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| Sunday, 21 July 2002 |
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Winds of match-fixing blowing by Srian Obeyesekere
Cricket cannot be at worse cross roads. Chandra Schaffter, a manager not wanted anymore having a hurt story against the Cricket Board. Michael Tissera, one of the country's most eminent cricketers in his time, who himself had not long ago severed connections with the Board, adding solidifying weight behind Schaffter at the luncheon at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi last Thursday where Schaffter stirred the ugly head of match fixing in world cricket. That `I certainly think match fixing is on. I don't know whether Sri Lanka is involved.' Though he did not think so during the tour of England. But this great threat to the game could be the reason why some wanted him out as manager. Calling his removal a conspiracy, the controversial Schaffter, who felt humiliated at it all announced during the middle of the acrimonious tour that cut a bad picture of him as fodder for the British media, stirred much more in its wake when he said before he took over visitors had often frequented players rooms. But he had nothing of it. Neither were they allowed to carry mobile phones in their rooms or in coaches. "I was a strict disciplinarian believing in observing the rules to the letter. I didn't tolerate any outsiders. But my relationship with the players was fine." There was Schaffter defending himself on having called on the services of two players who weren't with the tour squad. He had no alternative because there were injury casualties for that Cardiff match. Time mattered. Which was why he couldn't contact the selectors back home and took a split decision. It was only a side match and one of the recruits was on the field only for 10 minutes while the other never played. But it had been blown out of proportion by the media leading to the Minister of Sports inquiring about it. The captain and coach had sought his permission and `I said go ahead. One had to consider the practicality of the position we were placed in. We had to protect our players. Even before I could explain the minister was on to it.' THROWING STONES The outgoing manager felt `they were looking to throw stones at me. It is an occupational hazard.' In his journey along the 3-month long tour, Schaffter was enlightening. From what he called his humiliation which also had a bad affect on his family as much as his workplace concerning his staff to whom he is managing director to players' hotel rooms and masseurs as much as on field revelations. And ofcourse the using of a 50 per cent fit Muttiah Muralitharan. A SHAME For one, the sacking announcement middle of the tour had a bad effect on the players. They weren't sure whether it was effective in the middle of the tour or the end of it. It had affected the team's morale. The sacking was later denied from Colombo. He felt it was a conspiracy because the newspapers had been told he was sacked although it was later denied. But the fact was his contract expired on July 17 and it hadn't been extended. Schaffter vexed much damage had been done by the media to physiotherapist, Alex Kontouri by false reports (not `Sunday Observer') that he was shierking his duties. It was a shame to defame a man who could not defend himself and had contributed invaluable service towards the fitness of the team over the years with a wealth of experience Kontouri had brought with him from Australia where he was highly regarded in his profession. Kontouri had been against taking an assistant physio but `i intervened on behalf of Vaas and Muralitharan.' Ofcourse, Kontouri had agreed an assistant physio could learn from him. It was a long tour. As to the US $ 2000 fine on Vaas during the Sharjah tour, a private masseur had gone on Board approval. He had imposed the fine because Vaas had contravened the rules by keeping the masseur overnight in his room. He had explained to Vaas who had quite amiably owned up to the fault and in fact wanted it announced to the rest of the team although Schaffter wanted to keep it confidential. It was outsiders who got upset about it. Fines were part and parcel of tours. There was a kitty kept for it where players' fines went in such instances of not wearing their proper kit. Such as not donning the `Dilmah' shirt. Or if it is worn crooked when the sponsors object. The Vaas issue had been used in the campaign to discredit and oust him. "He's still a very good friend of mine", said Schaffter of Vaas. As to the disastrous tour adverse nature's affects as the worst part of the summer were minus factors. It was so cold as below 10 degrees centigrade making it difficult to hold the ball. In fact players had to take the field with thermal wear. Their hands were frozen. Disadvantages and disabilities there were. But being professionals there were no excuses. The bowlers had tired and lacked penetration. This had placed the team in a very difficult situation. The batsmen had not stuck together. Sri Lanka had not been able to maintain its one-day reputation. The changes in the Board in so much as the change in the interim committee and selectors also had a serious affect. "It affects morale", contended Schaffter. The loss of pace bowler Ruchira Perera was mainly due to the British t.v. commentators and media. They had pressurised the umpires. But had conveniently ignored the bowling action of their own James Kirtley. In fact `I told the England captain, Nasser Hussain he's bowling like a dart thrower'. As for Ruchira, he had developed something he didn't have in Sri Lanka by bending his arm by trying to bowl too fast. He was Sri Lanka's most successful bowler till then and his loss `affected us'. "We did not wan't to risk playing him, though we could have, till we had worked on his arm action to avoid him been called again". The biggest undoing of the batsmen was failure to cope with the moving ball. It took Schaffter down memory lane. Back home the idea for fast wickets had been motted, but sabotaged by some. He denied Muralitharan had been forced to play in the second and third tests against his wishes. Murali had done it in the interests of the team because even a 50 per cent fit Muralitharan was better than most international bowlers. Schaffter's story in the wake of the bad taste made out by him as to his removal, at the same time give the country's cricketing think tanks more than a load of work. |
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