Sportscope

IPL players heave a sigh of relief

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

Players, officials and all concerned with the Indian Premier League will heave a sigh of relief now that Twenty20 Tournament will be called play on April 18 in South Africa. With the senseless terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan Cricketers in Lahore, Pakistan many of the international stars who had signed to play in the Indian Premier League were wary of making it to India.

Then to add to IPL woes, the Indian elections is to be held during the time the tournament was slated to be played and the Indian Government said they cannot guarantee security for the playing of the tournament.

Then when it looked as though the tournament would be a "no show" this time round, the organisers of the IPL Twenty20 who refused to take no for an answer, instead of giving the tournament a miss, fished to hold it in some other country and while the names of a few countries were bandied about, including Sri Lanka and England, the organisers finally settled for South Africa.

The IPL Twenty20 was given birth in India and should have been held in its country of birth. But forces beyond the control of the organisers made them switch it to Protea land.

But we make bold to say that the tournament would never be the same like when it was played in India where cricket is a religion. India had the glamour and the attraction for a tournament of this magnitude.

True that South Africa has the venues to play this long drawn out tournament. Incidentally it must said that South Africa would be conducting football's showpiece, the World Cup 2011. But this cricket tournament is not going to have the full houses like it did when it was held in the sub continent.

The Asian population in South Africa is not, or nowhere as large in size like in India. True places like Pretoria and Durban have an Asian population and these venues could see a crowd.

But the playing centres would not see a crowd that the organisers and sponsors would be wishing for. But the IPL is overflowing with dollars, that they would not be unduly worried of crowd participation. But it must be accepted that it is the crowd that keeps shouting that makes the game interesting and provides inspiration to the participants.

If crowds fail to turn up it would look like a carnival without lights.

But after all is said and done, the Chairman of IPL Twenty20 Lalit Modi at whom a lot of unjust criticism has been levelled and the Organising Committee must be given pats on their backs, for weathering all storms and making the much looked forward to Twenty20 show a reality in South Africa.

They have cocked a snook at their detractors. We wish them and the Twenty20 that was a breath taking success last year will meet with the same success this time round.

The Sri Lankan cricketers who had signed to play in the IPL would certainly have heaved a sigh of relief when it was finally confirmed that the show would be held in South Africa.

Most of the players involved preferred to play in the Indian tourney and not on a tour of England that was haphazardly arranged, unfortunately when the Twenty20 was on. Had the IPL failed to materialise, they would have been neither here nor there.

Lionel Pieris was a pillar

The passing away of Lionel Pieris, one of the best custodians between the posts for his club Saunders and Sri Lanka, removes from our midst another colourful personality.

The very best of Pieris was very rarely seen because another stalwart was excelling between the posts for Sri Lanka Hashim Deen. Deen at that time was tagged the best goal keeper in Asia. Such was his brilliance between the uprights.

But when the opportunity came Pieris' way, he proved to be as good as Hashisdeen. When the defence was beaten by the opposing strikers, Pieris showed his class by refusing to be beaten.

From whatever angles kicks were directed to breach his defence, Pieris would dive here, there and everywhere and save certain goals. One game that I was fortunate to watch was the game between Sri Lanka and Southampton a first division club from England played at the old Sugathadasa Stadium under lights in the early seventies.

The Southampton strikers who were world class kept kicking at goal from angles. They even headed balls with speed at goal. But found Pieris unbeatable. That match saw one of the most dazzling displays of goalkeeping from Pieris.

It amazed even the Southamptons, and although they won it was by a small margin. After the game they were all wondering and praising the efforts of Pieris and said that he is equal or even better than some of the goalkeepers in England.

The crowd that packed the stadium that night to see the artistry of the English footballers,watched flabbergasted as Pieris put on show his own display. Ultimately the crowd was not cheering the opponents, but it was Pieris for whom they were reserving their cheers.

Once his playing days were over as captain and goalie of Sri Lanka, he took to coaching and was one of the best in the business. It must be recalled that when football in Kurunegala, especially Pelicans Sports Club was down, the present UNP MP Johnston Fernando who was in charge of the game there, requested Manilal Fernando who was the football boss then to release Pieris to coach Pelicans.

In a couple of years Pieris formed Pelicans into a much feared and match winning combination and today the Pelicans are playing first division football.

Manilal Fernando described Pieris thus: "I got to know Pieris before I moved into administering the game. He always proved a hard worker and all jobs entrusted to him was performed to perfection. I always welcomed his advice because it came from the heart. He excelled in administration and I had no hesitation in making him the Director of the football complex that was formed in Hambantota by the FFSL and the German Football Association. I will certainly miss his guidance and influence", said Fernando. Chrysantha Perera, CEO of FFSL said that Pieris was simple and always accommodating.

Rukmal Perera, Media Director FFSL said: "Pieris was humble and a friend indeed." The huge crowd that attended his funeral was ample testimony for his popularity.

May he attain Nibbana !