Lasith Malinga still nurses wounds of injustice
Lasith
Malinga as we know him is the lad from Ratgama, a suburb of Galle, who
made it to the elite league by dint of hard work. He hailed from
Devapathiraja MV and Mahinda College, Galle.
He was not a big name in school cricket there. He did not play for
his schools. He was spotted by former Sri Lankan pacie Champaka
Ramanayake while playing softball cricket and brought down to Colombo.
Malinga's astronomical rise in international cricket is grist for the
cricket story books. Not only has he captured the hearts and minds of
cricket lovers in Sri Lanka and world over, his charismatic personality
were a star attraction that added glamour to the game.
During the Sri Lankan tour of the West Indies I bore witness to the
manner in which the crowds would be awe struck by Malinga's feats. Not
to forget that he became the sweetheart of the damsels over there!...
He did when Amisha Patel the bollywood actress during the World Cup
in India. But Malinga had one focus and that was cricket, and only
cricket.
He made it through with sweat and toil - and with tears too.
This is the sad twist to the story of Malinga. Here was a village lad
trying to make it to the big league. Indeed by his own determination,
inherent skill and talent he made it. But that journey would have been
much pleasanter and much easier if he had not been subjected to the
mental agony that he underwent as he was deprived of a contract.
This torture was inflicted we understand from our sources, by the
likes of Arjuna Ranatunga whose machinations deprived Malinga of a
contract - a contact that would have also made his medical treatment and
everything that goes with it sustainable.
When he was nursing an injury to his knee, unable to climb even a
flight of stairs and pondering his future in the game in 2008, he was
deprived of the contract. That was his livelihood. Depriving one of this
means has not only affected the well-being of Malinga but now exposes
the morally evil nature of his superior who now preaches from the hill
top and makes bold to challenge the very leadership of our country under
whose patronage cricket has been given pride of place.
Justifiable reasons
The other day at a media briefing where he gave justifiable reasons
for quitting Test cricket, he was almost in tears when speaking about
the contract that was not given to him.
But it is to the credit and resilience of Malinga that he has
weathered the storm and endured the damage that has been caused. It is
also to his credit that he is gracious not to name names but suffer in
silence and emerge as one of the "glamour lads" world of cricket.
There is no doubt that Malinga is god's gift to the game. He has made
the country proud with his rare style of bowling, with the toe crushing
Yorkers which have been the nemesis of the best of batsmen.
Now that Malinga has decided to quit Test cricket and concentrate on
the limited over game, he should be nurtured and nursed carefully and
given all the encouragement to ply his trade and bring honour to the
country.
No walk in the park
The upcoming tour of England by the Sri Lankan cricketers is not
going to be walk in the park. At the time of writing there is still a
bit of uncertainty as to when all the players figuring in the IPL in
India will return.
However, Sri Lanka will not have the full team out against Middlesex
at Uxbridge in the first warm up game from May 14 to 16. But indications
are that the full team will be available to be picked against the
England Lions at Derbyshire from May 19 to 22.
With this more important tour of England inked in the Future Tours
Program many moons ago, it is inexplicable that arrangements were not
made by the Sri Lanka Cricket and the Indian Board to have the Lankan
players figuring in the IPL to be available for England from the first
match.
As the saying goes there is no use of crying over spilt milk, but to
make do and see that when Test match playing time against England comes
around that the team will be raring to go to win their first Test series
in Old Blighty.
Good touch
All the Lankan cricketers playing in the IPL are showing good touch
and form in their respective fields. But the only worry is that the
climate in which they are playing now will be so much different in
England.
But being professionals and having been in the cauldron for long
should have no difficulty in acclimatizing to English conditions and
maintaining their form that they are showing in the IPL.
New Sri Lanka Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan seems to be a man that the
game needs at this juncture courage, determination and fire in the
belly. Playing for Royal Challengers and playing his usual exciting
style, he has volunteered to be back in time and accompany the rest of
his troops to England on May 10.
The Royal Challengers for which franchise Dilshan is playing would
sure have understood the responsibilities that the batsman shoulders as
captain and would have readily agreed to release him. Dilshan and SLC
must thank RCB.
First guard
That's what is called EXAMPLE. And having watched and followed his
career unfold from the time he took first guard for the country, it can
be assumed that in his first fling as captain he will get the best out
of his men.
Many eyebrows were raised when Dilshan was appointed captain.
Critics were citing, his erratic behaviour on tours. But that is in
the past. Dilshan now has that responsibility and trust placed on him by
a former captain and now Chairman of Selectors Duleep Mendis. Dilshan
can surely be counted upon to play clean and straight and deliver.
A real leader shows what he is capable of when the chips are down.
For example, take Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. When his team
seemed to be floundering against Sri Lanka in 2011 World Cup final, he
walked in and as the saying goes took the bull by the horns.
And what he did is etched in history.
Similarly that is what is expected of Dilshan? Dilshan has similar
traits. He is a cricketer who believes in himself, with can do attitude
and an immensely talented allround ability.
Cricket enthusiasts
Touring Sri Lankan teams often have the pleasure of meeting some of
our most devoted cricket fans who make up in some notable measure the
absence of crowd support. For instance when touring England one recalls
two great cricket enthusiasts domiciled in England: Collin Fernando and
Cassim Jaleel. Both have been in Old Blighty for well over 50 years and
have never missed watching the Lankan cricketers in action when they
play there.
It is not only Sri Lankan cricket that flows through their veins but
the history of International cricket : they will give you the history
and geography of Sri Lankan and English cricket.
Collin and Cassim are in fact walking Wisdens. This inseparable duo
have already pencilled the two games that the Lankans will play the Test
match at Lord's and the one-day international at the Oval and have
already booked their tickets.
There will hopefully be many more of their ilk that will add support
to our team.
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