Press Box at Sara Stadium lack basic facilities - Foreign media

By Ranjan Anandappa

The Press Box at the P.Saravanamuthu Stadium and the facilities provided to the media even at other venues too, have come under severe criticism for lacking in basic requirements by the local and foreign journalists who have been assigned to cover the on-going cricket series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Modern day cricket no longer resembles the cricket played in the past. With that, in mind, several aspects related to the game too, has also changed drastically. One such aspect is the modern IT. Gone are the days the clattering of the typewriter and rushing to a fax machine to send one's copy. The information technology has superseded all these.

Some of the shortcomings for the press were highlighted on previous occasions too in Sri Lanka, but it hit a new law. Last Tuesday prior to the first day of the 2nd Test between the host country Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the P.Sara Stadium, things flared up when the media personnel thoroughly displayed their anger over the rickety arrangements made for them to cover the match.

Kuldip Lal, the reputed Sports Editor of AFP, a widely travelled journalist, who is covering the Test series said that the facilities for the media in Sri Lanka is not very good at all. The basic or the minimum facilities which are needed are just not there.

"Sri Lanka, being such a big playing centre and having frequent tours, have not got the basic facilities at the Sara Stadium nor at the other venues either for the press.

"I came here in 1985 when India played here, and the press box was not built like the way it is now, but it should have improved the facilities".

He stressed that there were no power points to fix the computers and other basic facilities and surely they are not asking for these facilities free of charge. Press boxes around the world have improved dramatically, even at Lord's, where they had that stiff mentality and did not bother much during the past but now Lord's have built a new press box. It should be done to make the lives easier for the pressmen.

Even during the first Test at the SSC, climbing up the flight of steps and watching has a great view, which is all fine, but the question arises as to why the authorities can't put up a permanent structure", was Kuldip's point.

"I spoke to some people at the SSC and they said that the ground doesn't belong to Sri Lanka Cricket and they have to pay to stage cricket matches at the SSC. Surely the SSC can raise funds to build a better press box. I do not know what will happen in the third Test in Kandy because it seems to be the worse press box," he said.

"Media 'boxes' around the world have changed so much, and it cannot be just temporary structures whenever there is a game. Why can't Sri Lanka have permanent facilities."

"I was told that the dressing rooms of the players aren't good either, if the air conditioning doesn't work, they will have to be in the open. There has to be an improvement."

Kuldip Lal said that he doesn't know about the politics of the place, but SLC who is also in charge of the game and the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club hosted the Second Test: So there is a common trade between the two, and that is the game. It is a Test match and not a three-day game or something like that. So the journalists may be from any country, but they should get the media facilities.

"I do not blame the Media Manager Samantha Algama because he cannot do anything with regard to this matter. He can only work under the prevailing environment. The ICC has set up certain basic rules for media coverage which was not there.England will be here at the end of the year, and India are coming here in an year's time, and the Indian media is about 120 or 130 people and a big contingent, so to provide the facilities to them there should be a big improvement. So SLC and the clubs should take interest and work together to make the press box a better place to work", concluded Kuldip Lal.

Utpal Shuvro the Sports Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo of Bangladesh said that It was a bit surprising that day at the Saravanamugttu Stadium. He was aware that the facilities for the media were not that good. But he never thought that it was going to be so bad.

"When I arrived, it was utter chaos. There was a cut in the power supply, the TVs were out of order and the people seated in the back row were unable to see the play in progress. It was amazing at the woeful conditions because Sri Lanka has been playing Test cricket for the past 25 years and the country has a long tradition for cricket. So it came as a shock for me. What was lacking at the press box was nothing special but the basic requirements. The authorities should have known better, because these matches have been scheduled very much in advance. So, there is no excuse. He stressed that the press box should be air-conditioned. Because it is a long game. The pressmen come around nine in the morning and finish up at nine or ten in the night. It is difficult to spend about twelve hours in the hot and humid conditions. There are no internet facilities", he said.

I am proud of Bangladesh because the guys who went there from Sri Lanka will tell one and all about the excellent facilities that were provided, although Bangladesh started playing Test cricket seven years ago. We had the luxury of having the place air-conditioned with meticulous seating arrangements.

That is important. One might say that journalists are always complaining. One cannot sit on a hard chair or an uncomfortable chair for twelve hours. In Bangladesh we have free Internet facilities and a separate computer room for any journalist who does not possess a lap top.

These things could be done in Sri Lanka and it's just a matter of realising the important part that the media plays in cricket and not just doing a favour," he said.

This has been Utpal Shuvro's fifth visit to the Island which he loves very much. Since his first visit in 1994 things have not improved very much, accept the press box at the R. Premadasa Stadium. "I hope when I come the next time things would have fallen into order and will not have to emphasise on bigger things because I love Sri Lanka and the people", concluded Utpal Shuvro.

Media Manager of Bangladesh Cricket Rabeeb Imam said that an ideal media centre is one that makes the journalists feel comfortable.

The journalists need a working place where the facilities should be within their reach. Things like the Internet, television, fax machines, telephones, photo copying machines are essential items. The press facilities differ from country to country and it is very basic here and there is definitely room for improvement. If they are going to host more matches in the future, there is scope to get things better organised in Sri Lanka."

Mohammad Sekander Ali from Shamol Banga Media Ltd., said that in Bangladesh the media centre is well-regulated and could hold the capacity of 100 journalists in air conditioned comfort with excellent dining facilities and a special enclosure even for smokers. Internet, phone calls, are freely available but in Sri Lanka all these are very costly.

In countries like India, England and Australia media is given top priority. They are prepared to help anyone who seeks assistance, but sorry to say in Sri Lanka some lack this quality.