Cricket selectors not to blame

The cricket selectors have very unfortunately come in for uncharitable criticism. That is because they had left Jeevantha Kulantunga and Chaminda Vaas out of the squad from which the final team will be picked for the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean next month.

First, it is good to understand that selectors in whatever sport do a thankless job but are also known to act in mysterious ways for those who may be uninformed. On the other hand like all human beings they are also fallible and tend to make mistakes. In such instances they should be open to criticism and debate. Bashing them is not the solution but raising the issues is constructive if done and taken in the right spirit.

To their credit the selectors headed by former fast bowling all rounder Ashantha de Mel have endeavored to do a job to the satisfaction of the majority - and that includes the players, the officials and the public.

Credentials

They are there for a purpose. They have the credentials and qualifications. This is a post that is onerous. The burden they carry is not a walk in the park! In their judgment they feel they pick the best men for the job. Indeed they are accountable to both their own conscience and to the appointing authority, the Minister of Sport. The matters should end there, rather than allow those with ulterior motives to resort to machinations to achieve their ends. In such instances the intrusions and intruders should be exposed.

Dream run

Clearly this column submits that the selectors, given their proven competence and foresight, would have had their reasons for not including the high scoring Kulatunga in the original squad of 30. Kulatunga had a dream run with the bat for Wayamba in the Inter-District Twenty20 tournament.

The selectors then saw reason and did not waste time in seeking the approval of the International Cricket Council to include Kulatunga in the pool making it 31. The delay in including Kulatunga was due to having to wait for approval from the ICC. Now Kulatunga has been included and alls well that ends well.

Now arises the question as to why former Sri Lankan paceman Chaminda Vaas had also not been included in the pool. True Vaas bowled economically in the Twenty20 tourney.

Splendid spells

But he really nudged the selectors after his splendid spells in the ongoing Indian Premier League Twenty20 in India for the Deccan Chargers. Vaas has really unwound and his bowling is reminiscent of the peak that he once achieved.

But what is questionable is whether his efforts for Deccan Chargers came too late. According to sources, the selectors had sought the approval of the ICC to expand the squad by including Kulatunga and now Vaas. Will the ICC relent and allow the inclusion of Vaas?. We see no reason why the ICC shouldn't.

Selectors in every sport will do well to understand that however good and honest their selections, there will always be the frustrated critic or critics who are also doing a job and would want to pick holes. The selectors should stand by their convictions.

Premadasa Stadium renovated

The R. Premadasa Stadium, originally the Khettarama Stadium is being renovated to host the ICC 50 over World Cup matches next year. In addition to early round games, the Premadasa Stadium will also host a semi-final.

Work is going on apace and when World Cup match time comes around, the stadium will meet the needed lofty standards, and be able to hold its own against the best in the world.

Then it will be a fitting tribute to the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa who made it his business to transform a marshy land into the only stadium in the country with the facilities to conduct day-night matches. Memories are short and it is nothing but proper that exceptional attention that the late President gave to the uplift of the neglected grounds be acknowledged.

Record time

Like he did in renovating the Sugathadasa Stadium, he put in charge his able lieutenant Sirisena Cooray who worked like a beaver galvanizing all workers to put their shoulders to the wheel and complete the stadium in record time.

When it came to conducting the prestigious World Cup matches it required that the stadium be renovated and given a new look. It would have been sad to see the stadium being brought down.

Those who matter will do well to understand, that it is not the buildings in the stadium that would matter, but most importantly it is how the turf wickets will play. Previously the wickets were found wanting and the sides batting second had no chance and failed to be competitive.

Turf wicket experts

Now with the ICC spending on the renovating of the stadium, Sri Lanka Cricket would do well to ask the ICC to send experts who can prepare wickets that would see the games going the full distance and not ending prematurely.

Recent history tells us that when a side bats first, the wicket plays easy. But when the side bats second the wicket suddenly becomes a viper or, if one is to get colloquial displays the traits of a polanga.

What we need to ensure is that the turf does not behave in a manner that forces a game to end prematurely. In such an event the ICC, the sponsors and the TV sponors and not least the paying public and cricket fans all stand to lose. Not least, Sri Lanka Cricket administration as a host will lose credibility. That could be damaging. Hence the need to go beyond the "invented here syndrome" and seek the advice of wicket experts. I bet the ICC would only be too glad to oblige.

Lankans fail in IPL

It is sad to see the Lankan batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena and Tillekeratne Dilshan failing to oblige with the willow in the on going IPL Twenty20 in India.

Glorious are the uncertainties in cricket and I guess in this case its more that ill-luck played a big part. Our batsmen seem to lacking in luck, much to the disappointment of their teams, but above all the cricket thirsty spectators.

The above mentioned are Sri Lanka's master batsmen who are the darlings of the crowd wherever they play. But this sudden slump hopefully will be a temporary setback. What was unpalatable was the dropping of the two champion batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillekeratne Dilshan. But such is the price that one has to pay when one is in the clutches or a competitive and unforgiving commercial series. They will need to keep their chins up!