Dharmadasa promises to score in second innings

Businessman and former President Jayantha Dharmadasa returned to familiar territory after a brief lay off and is back to head Sri Lanka Cricket and steer the destinies of the game in the country. He is a visionary as well as a doer.Given that In the recent past everything was not steering in the right direction in the game and its finances and administration he has his work cut out...and more. Dharmadasa has batted on this pitch before and knows what a tricky wicket it is.He comes back bringing with him tons of experience. But one can bet that as usual he will have his critics who will be sniffing around watching his every move and waiting for the opportunity to “get him”! He went through the mill when he took strike the previous innings and he must make it his business to always offer a straight bat and play the correct strokes and not let his critics breach his defences.

Quite a formidable team

From the looks of it, he seems to have got quite a formidable team to play and lead. In his team are men of experience and competence who have the knack to deliver and make his captaincy a fruitful one.Initially he was not to contest the SLC Presidency. His brother Upali too showed reluctance early on seeking another term. But he dashed down the wicket at the last moment and in his eagerness to get there, forgot to seek the Sports Minister’s approval, because he has not held a bat and was run out by yards.Pity that former Thomian and CCC cricketer Asanga Seneviratne who was one of the Vice President’s missing out this time to former Ananda and SSC cricketer Mohan de Silva.However SLC loss is SLRFU’s gain. Seneviratne who was an outstanding ruggerite for STCML, CR and FC and Sri Lanka with whose benevolence the Havelocks rugby ground has been turned into looking something like Twickenhem, will have more time to concentrate on the Oval ball game.

In fact he had the credentials to head Sri Lanka Cricket. Dynamic Presidency, excellent captaincy Under his dynamic Presidency and the excellent leadership of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka won the recent Five Nations Rugby Championships and gained promotion to play in the top division. could not have found a better man than Seneviratne to score more tries for rugby.K.Mathivanan former Saracens cricketer who retained his post of Vice President is a tireless worker, as his efforts for Colts CC proves. He should not be kept a sleeping VP, but Dharmadasa will benefit if his talents are fully utilized.Pity that former President Thilanga Sumathipala who had all the credentials to get back to the top seat missed out. The allegations made against him were held and the former Nalanda and CCC cricketer had to miss out.With these disqualifications the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket which has the power to elect a President went for the tested and proven Jayantha Dharmadasa who got through uncontested.

Dharmadasa should be wary of moles

One thing that the new President should be wary of are the moles who are bound to be around his team. They are the ones who could make life a hell for him. However powerful they maybe or are, he must smoke them out and use his powers to kick them out.

The President we hope will be available to the media as the media is the avenue to get his message across and respond to questions be they be beneficial or annoying. A good rapport with the media will make his innings an enjoyable one.To rub the media on the wrong side could make his innings andcaptaincy and his team’s tenure a nightmare.From the Presidency we move on to the Secretary and NishanthaRanatunga who holds an unenviable post. Having been a cricketer and one who knows how to duck or play bouncers of which he will have a lot of them bowled at him.

Nishantha must keep his coolHe too must above all, like his brother Arjuna keep his cool, not imagine that he is the cock of the yard and form a good rapport with the media. His previous innings was bit muddied and he must endeavour to play a better and fruitful innings this time round.

On the Ranatungas and it was baffling as to why former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga was hesitant to form a team and contest the SLC Presidency. He is now making all the noises from beyond the boundary.The easy, unhurried and competent manner in which he led the Sri Lanka team and won the World Cup in 1995/’96 and made the country proud prompted me to tag him ‘Captain Cool’.

With his captaincy which was well thought out and clever most times, it helped him to be the best captain in the game at that time. When the opportunity arose he was never afraid to box his opposing captain out.

Arjuna’s dashing and daringThe Australians of that time who thought that they were god’s gift to the game will bear ample testimony to Ranatunga’s dashing and daring captaincy. He got under their skin and thanks to him today the Lankan cricketers are treated with awe and respect.Ranatunga served as Interim Committee Chairman of SLC. He had the right credentials and seemed to be shaping up well. But apparently trying to play too straight lost his wicket. We hope next time round he will give the Presidency a go.The other posts too see men of honesty and integrity being voted and together with Captain Dharmadasa must get down to immediate work. As is usual, like in any election the urge to celebrate will be there.But while no one will begrudge them that right, they will do well to keep the celebrations short and make work their top priority, because their critics and the cricket world will be watching hawk eyed.

Victors and the vanquishedOne hopes that the victors and the vanquished have buried the hatchet and that the losers will not be contemplating legal action. The winners must be humble and the losers gracious enough to accept defeat and be determined to do better next time round.The Annual General Meeting that was riddled with controversy and one which the cricketing world was watching with more than ordinary interest, we hope is finally over.The election that was finally held at the Bandaranaike MemorialInternational Conference Hall on Tuesday was conducted without a hitch with voting going on at a brisk pace.To keep the election process clean, Sri Lanka Cricket requested the services of the Election Commissioner’s Department to help them with the elections. The Ballot Boxes too were provided by the Elections Department. The Elections Department only helped and did not conduct the elections.

Elections ending in mayhemWith previous elections ending in mayhem, with some even evoking memories of the Wild West with gun totting individuals chasing away voters and trying to sabotage the elections.The security for this election was in the safe and secure hands of former DIG and President of the Nondescripts Cricket Club Camillus Abeygunewardene to whose credit it must be said conducted an exemplary election and Abeygunewardene came in for praise from all.At the outset, those wanting to contest the prestigious post ofPresident were Sumith Perera, Upali Dharmadasa and ThilangaSumathipala. It looked as though the stage was set for a closelyfought out election.However the threesome could not surmount the newly introducedamendments to the Sports Law and were bowled out by a committeeappointed to ascertain their eligibility.The new Amendments of the Sports Law officials elected will serve two, two year terms. After the first two years, the Sports Ministry will evaluate the performances of the serving officials and take a decision if they could continue for the balance period.

PRESIDENT – Jayantha Dharmadasa
VICE PRESIDENTS - K. Mathivanan, Mohan de Silva
SECRETARY – Nishantha Ranatunga,
ASSISTANT SECRETARY – Hirantha Perera
TREASURER – Nuski Mohamed
ASST TREASURER – Ajita Pasqual
TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE – Chairman Roshan

Iddamalgoda,Secretary Kavindra Liyanage,Samantha Bandara, Manuja Kariyapperuma, Upali Seneviratne.UMPIRES COMMITTEE – Chairman A.R.M. Aroos, Secretary Hiran Jayamanne,Jayantha Paranathala, Gajaba Pitigala, Lal Ranasinghe.SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE – Chairman- one of the Vice President’s, Secretary Nuski Mohamed, Sarath Abeysundera, Matheesha Dharmasiri, Eranga Egodawela, 2 members to be nominated by the Ex Co.

TOUR ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:Chairman - one of the Vice President’s, Secretary - Nishantha Ranatunga, Jayantha Jayaweera, Saminda Cooray, Anil de Silva,Chandra Rodrigo, Roland Perera.

[email protected]