Why No Contract For Lasith
Malinga ?
Top Spin By Sunny For LankaWeb
Cricket.
August10th.
It is indeed perplexing that the Sri Lankan Cricket Board(SLCB) has
not offered an annual contract to the star pace bowler Lasith Malinga
as the rest of the country’s top players signed their contracts
recently and explanations towards this seem tatty and unclear as SLCB
sources appear to suddenly show an apathetic indifference towards one
of Sri Lanka's finest prospects whose bowling feat of 4 wickets in four
balls at the last world cup, almost getting a 5th in five to have been
sidelined for no real fault of his own unless there is more to the story
than meets the common eye.
If it is a persistent leg injury for which he has been treated recently
or a lack of form which invariably follows due to inactivity in a very
rational sense, given the calibre of Malinga and what he has accomplished
thus far it is the responsibility of the SLCB Authorities to help nurture
this wonderful young prospect back to the form which made him famous
and help him get back into top gear if there is any indifference on
their part towards the task on the basis that there are other players
to worry about as this is rank apathy if such be the case.
While the latest reports circulating in the media seem to indicate
that Lasith Malinga who is known around the cricketing world for his
unusual bowling action as well as his flamboyant hairstyles has been
omitted from the list of contracted players for the next season for
unknown reasons, it isnt good enough an excuse and it would be only
fair to Malinga and the millions of fans around the globe who admire
and genuinely like this youngster for his unassuming and humble personality
in addition to his sensational bowling prowess as a speedster and strike
bowler to come up with the real story behind his ommision and rectify
it towards inclusion in the Sri Lankan Squad for future games if he
meets the requisite conditions of fitness while giving him all the support
needed towards regaining his confidence rather than demoralize him over
petty issues where disciplinary action has been also hinted at.
Somewhat curiously some reports about Malinga whilst suggesting plausibly
that the match-winning fiery paceman had been sidelined in recent months
due to a nagging leg injury for which he has been treated succesfully
have also hinted that there are alleged disciplinary reasons for which
he has been overlooked for contracting as a player and if this be the
case let it be known to the cricketing world what the fuss is all about?
Quoting a recent News report " it is unprecedented for a top level
player to be omitted from an annual contract due to a short term injury
and it was only last year that the youngster from Galle created history
at the World Cup in the West Indies capturing four South African wickets
in four balls to grab the world attention and become an instant hit.
" and if for some undisclosed reason Malinga has fallen into the
bad books of the authorities it is only fair that it be fully investigated
and the matter settled
in all fairness to him so that he can get on with his career which
is very promising not only for himself but also Sri Lankan Cricket where
there is a dearth of bowlers of his ability to intimidate batsmen with
his sheer speed and accuracy!
If Malinga's dilemmas of non selection and being overlooked towards
a renewed contract is a direct result of the petty bureaucracies and
bourgeoisies of the SLCB which sometimes surface embarrasingly enough
to the more discerning and are sometimes initiated through whimsical
politicians et al and tend to victimise players and even incarcerate
them for no real reason other than their outspokenness and personal
convictions on various issues leading to personality clashes beyond
the cause of brilliant performance skills as in the case of Malinga,
the the SLCB should hang its head in shame especially over the manner
one of Sri Lankas finest new finds is being currently treated! With
an indifference unworthy of the man's skills, nature and demeanour by
lopsided misjudgement perhaps!
If it is the lack of form and anticipated performance capabilities
consequent to injury that has prompted the SLCB Authorities towards
their course of actions there still remains a huge onus and responsibility
on their part to have the matter set right in the fairest and most just
manner towards boosting Malinga's confidence rather than demoralizing
him and consequently destroying the career of one Sri Lanka's finest
which is bound to happen!
|
