|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 14 November 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Straight talk by Lal Gunasekera Thilanga settles feud between De Mel and Atapattu All's well that ends well. Or is it? The feud between the Chairman of the cricket selectors, Asantha de Mel, and Sri Lanka's captain Marvan Atapattu and tour management seems to have been settled for the time being, brokered by none other than former President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Thilanga Sumithapala. De Mel was rather critical of the stand taken by the tour management of the Sri Lanka team, after youngsters picked by the selectors were not given an opportunity by the tour management to show their potential. This comment was made by De Mel during Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan recently. On the return of the Sri Lanka side to Colombo from Pakistan, Sumathipala, had two meetings at his residence in attempts to settle the dispute between De Mel and Atapattu and even Duleep Mendis, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SLC, too was present at one such meeting. I understand that Sumathipala was determined to settle this feud once and for all for the good of the country's cricket. They met last week and thrashed out certain matters - one to one, and seem to have come to an understanding. I hope it will not resurface again and that there will be a good rapport between the selectors and Atapattu. I also understand that the selectors are keen on relieving Mahela Jayawardene from his vice-captaincy role due to his erratic performances as a batsman and fielder. They (the selectors) are considering giving the vice-captaincy over to Chaminda Vaas. Earlier when Sanath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka's captain, the then selectors removed Jayawardene as vice-captain after poor form with the bat and replaced him with Atapattu. It was then that Jayawardene came into his own again and scored consistently to be reinstated later. Now, again his form has dropped and the selectors have been forced to think about Jayawardene's role as vice-captain. De Mel has also voiced his opinion that he was "uncomfortable" with seven persons serving in the selection committee, has appealed and to Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, to reduce it to four. During these discussions with Sumathipala, it was also discussed about two-year terms for captain, manager, coach and selectors, and a further discussion is to be held at the end of the month between senior players, former Sri Lanka captains and top officials of SLC to draw up a comprehensive plan for our cricket. Responding to the criticism by De Mel, John Dyson the Australian coach of Sri Lanka, has said that the team management has always taken the correct decisions on tour. He had also stated that he (Dyson) would like to have a bigger say on selection matters. I only hope that everything will be sorted out soon and the problems (if there are any) cease. The dreamer The "big wig" of the local soccer, Manilal Fernando, seems to be in a world of his own when he stated in an interview recently that Sri Lanka could come within the first 10 in Asia in 2008-10. He has made similar comments in the past too, but the followers of the game know exactly the standard of the game in Sri Lanka. They cannot be fooled, although Fernando, seems to think otherwise. A couple of days after Fernando made his comment, national coach, Sampath Perera, has gone on record saying that in another six years (2010), Sri Lanka, will find themselves between 15 and 20 in Asia. Fernando has also gone on record to say that the current President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), DIG Gamini Randeni, is a busy person due to his commitments in the Police force, and that Randeni has no experience as Fernando in football administration. What comments to make. Why appoint someone who has "no time" to spare or the "experience" to head a body like the FFSL in the first instance? This seems to be another excuse for Fernando to "run the football show". He (Fernando) has even been critical of the Editors Guild. I can only tell him "Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread". Omar admits The Secretary of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), Iswan Omar, has at last admitted that the SLRFU is facing financial difficulties. This comes in the wake of the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Association (SLRRA) stating that their referees have yet to be paid by the SLRFU for officiating in the second-round of the Caltex League and Caltex Clifford Cup Knock-Out Championships this year. Whilst admitting that they (the SLRFU) has "no money, Omar, says that the referees will be paid "soon". I wonder when that will be, as this is not the first instance that the SLRFU has defaulted in their payments to the SLRRA. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
