|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 7 November 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Runners-up, but indoor cricketers forgotten lot! Reaching a final of any world event is a great achievement. Sri Lanka won the cricket World Cup in 1996. Now, Sri Lanka, reached the final of the 5th Indoor Cricket World Cup at the Austasia Sports Complex in Thalawathugoda and lost to Australia in an absorbing and thrilling final. It was a great performance by the Sri Lanka team, but the Ceylon Indoor Cricket Association (CICA) does not think so, and has not appreciated the wonderful work done by our cricketers led by Asela Pathirane. They were promised many things before the event if they reached the final. Nothing has come their way so far, except for a measly sum of Rs. 833.33 each for 12 players received from the Rs. 10,000/= given to the team by the joint Managing Director of Austasia Sports Complex, Rukmal Seneviratne. This was from his own funds. The CICA have not rewarded our cricketers, though collecting over Rs. 10 million through various sponsors for this event. The South Africans played here about six months back and Sri Lanka, after being two down, went on to win the series 3-2. What did the CICA do then? They rewarded the Sri Lanka team with Rs. 50,000/=, but for reaching the Indoor World Cup final they get nothing at all. Why? However, CICA, paid the match fees (Rs. 1500/= per match per cricketer) as well as Rs. 5000/= per month for three months (August to October). That was all. With so much of money coming through sponsors, would it not have been appropriate if the cricketers were given at least Rs. 25,000/= each? I am certain that the Aussies would have been richly rewarded by their own authorities. The Sri Lankans undertook a tour of England in April where they played three Tests. The British High Commission in Colombo issued multiple visas to the players. After the tour, on their return to Colombo, five cricketers went back to England to play club and Indoor cricket, but returned to Colombo well in time to practice with the team. Only one of the five players had obtained permission from CICA. The other four were denied their match fees and received it only last Tuesday (November 2) after inquiry where a warning has been given. True they were at fault, but why select them in the first instance if they were guilty? Of these four players one received three awards at the Indoor Cricket World Cup - Best Batsman, Best Bowler and Most Valuable Player. The CICA picked them realising that they had to be in the team if Sri Lanka were to make an impression and they contributed immensely to its success. Why wait till after the tournament to penalise them? Another question is how Australian umpires were appointed to officiate in both the men's and women's finals when neutral umpires were available. Who was responsible? It was also disappointing that a full time coach was not appointed to the women's team, and Craig Slocombe, who handled the men's team, had to function in a dual capacity. Was it fair? The Sri Lanka women's team fared creditably well under the circumstances. They beat England and India and came close to beating New Zealand and South Africa too. If there was a full time coach, I am sure, that they would have fared even better and reached the final too. Do the sponsors know of the treatment meted out to our cricketers? I am sure they do not. Whoever is concerned, they must see that dedicated and responsible persons hold office in CICA and provide a stronger platform which could help Sri Lanka win the next Indoor World Cup scheduled to be staged in England in 2006. Lanka 10th at Rugby Asiad The 19th Rugby Asiad in Hong Kong is over. What was the end result? Sri Lanka managed to beat Pakistan and lost to China in the final of the Bowl category in which they have to remain for the 20th Asiad scheduled to be staged in Colombo in 2006. Sri Lanka thus finished in 10th position, only ahead of India and Pakistan, who finished in 11th and 12th places respectively. Both India and Pakistan are countries who only recently came into the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU). It may not be far off when these two nations hold their own in the region. Sri Lanka's rugby has nosedived over the years to the bottom. Take China for example. They started playing in the Asiad only a few years back and see where they are now. They won the 'Bowl' beating Sri Lanka and gained promotion to play in the Plate in Colombo next time, while the Lankans yet languish in the 'Bowl'. The gospel of rugby was spread in China by none other than George Simpkin the New Zealander who is in charge of our rugby. It seems that he has not been successful where Sri Lanka are concerned or he does not get all assistance needed from the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). Something has to be done soon to rejuvenate our game to a higher level. Some serious thinking and action has to be taken immediately. What is the "development" that has taken place in the country? There are numerous "mushroom" clubs that have sprung all over in the districts, but do they play a game of rugby seriously or were they formed for the sole purpose of getting votes at an annual general meeting? If there has been any development that has taken place, why is our rugby standards so low? Two years back at the Bangkok Asiad, Sri Lanka, lost to Kazakhastan and Thailand and managed to beat only India. Since then, did the SLRFU, plan for this year's Asiad? Certainly not! The local season dragged on and on, and the national squad had only a couple of weeks (or less) to train. Whose fault is it? Certainly not the players. The SLRFU has to take the blame. Japan who lost to South Korea in Bangkok two years ago, beat the Koreans in Hong Kong even without their best players who are in training for their forthcoming tour of Scotland and Wales. They stamped their class and proved that they are No. 1 in Asia. A former President of the SLRFU has gone on record to say that Simpkin must be retained till the Colombo Asiad in 2006. It's a well known fact that the SLRFU does not have the finances to pay for his services. He has not been paid from April and draws Rs. 200,000/= per month. Will any person work without pay, and even if the SLRFU does find the money to pay Simpkin, will Simpkin's plans be put into action? If the SLRFU does not have the finances to continue with Simpkin, why not recruit a Sri Lankan? There are persons who have got through their IRB certificates. Why not one of them? I can remember the success we enjoyed with DIG Nimal Lewke and Ana Saranapala when they were our national coaches. It was not long ago. Priyantha Ekanayake is to take over the reigns of the SLRFU come March. Here is an individual who has played the game at the highest level and proved himself as a player. Can he do the same as an administrator and bring our standards to what it was or even better, is left to be seen. He should be given all the support. Boats required The Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) does not possess any boats of their own. With the South Asian Games to be held in Sri Lanka next year (2005), they need at least four coxless boats for four - lane racing to keep upto international requirement. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports must step in at this juncture and assist the ARASL to import these boats without paying any duty for them and also help the controlling body to purchase them. Last time at Islamabad in Pakistan, our rowers won six silver medals and five bronze medals. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
