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| Sunday, 12 February 2006 |
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Straight Talk by Lal Gunesekera Amateurish arrangements at Youth Cricket World Cup bad for Sri Lanka's image The organisational capabilities for an event such as the Youth (Under-19) Cricket World Cup which is now in progress in Colombo, should have been in the hands of capable individuals with proven abilities. But what we came across so far is amateurish. Take for example the opening ceremony that was held at the Taj Samudra Hotel on Independence Day (February 4). The mega event got off on the wrong foot with cameramen been kept away from the event. Who was responsible for this blunder? I now understand that cameramen are to be permitted access to the closing ceremony, but I wonder how many shutter bugs will decide to attend after the Independence Day episode! It was the cameramen again who were harassed - this time by the security personnel at various venues where matches were played. Some of them were not permitted to take "action" photographs from points that they (the cameramen) considered vantage. It's the cameramen who know from which point or angle to take pictures. After all, they are professionals. The security personnel did not seem to know head or tail about the game of cricket. Now comes the Press Box-Certainly there were fax machines and telephones that were made available. But what about the other facilities? Lunch (sic) was served in an over-sized box with a very tiny apple for desert (most likely). Many visiting pressmen were seen leaving the venues and returning with food from either MacDonalds, KFC or Pizza Hut. It left a bad taste in the mouths of the visiting media personnel. Who was responsible for giving the order for the catering for the media? Then there was the refrigerator. What did it contain? There was just one (yes, one) mega bottle of Pepsi and a plastic tumbler!! Thrown in during the afternoon was a cup of tea. Responsible and capable persons must be put in charge of various committees for such a world event as the Youth World Cup. ICC please note! It was also sad to see the lack of spectator interest for an event of this nature. Even when our own side was involved in a match, there were hardly any spectators. There were no entrance tickets, no radio and live television coverage, but the cricket fans failed to grab the opportunity of witnessing future stars in action. What a shame!! ***** Keep out Sunday Observer! The media accreditation application forms for the Youth (under-19) Cricket World Cup were accepted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) not later than December 10 last year (2005). However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), never sent these forms to the Sunday Observer until one of our staff journalists, inquired about the accreditation from the Media Co-ordinator of SLC, Samantha Algama. It was only then that our reporter was given the forms on January 4. On January 5, the forms were duly filled and handed over to the Media Co-ordinator, who accepted our Journalists application, but mine was rejected the following day (January 6). Our cameraman Kavindra Perera too was refused accreditation on the basis that he represented the Sunday Observer, but finally managed to get it through the good office of some person at SLC at the request made by ANCL Pictures Editor, Indrajith Perera. Could not SLC issue media accreditation to local media personnel for the entire year as was the case during the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) during the time of former Secretaries, Nisal Senaratne and Bandula de Silva? It will save problems for both media personnel and SLC. **** What luxury What luxury for certain committee members of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)> earlier, only certain employees were entitled to cars, but now, three members of various committees, including an individual who is supposed to work in a honourary capacity in the National Development Committee, are driving around in cars provided by SLC. *** Provincial coaches A former club cricketer who migrated down under several years ago, was told to return home to take up an appointment with SLC. But after many months of been in the wilderness, he has been made a provincial coach in-charge of the Eastern Province and Dambulla because he is conversant in the Tamil language. Another individual with experience and proven ability has been "knocked out" to accommodate a former Ananda Cricketer at the last moment. He has only coached at under-13 and under-15 level. I also understand that eight provincial coaches have been recruited by SLC at a sum of Rs. 75,000 per month, and now, SLC are even considering providing them with cars too. *** Challenge accepted? The chieftain of SLC has challenged a scribe to prove that certain cricketers (numbering four to be exact) were not paid their match fees for the 2004-05 season by the club of which he heads down south. He has said that he is prepared to step down if this allegation is proved by the scribe. The four cricketers were recruited by this particular club from other clubs in the outskirts of the metropolis. True, the home town cricketers were paid (that too after quite a while), but not these four cricketers, who have now refused to play again for this club down south. Another comment that was made at this particular media briefing at the auditorium of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, was that in future the media may have to send the questions before hand if answers are to be given at a media briefing. What a funny and peculiar statement! What's the point of a media briefing if questions are to be put prior to an event? *** What trials? The Commonwealth Games will be staged in Melbourne, Australia next month (March). Three shooters were selected to represent the country, but another (a pistol shooter) from the Police was included by the national body after he protested. The normal practise is to conduct three or four trials before a team is selected, but in this instance, there was absolutely none, although the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports were informed that there were trials. There were only two meets conducted last year (2005), but not an Olympic level competition. The so-called national coach hardly visits the range, but draws a salary of Rs. 15,000 from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. *** No statement recorded yet No statement has yet been recorded by the Grandpass Police from the person who was in charge of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA) who were robbed of about Rs. 1 1/2 lakhs in cash about two weeks ago. This official was one of the persons who had the master-key to the accounts section. Yet on the SNSCA, what action does the Chairman who was re-appointed, contemplate taking on the controversial tender deal of electronic timing devices which was awarded without proper procedure? Isn't the Chairman answerable? The SNSCA is still awaiting for the monies due to it from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for staging matches of the Indian Oil Cup One-Day Triangular (Rs. 18 million) and the on-going Youth World Cup (about Rs. 9 million). When will this be paid? *** Athlete vanishes A top long distance runner has left for England to gain employment even without informing his coaches, leave alone the authorities concerned. However, this athlete's mother had taken a letter and drawn the Rs. 20,000 per month that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports gives him after four or five days after his departure to London. After every race this athlete won, he was gifted with a lot of money and he would have earned at least Rs. 10 to 15 lakhs alone. Even the Army, where he was attached, used to increase his salary with every triumph as an incentive. That is "gratitute"!! **** Overlooked Anne Maheshi Silva (28), Sri Lanka's top javelin thrower, who holds the national record, has been overlooked for the Super Pool where an athlete gets Rs. 20,000 per month, but confined to the national pool where she is paid only Rs. 3,000 per month. All this, after she won bronze medals at the 2003 and 2005 Asian Championships and even a gold at the 2004 South Asian Games. She was placed fourth at the Afro-Asian Games in 2003. She is thoroughly dejected and accuses the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA) of favouritism and according to her only sprinters are recognised.
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