Sports

Cricket at crossroads

Published

4 years ago

2022/12/11

by Rex Clementine

This week’s court ruling giving thumbs up to changes be made to the constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket has been welcomed in cricket circles. Don’t want to sound like a doomsday prophet but you can bet your bottom dollar that the aggrieved parties will fight tooth and nail to ensure the status quo remains. People have already started fearing reforms like the plague.

One pities former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. The ‘iron lady’ took on the cricket establishment two decades ago making sweeping changes. She spared none and brought in an interim administration headed by reputed banker Rienzie Wijetilleke. Soon the people whom Chandrika had angered brought down her government by effecting mass crossovers in the Parliament. It is rumored that ‘cricket money’ was used to topple her government.

There was again hope for cricket’s governance structure being changed when Naveen Dissanayake as Sports Minister in 2015 received International Cricket Council’s blessings for constitutional changes. Retired Supreme Court judge Prasanna Jayawardene had come up with a new constitution and cricket was facing a complete overhaul with the number of votes being reduced to 65. However, parties with vested interests again put a spoke in the wheel. Then President Maithripala Sirisena was told to take over the cabinet portfolio of sports to the SLFP from the UNP. That Sirisena did and then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe instead of fighting to retain the sports ministry, simply gave in without a fight. It is for the political columnists to decide whether Ranil is a strong leader or a weak leader. But when he has overseen acts like the above even sports writers with little knowledge on politics can form their opinions.

Now President Wickremesinghe has another opportunity to ensure that history doesn’t repeat. A cabinet reshuffle is on the cards and a lot of pressure has been placed to remove Roshan Ranasinghe and his Secretary Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva. If the President is not a cricket fan let him be reminded in rugby terms that in the judiciary a try has been scored and now it is up to the executive to complete the conversion.

If Roshan Ranasinghe remains the Sports Minister a committee will be soon appointed to draft a new constitution as per the court instructions. It is paramount that people without vested interests become a part of this committee. SLC members and the petitioners can be interviewed when drafting the constitution, but they should not be part of the committee as reforms can not be dictated by aggrieved parties.

Sources said that Supreme Court judge K.T. Chithrasiri is expected to head the committee that will look into the constitutional changes. He is someone who is well respected and has some knowledge in sports.

A lot of people seem to have got carried away with the recommendations of Lodha committee in India that introduced sweeping changes to Indian cricket. However, Lodha committee’s recommendations aren’t infallible. While there are lots of good things in that report it also has flaws.

For example, if you take the northeast parts of India, it’s not got much of a cricket culture. The main sport in that region is football. With Lodha committee suggesting that each state having an equal footing whether it be votes or playing cricket a little heard team like Arunachal Pradesh entered the elite league. As a result, domestic cricket in India has been diluted. For example, Tamil Nadu recently became the first team in the history to score over 500 runs in a 50 over game.

The Lodha committee also banned politicians from having any role in cricket. However, some of India’s best cricket board chiefs have been politicians like S. Wankhede, N.P. Salve and Sharad Pawar.

It’s the same scenario in our backyard with the likes of Gamini Dissanayake, J.R. Jayewardene, Dr. N.M. Perera and T. B. Werapitiya being some of the politicians who have held office as the Presidents of the board.

However, if the committee decides that politicians should be banned from governing cricket, it should not be frowned upon. Let them also get rid of the rule that says that you need the approval of the sports minister after the selectors have picked a team. This rule is archaic.

The Lodha committee also recommended that more cricketers getting involved in governing of the game. Cricketers as administrators is a double-edged sword.

They may have the sharpest brains to work out the strategy to dismiss a batsman or script a run chase but that doesn’t make them brilliant administrators. Gamini Dissanayake had played little cricket but yet he was one of our most successful Board Presidents. So is Rienzie Wijetilleke.

The Lodha committee also had many good things and one of them was recommending having paid selectors. As a result, India’s Chairman of Selectors earns US$ 10,000 monthly now while rest of the selectors get paid US$ 8000 each.

Their hotels and transport are paid for, and they get a daily allowance of US$ 200 for expenses when they go to watch games. This means selectors now can not say that they are unable to get leave from work. Selection itself has become a full-time job. When that happens people who are worth their salt will come forward as selectors. According to the system we have in Sri Lanka, people who played more games than the wickets they took are in selection panels.

