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| Sunday, 17 October 2004 |
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'Give all clubs super status' by SRIAN OBEYESEKERE Only a definition of direction by streamlining all clubs to equal super status which will bring the vital cog of the rural cricketing community to the mainstream would see the game flourish in Sri Lanka. The best example of this bane as far as development is concerned is the fact that of the 16 clubs throughout the island, only the Sinhalese Sports Club, and the Nondescript S.C. to a lesser degree, are equipped with all facilities. Sorrily, the rest of the clubs have still not reached the prerequisite of 'equal status' despite the country having gained Test status 22 years ago. This far-sighted observation was made by Kushil Gunasekera (48), Manager of Sri Lankan superstar Muttiah Muralitharan, an executive member in three interim administrations of the then Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL). Gunasekera, a think tank in so much as winning ICC acclaim for Sri Lanka for his organising capacity of the 2000 Under-19 Youth World Cup headed by him here, described by the parentbody at Lord's as having 'showcased the championship to the rest of the world,' said, "The time has come for the needs of the clubs to be addressed if we are to go anywhere. No matter who does it as long as this project to transform the dormant clubs is carried out. Let anybody do it, it should be done for the greater good of cricket. The SSC should be the benchmark. Besides the rural clubs, look at some of the older Colombo based clubs like Colts, BRC and CCC. They still do not have wholesome infrastructure facilities. All cricketers representing Division-I clubs should be made to be equal facility-wise as well as professionally whether they come from affluent Colombo clubs or the rural community. Only then can they develop as professionals." Gunasekera, who, said that 'I don't have any hidden agendas and will never come forward for any Board elections', reiterated that this plea comes from the 'bottom of my heart in the interest of the game.' Citing less affluent clubs like Sebastianites and Chilaw Marians S.C., Gunasekera, Secretary in the last Malalasekera interim committee, struck a chord. "Sebastianites have no ground of their own even today, but they won the Division-I trophy once, Chilaw Marians have done well. But do they enjoy the facilities that Colombo clubs enjoy? Given adequate facilities imagine how much better they will perform. Like for instance, if we have the facilities Australia have, how much better we would fare. This reality must be realised when we would see the day star-studded status arrives covering good ground facilities, adequate covers - in fact, many clubs do not have the basic necessity of ground covers when it rains. Take Panadura - it has not grown the way it should. A good gym, ground, swimming pool and other ground facilities, maintenance equipment like lawn movers, super which even League States in Australia have are some of the motivating aspects that the administration had to immediately address itself to make all clubs self reliant. "The administration could strike an agreement or contract with the clubs to maintain such standards," Gunasekera said noting that the accruing benefits would resultantly be the membership growth which was the key. He cited an US aid programme he successfully completed in redoing ten schools in the South which created immense motivation and inspiration among the children. Today, detriminally, the rural cricketer was making it to the metropolis to join the star studded SSC to which there was a scramble because they felt that else they could not gain selection to play for Sri Lanka. He said that he was touching on this all important aspect of developing of the game from his first hand knowledge as an organiser where he knew the ground situation. Let anybody do it. It'll make a solid transformation of the rural cricketers in so much as building a solid foundation. "If we don't upgrade the clubs they'll always stay at the same level, and today the Board is financially able to do it," said Gunasekera who also saw the need to remunerate club players like Pakistan was doing today where Division-I players were paid Rs. 500,000 annually. |
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