CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

ENGLAND TOUR MUST GO AHEAD WITH MARVAN AS CAPTAIN

By Dr M D P DISSANAYAKE

During days of South African apartheid, several international cricketers who played cricket in SA for huge financial rewards were banned by the cricketing councils of respective countries, including Sri Lanka. Asoka De Silva, Tony Opatha were amongst the victims. Today, it seems like an open book for contracted players to do what they wants to do and disregard the commitment to their own country.

Sri Lanka with very limited resources have invested heavily in the game of Cricket. In fact, the cost ( if it is a cost!) is not affordable especially for a tiny island fighting with world’s worst terrorists, LTTE. But Sri Lankans are great cricketers from the very old days, therefore the decision makers made the wise decision to call it an Investment than a Cost. But what is happening today?

Almost all top contracted players are more keen in providing entertainment for poor Indians than honouring their commitments. SL has invested its limited resources to develop cricket stadiums in many parts of the country. It has hired the best expatriate coaches to train our players. The whole objective was to promote and market Sri Lanka overseas, whereby foreign tourists will flow into our country and enjoy the game as well. Are our current players helping to promote Sri Lanka or India?

In ICC rankings, SL is at number 4 in Test Cricket and number 7 in ODI. In ODI’s SL is ahead of West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Kenya. And do we plan at least to be runners up at the next World Cup?

Both Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge and Arjuna Ranatunga need to take a firm stand on the future of SL cricket. It was a long standing ambition of AR to take control of the cricket board so that he could muster his past skills of leading the SL cricket team into a global role of promoting SL cricket at the highest level. The opportunity has been given to him and all those who love this great man should ensure that he makes most of it.

The argument put forward by AR that participation in the IPL is financially beneficial only to the individual players is very valid. AR is a fine person who offers great leadership to all. I am sure, AR could find 15 top guns to go to England, if Sri Lanka government can find thousands of soldiers to fight a war against terrorism. Under the stewardship of Marvan Atapattu, we have an abundance of great many players, who contributed very hard for the country who have been left out due to many reasons. Now this is a great opportunity to build a new team of patriotic players and should pay them well. Let the urchins find their meals in Bollywood. Now the so called contracted players are holding Sri Lanka Cricket Board for almost a ransom, AR and the Minister should look at the future of Sri Lankan Cricket. Gradual isolation of those who are contracted for IPL and developing new team should be a top priority. The new teams contracts should be fine tuned in a manner in which SL Cricket Board becomes the supreme commander in deciding who should play and where. This is simply called ROI, Return on Investment!

When this tough decision is made, some of those who are going with a begging bowl to India, will think twice and come back.

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