We show the way, others follow

Writing in this column last Sunday, I mentioned that the match-fixing allegations being made against cricketers could be a conspiracy to lower the morale and unsettle the sub continent cricketers now that the 2011 World Cup is to be played there.

Now what is interesting is that those who were quick to make false allegations against some of the Sri Lanka cricketers, saying that they are involved in match-fixing doing an about turn, change their stance and now follow the leader the Sunday Observer saying that this is a conspiracy against the cricketers from the sub continent.

How these former cricketers could quickly change their colours and stance and become turn courts are inexplicable. Apparently ignorant of what contradiction means, they revel in this and responsible newspapers allow their valuable space to be abused. These former cricketers who have now lost their cool, now that they are in lost land have become laughing stocks. And that's how they will remain.

Inhuman tactics

At the time of writing, the match-fixing allegations are being slapped on cricketers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. No cricketers from England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies or Zimbabwe are being mentioned as being involved with these inhuman tactics, which is great credit to them and an example to other cricketers.

To see a team from the sub continent winning the prestigious World Cup is anathema, especially to the countries that have yet to lay their hands on this glittering trophy.

The spot match-fixing allegations against the three Pakistani cricketers - Salman Butt, Mohammed Aamer and Mohammed Asif emanated from the British 'News of the World' newspaper.

Fingers crossed

Now the cricketing world is waiting with fingers crossed watching as to how the authorities that matter are going to prove the allegations against the three Pakistani cricketers.

At the moment the three Pakistanis have been banned from the game by the International Cricket Council. The threesome have said and maintain that they are innocent. The ICC must not only see, but act quickly and not drag their feet on the future of these three cricketers.

Cricket, today is the livelihood of most cricketers. So it is paramount on the part of the 'News of the World', Scotland Yard and the ICC that they slap charges, if available on the three cricketers, otherwise not feel shy to release the cricketers from the trauma that they are suffering at the moment.

Bright future

Former England Captain Michael Atherton sided with young left arm paceman Mohammed Aamer asking those who matter not to be too harsh with the young man, apparently because he has a very bright future ahead of him.

In the same boat with Atherton is former Pakistani President Perverz Mushraff who is also pleading for leniency against Aamer. But Pakistan Associate Manager Shafqat Rana has said that teenage quick Aamer's age should have no effect on any possible punishment if spot-fixing claims against the young man is proved.

In the meantime there are reports that the players' finances could be probed by the Pakistani tax authorities. It would be good if other countries too follow the example of the Pakistani tax authorities and probe the finances of their cricketers.

Mahela Jayawardena fails

There is an insensible cry from the half baked to open with Mahela Jayawardena in the 2011 World Cup to be played in the sub continent early next year. Although our voice will be treated as a cry from the wilderness, we think it would be silly to sacrifice Jayawardena as an opener.

Look what happened in the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa where Jayawardena was pushed to open. He was prized out second ball for no score and how meekly the rest of the batting collapsed and what ultimately happened is history now.

During the 2011 World Cup Jayawardena will have a tremendous responsibility thrust on him. Not only will he have to carry the batting on his reliable shoulders, he will also have to act as shadow captain.

He will be well advised not to take on unnecessary pressure on himself. If Sanath Jayasuriya, who says he will be making a strong bid for inclusion in the 2011 World Cup fails in his attempt, Jayawardena will be the elder statesman.

Paramount

Then it is paramount that he stays calm, cool and collected when World Cup matches are called 'play'. He must be free of responsibility and pressure so that he could play his usual match winning knocks and not allow the opposing bowlers to scalp him early.

If Jayawardena is forced into opening and if he is scalped early, there will be no batsman to take on the responsibility, steady the innings and see the team reach a formidable score.

He might make a big score as opener in the next Champions League Twenty20 in SA. But Twenty20 is not 50-over cricket. So we hope the think tanks in Sri Lanka cricket will see reason and not kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

Jayawardena has what it takes to play a big part in Sri Lanka's endeavour to win the World Cup. It must be remembered that he led the Sri Lankans into the World Cup final in the Caribbean in 2007. That he could not beat the Aussies and hold aloft the World Cup was just bad luck.

Zainul passes away

One of Sri Lanka's best ever soccer players A Zainulabdeen passed away last week after a brief illness. He was in his early seventies. 'Zainul' as he was fondly called, played in the mid field and what a player he was.

He sported Sri Lanka colours for well over a decade in the sixties and seventies. A player with his talent - he could excel in any position on the field and would also have hit the net. But he was always a team man and passing the ball so that others could score was his forte.

I covered soccer in the sixties and seventies for the now defunct Times of Ceylon while my school mate and St. Benedict's College goal keeper Gamini Perera was a soccer expert in the Daily Mirror.

Best in the world

That was the era when Zainulabdeen along with players who could have held their own against the best in the world - P.D. Sirisena, Mahinda Aluvihare, Edward Wickremasuriya, M.A. Ameer, Denzil Walles, Hashim Deen, Lawrence Fernando, Subani Hashimdeen to mention a few were peerless.

Manilal Fernando, the football god in Sri Lanka realising the potential in Zainulabdeen, appointed him national coach and Technical Director of the national team.

Slave Island one of the cradles of Sri Lanka soccer went into mourning the moment his death was known because as coach he produced 90 percent of players who played for the country from Slave Island.