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| Sunday, 21 December 2003 |
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No place for Southern Province tourney record holder Indika de Saram! by SRIAN OBEYESEKERE To be given a raw deal by the selectors is the worst thing that can happen to an aspiring cricketer. Of course, we have heard of so many such instances in the past, like the Sumithra Warnakulasuriya story. But now we hear of it again ironically when the cricket authorities manifested under a new umbrella called 'Sri Lanka Cricket' has sworn all holy of giving due recognition to talent with emphasis on the rural cricketer under a much touted ambitious dream of becoming the best cricket playing country in the world. But can we believe that the country is in fact on the road to such riches when we hear of heart breaks among cricketers knocking on the door for a break? A case in example is the sorry story of Bloomfield's Indika de Saram. Born and bred in Matara, where he schooled at St. Thomas' Indika has been playing club cricket in Colombo which he made home 10 years ago. But all the dreams of a starry-eyed teenager, who left his native town to brave the odds of financial constraints and unemployment to better a cricket career which began with a record treble century, seem to have crashed on the rocks. The heartbreaking tale that De Saram relates in the resignation that his career is good as over is not the best thing that can happen to Sri Lankan cricket. "I have been the victim of not getting the nod from many selection committees and I feel my talent has not found deserving reward. First, my ambition of playing for Sri Lanka evaporated when I was never considered after a few matches in 1999 which was hardly sufficient exposure to make an impact. My next shattered dream was when I was overlooked from the 'A' team recently despite scoring 140 in a trial match to pick the squad to South Africa this year. But I have taken in all the thorns gamely. But what I feel is the most shattering blow of all is finding myself left out of the Southern Province squad of 15 for one hailing from Matara, despite holding the tournament record of 227 when the Provincial Tournament was started in 1992," lamented this gifted right handed batsman. And De Saram, who switched clubs from Tamil Union to Bloomfield this year, could justifiably believe so. At the age 30, it looks like the long line of discouragements has finally come a full circle. Despite the undisputable trappings of latent talent, the batsman in question has half centuries to his credit since his early years as a youth player against counterparts South Africa who had the likes of Jaques Kallis and Lance Klusener. This hard-hitting batsman has been clearly overlooked with total disregard for experience. Recent selections of the "A' squad to South Africa, Kenya, Pakistan and India of a whole host of youngsters into club cricket not so long ago from school is a stark reflection of that fact. Understandably, what has hurt most is the discarding this son of the South when it came to selections for the upcoming Provincial Tournament despite holding the double 'ton' record as the highest scorer in the tournament. 'Mr. Sri Lanka Cricket' is this what you call giving a better deal. Is this the ideal start to giving rural talent due recognition. "I was the first standby batsman when selections of the 'A' squad were made to South Africa, but when Avishka Gunawardena was injured, I was again overlooked with an allrounder been sent," said De Saram. This season he struck a 12-ball 38 inclusive of 5 sixes while chipping in with match saving knocks as well where occupation of the crease mattered for Bloomfield with knocks of 47 and 37 not out against Colts and 58 versus CCC which saw an improvement in his defence. Turning out for Sri Lanka at this year's Hong Kong Sixes, his 15 sixes was the highest by a batsman in the tournament. 'Mr. Sri Lanka Cricket' is this what you call fair play in giving a better deal to today's cricketer? Is this the ideal start to giving rural talent due recognition when a son of the South has been clearly overlooked despite having the best credentials to be there going on his score of 227?' It is understood that each player would receive a wage of Rs.1 lakh from the upcoming Provincial Tournament which will see 60 players devided into four regions of 15 each. Is it a case of the deserving going to be deprived of their dues while the less deserving become the richer ? |
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