World T20 Cricket - points to ponder

by Gunasiri Wanigaratne

WORLD T20: As the sun sets and the dust settles over R. Premadasa Stadium, following the culmination of World T20 championship, it is only timely to scrutinize and evaluate the aftermath and pick-up the pieces.

As cricket lowers all over the world watched beyond belief bold Sri Lanka lost another final in a low scoring game, a number of reasons for Sri Lankan failure, already established.

Sri Lanka have come so near, yet so far in numerous occasions in finals since 1996 World Cup victory. A paroxysm of euphoria created following the 1996 was never to be tasted. Since and our much eulogised players across the country must be counting the costly and cumbersome effect on Sri Lanka Cricket.

Contrary to the comments by ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson, the tournament as a whole was a below par performance and lacklustre in presentation. Sri Lanka should have grabbed the opportunity to excel on the world stage through the TV network with better organisation and a pragmatic approach.

The playing tracks on the three stadium Hambantota, Pallekele and R. Premadasa were difficult to play on.

Poor crowds

Furthermore where were the spectators, except for the Sri Lanka matches, the stadia were almost empty. Better planning and promotion in advance could have done the trick.

SLC should have joined hands with Tourist Board and promoted package tours with sight seeing at bargain prices to all Test playing countries.

It seems ironic that SLPL T20 concluded prior to the World T20 failed to live up to much publicised expectations.

Its presentation to the world media was a abysmal failure with no crowds to attract Basnahira Bears or Wayamba Wolves SLC, Board officials must be wondering, what went wrong at all their efforts and high hopes paled into insignificance. A lesson to be learned.

ICC in a bail-out dismemberment of 25 million dollars to SLC, advanced one million US dollars to be redeemed from the ticket sales of the World T20.

Lorgat - huge salary

The appointment of former ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat as an advisor to SLC at a huge salary surely raises few eyebrows.

What he will bring into play will hopefully be value for money, while on the other side of the coin, cricket loving Sri Lanka tend to ponder.

Minister of Sports is promising a four-year term for SLC officials, provided a chance in cricket structure is introduced by the board.

The working of this system will only be measured in the future years to come. Upto now the Interim Committees and SLC Boards are dominated by a select few who tend to keep appearing and reappearing at regular intervals. At this gesture where our team failed in T20 final and the early elimination of the under-19 team from World Cup, would have sent chilling currents through the nerves of SLC Board and Selectors alike.

Revamping of school cricket

School cricket system is to be revamped with blessings of SLC and coaches should be appointed by the SLC, based on a performance related pay structure.

This should motivate the coaches to produce results for their respective school.

The club structure should be retained with a single inter-provincial five-day tournament. Clubs should remain at District Level and SLC should give incentives to attract school cricketers at senior level to local clubs.

The clubs itself find it difficult to exist, specially in outstations without facilities to attract members in the current economic climate. Hence the SLC should step in and bring in local schools in the picture.

The current practice of outstation cricketers moving to Colombo dominated clubs should be stopped.

The SLC Board should take a stance to prevent this inbalance in SL Cricket and ensure that all players must remain and continue to play for clubs within the province of their birth. This is the only way to strengthen and solidify outstation club cricket.

Test cricket important

It will be good if the Minister of Sports informs the Board, the paramount importance of giving pride of place and promote Test Cricket to test the ability of a complete cricketer encompassed by discipline and psychology, teaching participation at the top of one's ability.

As a Test playing nation it's Test Cricket that puts a country on the world map and it should not be punctuated the progress in this arena to be perpetuated by off the field battles.