to rebuild, and Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 121 in 26.3 overs, with no batter able to convert a start into a big score.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase was smooth. After the early loss of opener Hamza Zahoor in the first over, Sameer Minhas anchored the innings with a composed, unbeaten 69, ensuring there were no further hiccups. He struck six fours and two sixes as Pakistan cruised to 122 for 2 with 63 balls to spare.
With this knock, Minhas took his tournament’s tally to 299 to be the highest run-getter.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 122 for 2 in 16.3 overs (Sameer Minhas 69*, Usman Khan 27; Samiun Basir 1-17) beat Bangladesh 121 in 26.3 overs (Samiun Basir 33; Abdul Subhan 4-20, Huzaifa Ahasan 2-10)by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George’s patient half-centuries helped India beat Sri Lanka in a rain-reduced game and set up an U-19 Asia Cup final with Pakistan.
It was a game where the momentum kept changing hands. India had Sri Lanka at 28 for 3 after opting to bowl. Captain Vimath Dinsara and Chamika Heenetigala hit back with a 45-run stand, but Sri Lanka soon lost 3 for 11. A 62-run stand between Heenatigala and Sethmika Seneviratne followed, but India again turned it around in the final three overs.
In reply, India were 25 for 2 as Sri Lanka sniffed a comeback. But Malhotra and George added an unbeaten 114 runs in a partnership of two halves: the first 62 runs they added took 51 balls, while the next 52 came off 36 deliveries. It was Malhotra who swung the game India’s way when he went 4, 4, 6 off Dulnith Sigera in the 13th over. Malhotra reached his fifty off 35 balls, while George took 43 balls.
India’s win was set up after their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 138. Kishan Singh and Deepesh Devendran struck early, while Vedant Trivedi’s direct hit ran Kavija Gamage out in the sixth over.
But Kanishk Chouhan struck twice in the 12th over, and Khilan Patel in the 13th, to force Sri Lanka to rebuild again. That brought Heenatigala and Seneviratne together. Seneviratne was the attacking of the two while Heenatigala, limping a little, was more patient. At 118 for 6 with three overs left, and with Seneviratne connecting it cleanly, Sri Lanka may have hoped to post 150. But just 20 runs amid two wickets in the last three overs applied the brakes on their scoring.
India will meet Pakistan in the final on Sunday.
Brief scores:
India Under 19s 139 for 2 in 18 overs (Vihaan Malhotra 61*, Aaron George 58*; Rasith Nimsara 2-31) beat Sri Lanka Under 19s 138 for 8 in 20 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 42, Vimath Dinsara 32, Sethmika Senevirathne 30; Henil Patel 2-31, Kanishk Chouhan 2-36) by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
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