SLSCA to drop controversial match officials for six months

by Reemus Fernando

A top official of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association said both Trinity College Kandy and De Mazenod College, Kandana have been penalised for ‘gross negligence’ in ‘letting ground staff alter the condition of the pitch’ at the end of day one in their tournament match at Asgiriya in January.

“We have punished both Trinity and De Mazenod for gross negligence as both parties had been present when the conditions of the pitch were altered. Both teams were not awarded their match points as a punishment. There had been negligence from the part of match officials. We have decided not to obtain the services of the two umpires who officiated in this match for six months to officiate in matches conducted by us” J.A.K.S. Indrajith, the secretary, SLSCA said in an interview with The Island.

“There is video evidence to suggest that team officials were aware and present when the damaged areas were repaired in the evening on day one. We went through cctv footage of the Asgiriya Stadium from 4.30 pm on day one to 9.30 am on day two to find that there had been no foul play overnight. The damaged areas of the pitch had been repaired at the end of day one and to our surprise we could see the Master in Charge of De Mazenod (Malik Keerthi), the curator and the umpires in conversation at the pitch when it was being repaired,” Indrajith said.

Apart from not awarding points earned in the said match the SLSCA had also requested Trinity to play two of their home matches at a neutral venues during the next season. “That is like a fine as they have to host these matches somewhere else,” said Indrajith.

The controversial match between Trinity and De Mazenod was abandoned pending inquiry after De Mazenod skipper made a complain that the pitch conditions had been altered overnight. Twenty nine wickets fell on day one and the visitors were 101 for nine wickets in their second innings at stumps. The home team had taken a slender sic runs first innings advantage after restricting De Mazenod to 64 runs.

The umpires involved in the match were Ruwan Jayaweera and D.H.I.Jayasekara.