Sports
Where have all the fans gone?
by Rex Clementine
When you travel to West Indies, you often find a lot of cricket fans who are no longer interested in visiting the grounds to watch their team play. Once a team feared by all and sundry, the West Indies have currently become also rans unable to compete with top teams. They failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup.
We all grew up marveling and admiring West Indies. So much so Kumar Sangakkara once said that when West Indies played Sri Lanka, he wasn’t sure which team to support. Sanga of course is not alone. There are many of us who wished that we could bat like Viv Richards and wanted to bowl like Malcolm Marshall.
When you are looking at the crowds for the current Zimbabwe series, you wonder whether Sri Lankan fans are heading in the same direction as the West Indies fans. Woe be the day if that happens.
The cricket team of course is no doubt desperately trying to play like West Indies of present. Discipline and commitment are lacking and the management is tolerating players taking short cuts instead of putting in hard yards. The Consultant Coach who has been in the job for over two years now is complaining about skill levels being not there among the current generation. He is of course beating around the bush not putting in enough time himself to dig the sport out of the current mess.
We do not wish to be doomsday prophets, but when spectators turn away from the game it’s a bad sign. Lack of interest for the game could be many fold. It may be that these days T-20s receive more attention than ODIs. People aren’t bothered anymore to spend eight hours in the ground and are happier with three hours of cricket which T-20 gives. They will be back for the T-20s.
Maybe that this is Zimbabwe and spectators aren’t interested. Maybe the cost of living is making everyone feel the pinch.
All these could be contributory factors for lack of spectators at games, but you cannot deny the fact that people are fed up with the game. We are in urgent need for role models; characters who will not only entertain but those who put us in the world map.
Cricket gave us enormous joy. Time was when India feared our batters like the plague and England ran out of ideas to contain our batters. Today we are marveling at the skills of Virat Kohli and Joe Root while the guardians of our sport are happy that we are beating UAE, Oman, Ireland and Scotland. Good luck to them.
The blame of course shouldn’t be rested on the administration alone. Sure, they have made some blunders. They have handed the captaincy to wrong guys, taken the sting out of domestic competitions by doubling the First-Class teams and spent colossal amounts of money on vanity projects without developing the game. The players themselves need to take a fair share of the blame.
Most current cricketers come from humble backgrounds. Their road towards the national cricket team is faced with many hardships but once they get there, they find a comfort zone and rarely do you see them pushing boundaries.
Lack of leadership within the team is one main reason why standards have dropped, and performances have gone down. From time to time, we have brought in individuals to fix the mess, but they have let the sport and the fans down badly entertaining their own whims and fancies. Time is running out and unless we address these issues Sri Lankan cricket will head the same way of West Indies.
A monumental innings by Dulnith Sigera who put on a commanding opening stand with Sineth Veerarathne highlighted proceedings as Mahanama College posted 387 for nine declared and secured major honours in their annual Big Match against arch rivals DS Senanayake College at the SSC Ground on Sunday.
Resuming after DS Senanayake had posted 344 in their first innings, Mahanama built their reply around a superb 192-run opening partnership between Sigera and Veerarathne, laying a solid foundation for a dominant batting display.
Sigera emerged the chief architect of the innings with a magnificent 189, anchoring the batting for more than 70 overs in an innings that combined patience with aggression. Facing 209 deliveries, he struck ten fours and nine sixes in an entertaining knock before being run out, narrowly missing out on a double century.
At the other end, Veerarathne provided ideal support with a valuable 91, facing 135 balls and hitting seven boundaries and a six as the pair frustrated the DS bowling attack with the opening stand.
Mahanama continued to capitalise on the strong platform even after the opening breakthrough, with useful contributions from Chamika Heenatigala (30) and Sanul Weerarathne (28), enabling them to declare on 387 for nine in 87.4 overs and gain the upper hand in the traditional encounter.
For DS Senanayake, Oshadha Perera claimed three wickets for 63 runs, while Randisha Bandaranayake and Haamid Afdhal picked up two wickets apiece.
The drawn encounter was notable for three outstanding batting feats and an impressive six-wicket haul by left-arm spinner Chamika Heenatigala.
If seasoned campaigner Sigera stole the limelight for Mahanama on the final day, it was 14-year-old Miyuru Bandara who captured attention on day one with a composed century that helped DS Senanayake compile 344 in their first innings.
The young opener displayed maturity beyond his years, scoring a patient 100, while Randisha Bandaranayake (48) and Chanul Athale (47) made important contributions lower down the order.
Heenatigala was the standout bowler for Mahanama, bowling tirelessly to finish with impressive figures of six wickets for 100 runs in 41 overs.
In their second essay DS Senanayake reached 54 for one before the match ended in a draw, with Shevan Welgama unbeaten on 25 and Sithru Gunarathna not out on 14.
Championing youth potential and performance at the President’s Trophy Inter-School Knockout Final
Hayleys Mobility proudly served as the Official Automobile Partner for the President’s Trophy Inter-School Knockout Final, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association.
The thrilling encounter between Royal College, Colombo and Trinity College, Kandy, held at Sugathadasa Stadium, brought together some of Sri Lanka’s brightest young athletes in a remarkable display of skill, determination and sportsmanship during which Trinity College emerged victorious following an outstanding performance.
This partnership reflects Hayleys Mobility’s strategic focus on nurturing youth development at every stage, from grassroots participation to national-level competition. Through its support of schools rugby, the company contributes to instilling core values such as resilience, teamwork and ambition.
Commenting on the initiative, Roshani Dharmaratne, Executive Director of Hayleys Mobility Limited, stated:
”Sponsoring schools rugby is an important way for us to invest in the potential of Sri Lanka’s youth. From their first match to performing on a national stage, these athletes are on a journey of growth, determination, and achievement. Providing them with opportunities to excel is as important to us, and we are proud to energise them to perform at their best.”
Adding further perspective, Hasith Prematillake, Managing Director of Hayleys Fentons Limited, stated:
”Rugby is a game defined by intensity, strength, and forward momentum—qualities that reflect a mindset of progress and performance. As a brand, we are inspired by this same spirit: a drive to move with confidence, embrace challenges, and push boundaries. Supporting schools rugby allows us to stand alongside the next generation as they channel their energy and passion into excellence, both on and off the field.”
Rajieve Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of Hayleys Mobility, added:
”At Hayleys Mobility, we believe in empowering journeys, whether on the road or on the field. Supporting school rugby reflects our commitment to enabling the next generation to move forward with confidence, discipline and ambition.”
Roshani Dharmaratne, Executive Director of Hayleys Mobility greeting the finalists
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