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| Sunday, 11 May 2003 |
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After years of discontent and discord...Clubs welcome holding of BCCSL elections After a hiatus of 4 years, cricket, which had fallen upon hard times necessitating interim committees, will get back to old customs and the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) will hold its annual general meeting on June 6 in a bid to restore to normalcy the administrative arm of the BCCSL. There was much bickering as to who should run the affairs of the country's cricket which turned a gold mine ever since winning the World Cup some 8 years ago under Arjuna Ranatunga, to find adulation throughout the world. The calling of the AGM has been was hailed by clubs throughout the country as going back to the democracy of enabling their representatives to elect an executive committee to run cricket amidst a feeling of discontent that all has not been well. Majority of the clubs contacted by the 'Sunday Observer' said they had no faith in interim committees while feeling there were immediate shortcomings to be rectified at the BCCSL. From accountability in budgeting by one of the richest institutions in the land at whatever level for its foreign exchange clout to backing outstation cricket said to be still receiving step-motherly treatment at a time the Board is in a position to utilise money. Interestingly, the hustings has the trimmings of an off-field cricket match with former captain Ranatunga, now turned politician, looking to a new career in the game as one of the front runners to head the Cricket Board. Ranatunga, who quit international cricket nearly 3 years ago and entered Parliament on a Peoples Alliance ticket, won a legal hurdle to seek election to the BCCSL, and will be challenged for the presidency by Thilanga Sumathipala, a figure said to command much clout from the clubs. Having served several times at its head table, Sumathipala, who is also President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), carries a charisma as a hard worker intent on achieving results, a clout he commands from the clubs. The 'Sunday Observer,' which exclusively broke the story as to the holding the AGM recently, gives views of a cross-section of those in charge of the clubs. Daya Perera, President's Counsel, President, Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC): "The primary thing that we are concerned is cricket and the clubs. We welcome the holding of the AGM. I am not against this interim committee. But I'm critical of the principal of an interim committee. They dont't know the agenda. How can they serve cricket? I understand there are two candidates. What we are concerned is that the one selected will do his best for cricket." G. K. C. D. Wijetilleke, General Secretary, Galle Cricket Club: "In a democracy you must have AGMs and election of office bearers. For some reason elections were not held for sometime. According to governmental regulations the Sports Minister I understand has powers to appoint an interim committee. He is the deciding authority. But to hold the AGM and elect office bearers according to the constitution is good for cricket. M. Rajabdeen, President, Moors S.C.: "An interim committee does not serve the needs of clubs. Holding the AGM is welcome because it enables all cricketing clubs to express their views at a forum like the BCCSL. It is very advantageous for cricket where various club members could serve the game which generates so much national interest at grass root level. Today cricket has moved from the confines of Colombo to as far as Matara. We feel that some of the Moors players have been overlooked for a club which emerged champions this year. Today, there is uncertainty among youngsters that if they select the wrong club they might not get a chance to make it to the national team. So we look to an AGM, that something great can happen in the interest of cricketers and the game by the clubs being able to elect responsible members to the BCCSL who could be answerable." Elmo de Silva, President Nondescript Cricket Club (NCC): This club is 130 years in existence with a membership of 450 : "I as the President of the NCC feel it is a very good thing to hold the AGM. Personally, the interim committee decides on an ad hoc basis and as a result long-term planning is neglected. You lose the woods from the tree. It takes a long time to plan it out and produce cricketers of international standard. Infrastructure, training facilities - all these have to be planned. We must thank the Minister for having the AGM. Ranjith Samarasekera, President of Negombo Cricket Club: The club is 50 years old with a 124-membership: "We are all for having the AGM. This is one of the excuses they (Interim Committees) have been making all the time. They don't want to take any constructive action because it will be overruled by a new administration. Whether it is for good or bad is left to be seen, but the AGM is a must. Cricket should be devoid of political influence. I myself served 15 years in the BCCSL. Now the Ministry interferes in decision-making. Development-wise Negombo CC has suffered. For instance, the BCCSL can make use of places like the Kadirana Cricket Stadium. It is a huge stadium which could be of service to our club which has no ground of our own. We have to practice on the playing strip while there are only 5 middle strips. These are areas the BCCSL has to look into and develop. Iqbal Hussain, President, Colombo Cricket Club (CCC): "It is fantastic news. It is time the BCCSL comes out of this crisis and have democratically elected ex-co members from members of clubs. As for an interim committee, they are not under obligation to listen to us unless elected by us. Triphon Mirando, President, Tamil Union: "It's an excellent thing. I used to always feel that an Interim Committee that could do a good job should continue. The BCCSL was embroiled in various scandals that I thought that it was a very good thing that a group of gentlemen should put it on its feet. It happened for sometime only. Whoever is elected should be supported if they are doing the right thing. Because it is the cricket that matters. For it is cricket that brought about a change to everybody's lives when the country was faced with various problems. I only hope that with the holding of the AGM there won't be any problems. No untoward incidents. Janaka Pathirana, Secretary, Kandy District Cricket Association (KDCA): There are 11 clubs including the Kandy Cricket Club (KCC) and Kandy Youth Cricket Club (KYCC). "It's a good thing to have the AGM. Firstly, we must thank the Prime Minister and Minister of Sports for enabling the conducting of the hustings. We expected the Board AGM so that we can elect members through the clubs so that we can go and talk about our club needs and shortcomings. It augurs well for the future of cricket." Sunil Fernando, Secretary, Bloomfield: "Elections to the BCCSL has been something long overdue. We appreciate that elections are to be held after so many years." (S.O.) |
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