World watched the Sanath humiliation

The talk where sports fans, especially cricket fans gathered last week was the disgrace heaped on Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, arguably the best all-round cricketer that the game has produced.

Sports fans watching the shocking scenes that were being enacted in the Caribbean on TV, were mouthing curses unable to understand what sin Jayasuriya had committed to suffer shame.

In both games, Sri Lanka v New Zealand and Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, with Sri Lanka losing early wickets and looking down the barrel, cricket fans were waiting in anticipation to see the master blaster walk in and unleash his belligerent and devastating stroke play.

But the scenes that began to unfold, to say the least, was shocking and disgusting. How a man who had served Sri Lanka cricket so faithfully, honestly and successfully could be treated with utter disregard and disrespect was unacceptable.

Excuses to say that Jayasuriya was held back because the situation demanded it, must be told to the marines. The situations were so desperate with quick wickets falling that the situations were tailor made for Jayasuriya to walk in and launch a counter assault.

As for us we have no doubt that it was revenge that was at the bottom of the humiliation on Jayasuriya. And the humiliation was not only on Jayasuriya, it was humiliation and embarrassment on those who were instrumental in the master-blaster getting back into the game.

It was apparent before the Indian Premier League, that Jayasuriya's continuation in the game was disliked by some persons. Although names were not named, it was apparent that the barbs were targeting Jayasuriya.

At one time, the talk was that Jayasuriya has it in him to continue till the next ICC 50-over World Cup that is to be played in the sub continent. But suddenly his supporters who were singing his praises have done a quick turn and turned detractors and are baying for his blood. How funny?

No individual however competent or powerful or however great he thinks he is, should be allowed to hold a player and the game to ransom, or ridicule or embarrassment it in the eyes of the locals or the international public.

He must understand that the good name of the game and country is more important and that the game's the thing. If he is unable or not willing to understand this, then he will be doing the game a great favour if he doesn't waste his time and the time of the others by hanging up his gloves, boots, pads, bat or whatever immediately.

It was also apparent that the team is not playing as one unit. In any team sport there has to be that thing called team spirit. When any sportsman takes the field the initial thing inculcated in him is to be a team man.

He is told that at no cost should he disagree with the team or cause dissention in it. To play a straight bat, is the great and time honoured axiom that every sportsperson is taught the moment he begins to handle a bat.

If he or she is not in agreement with team selections or the strategy employed, the best thing for the dissenter to do is to gracefully quit the team and not take revenge on the individual or the individuals whom he dislikes or is in disagreement with.

At the time of writing, the Lankans must thank their lucky stars, that man for all seasons, the indispensable former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena and the Guyana rain for entering the Super Eight.

When this is being read the Lankans would have figured in the first super eight clash with the mighty West Indians, and on form and if the current trend of not playing as a team continues, then they should be on losing side.

And if that happens it would be a calamity on the game, considering that we were losing finalists in England last year. We could have won that final if we played with more purpose, discipline and responsibility.

But whatever the outcome, whether we make further progress or not in the tournament, Sri Lanka Cricket is duty bound to set in motion a committee of inquiry, give that committee all the powers to probe every shortcoming and make suggestions that would not see ugly scenes being ever repeated once the squad returns.

But what was also intriguing was that the powers that be at the scene of action being helpless to stem the rot and the ugly scenes that were taking place being apparent to even toddlers taking to the game.

Duckworth and Lewis

Those watching rain-marred games in the ICC Twenty20 now in progress in the Caribbean question the wisdom of bringing the Duckworth/Lewis system to decide on the games spoilt by rain as has happened in Guyana.

Twenty20 cricket is a comedy and cricket fans ask whether the good names of Duckworth and Lewis be also brought to ridicule by bringing their system into play.

Paul Collingwood, the England captain frustrated in having to concede victory to the West Indies on the Duckworth/Lewis system was furious and although he did not like the system, did not show it, but made it known what he thinks about it.

That the Duckworth/Lewis system is a comedy like the Twenty20 bash was apparent by what happened in the Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe game which was curtailed by rain.

After Sri Lanka batted the full quota of Twenty overs, the Zimbabweans required something like 9 runs per over in their twenty. But when the overs were reduced according to D/L system and when the Zimbabweans began their chase after the rains ceased and the overs were reduced, they required something like 10 per over. It looked ridiculous.

The International Cricket Council will do well to be more sensible in their thinking and not only concentrate on the big dollars that are flooding from comedy tournaments like this, but evolve a system where the rain-marred games could be replayed. If not let the teams share the points.