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 His policies have been a disaster and his coaching style outdated.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.