29 SECONDS OF IGNOMINY

It only took 29 seconds, that right 29 seconds to unravel what has been for years the shambles that is Sri Lanka cricket. There were no pundits, there were no experts, paid coaches, hangers-on and armchair experts. All whose combined efforts had failed to revive the faltering fortunes of the national team. Instead, there were 29 seconds of two men. One seemingly somewhat in discomfort in the hip region and the other trying to have a smoke while trying to locate someone or something. Both look sheepish. But none of this is against the law. This is what scores of young men do when in town.

But the two men happen to be national cricketers on tour in England. They had just been drubbed in the T20 series. They had just arrived in Durham to prepare for a One-day series. Not that any of this was clear in the footage for anyone who was not familiar with two men.

They were also in a town where COVID infections were rising. Some reports said that they had been advised by team management not to frequent Durham city centre, where they were filmed. They were also supposedly within a strict bio-secure bubble.

A day into the post, the video had been watched by over 350,000 on Facebook alone, shared over 31,000 times. How he came across the two cricketers and another is still unclear. But whoever shot the video trails them and gets really, really close in a car

The only thing that gave away that there was even a hint of COVID was the masks. Neither wore them. Probably, now they may be regretting the fact they did not. If they had their masks on their faces, it would not have been so easily identifiable. They could have spun the story that it was not them.

For their bad luck, they were filmed. They probably knew they were, at least Niroshan Dickwella should have. Just before the camera lowers and the video ends, there is a frame where the wicket-keeper batsman, known for his love of crucifixes, looks straight at the lens, a hint of terror in his eyes. He will now forevermore bear a cross of ignominy.

The video was later on Facebook, uploaded by Nazeer Nisthar who loves his cricket but not these under-performing cricketers out and about town.

“Familiar faces in Durham tonight, enjoying their tour! Obviously not here to play cricket, this video was taken at 23.28 Sunday… But unfortunately these clowns are NOT here to serve the Sri Lanka cricket and the fans.”

A day into the post, the video had been watched by over 350,000 on Facebook alone, shared over 31,000 times. How he came across the two cricketers and another is still unclear. But whoever shot the video trails them and gets really, really close in a car.

How the video came into public domain is also of interest. Nisthar did not use gimmicks. There were no graphics, no music, no commentary. It was pure unadulterated journalism, the citizen variety. Point camera shoot and release video publicly. Nothing can be simpler or no purer to the truth.

He also did not use a cut-out to get the video out. There were no channels, Youtube shock jocks or newspapers who gained exclusive access to the video. Some hinted they had such access which was a show of old habits at hyperbole and misplaced selfworth. The video was accessible to everyone at the same time.

I was alerted to it by a post by a Sri Lankan colleague. It was at that time possibly that the night-crawlers themselves, Sri Lanka cricket high-ups and the team management on tour also came to be aware of the video. Which now leaves us with the question on who maintains the bio-secure bubble. But that is a story for sports writers, the few good ones who are still around.

And also, how dumb can one get, to roam around a town rife with infections at night, after losing three matches in a row in this age when everyone has a mobile that can record.

It only took just 29 seconds.

Next time wear a mask and a helmet.

The writer is a journalism researcher and a writer. He can be contacted on amantha.perera@cqumail.com