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Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/7

Priyan

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's leading scorer (Aljazeera)

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal ‌coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly ⁠explain his omission ⁠against Norway drove him out of the camp, but insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute ⁠that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match versus Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark ⁠matches to manage his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken his word to me.”

Portugal’s ‌captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference.

According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’s decisions and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.

Ronaldo said the agreed notes did ⁠not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s ⁠public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

The statement provided Ronaldo’s account⁠, but on Sunday, after Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player, nevertheless leaving the door open ⁠for his return.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) did not immediately respond ⁠to a request for comment about Ronaldo’s statement.

Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.

“The consequences of my actions must be assessed ‌and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he said.

Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.

“If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring ‌goals, ‌I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team,” he added.

(Aljazeera)

Sports

Nalanda on the cusp of reaching knockout stage as unbeaten run continues

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rusandu Silva has nine wickets against his name after three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Nalanda College, Colombo continued their unbeaten run to come closer to securing a berth in the knockout stage as they beat Gurukula College by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament match played at Campbell Place on Tuesday.

‎With Rusandu Silva continuing his impressive run in the tournament, Nalanda did well to restrict the team from Kelaniya to just 113 runs (in 35.4 overs).

‎After two outings Rusandu had six wickets against his name coming to this match.‎Rusandu and Methuka Perera claimed three wickets each. ‎Lithum Wijekumara also impressed with two wickets, while Santhul Wijeyarathne took one.

‎Adeepa Pinsara was the only batsman to make a contribution of note as he top-scored with 35 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Javindu Madusanka made 20.

‎In their chase Nalanda made light work of the modest target, reaching 114 for one, scoring at a rate of over a run a ball.

‎Nadul Jayalath cracked an unbeaten 62 from just 52 balls. His innings contained four fours and five sixes. He received valuable support from Lithum Wijekumara, who scored 35 off 42 deliveries with six boundaries.

‎Ranmith Senarath completed the successful chase with an unbeaten 10 off seven balls, including two fours.

‎Nalanda lost only one wicket as the opening pair added 89 for the first wicket. Jayalath and Senarath then finished the contest comfortably, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with many overs to spare.

‎It was Nalanda’s third successive victory in the Tier A tourney after having beaten Thurstan (155) by seven wickets and St. Servatius’ Matara (187) by four wickets in the first two matches.

‎As of now, they are the leading team in Group G where they have only St. Joseph’s Darley Road to meet before the knockout stage.

‎With just two teams advancing to the next stage from each Group Nalanda are almost assured of their place.

Sports

Wins for Hayley’s Group ‘A’ , HNB ‘A’ and CDB on Saturday

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

33RD SINGER – MCA Super PREMIER LEAGUE

Hayley’s Group ‘A’, HNB ‘A’ and CDB registered wins by defeating Colombo Aces, Fairfirst Insurance and SLC Youth in the matches of the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Super Premier League cricket tournament on Sunday (04).

The MCA Super Premier League is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 33rd consecutive year.

At the Bloomfield Cricket ground, Nishan Madushka, Pulindu Perera and Minod Dhanuka smashed half tons as Hayley’s Group ‘A’ registered their second win of the tournament defeating Colombo Aces by six wickets.

At the Thurstan ground, Nipun Dhananjaya and Muditha Lakshan posted eighty plus scores to help CDB amass 307/8, which the bowlers defended by 71runs.

At the Colts Ground Milan Rathnayake starred with bat and ball [71 and 3-24] to help HNB ‘A’ overcome SLC Youth by 41 runs. Rehan Pieris topped SLC Youth score card with a 108 ball 77 with six fours and a six.

At Bloomfield Ground Colombo:

Hayley’s overcome Colombo Aces by six wickets

Colombo Aces 222/10 in 49 overs

[ Kavin Bandara 62, Dinura Kalupahan 50; Dhanajaya Lakshan 2-14, Ramesh Mendis 4-36]

Hayleys Group A 227/4 in 25.2 overs [Nishan Madushka 61, Pulindu Perera 51, Minod Bhanuka 54; Dinura Kalupahana 2-35]

At Thurstan College Ground:

CDB BY 71 runs

CDB 307/8 in 50 overs

[ Vishsd Randika 53, Nipun Dhananjaya 86, Muditha Lakshan 89; Himesh Ramanayake 3-49, ]

Fairfirst Insurance 236/10 in 46.4 overs

[Sanoj Dharshika 58, Yasiru Rodriga 78; Movin Subasinghe 3-27, Lahiru Madushanka 2-16]

At Colts ground;