Cricket Bastions are tumbling like dominoes
In the immediate past, 2 live wires of Sri Lanka cricket, namely Michael de Zoysa and Aubrey Kuruppu passed away and were laid to rest. Coincidentally, both were aged 74, attended S.Thomas’s College (STC), Mt.Lavinia, and, as the saying goes, went to ‘meet their Maker’ under circumstances which, can best be described as, “whilst on the move.” Not for them to have met their demise peaceably. Both were so energetic and enthusiastic in their services to whatever they were about, especially to cricket, the game they loved intimately and sincerely. However, the spectre of death claimed each of them whilst they were practically on the run! Both were simply not prepared to meet death, though they were felled almost brutally.
Michael was a live wire at the prestigious Singhalese Sports Club (SSC), Vice-President, member of the Executive Committee, and his best love, being Ground Secretary, where he rendered yeoman service. Sometime earlier, he was picked as the Manager of the Sri Lanka cricket team as well. Indeed, it is common knowledge that his death would cause a void which would be hard to fill, especially at the SSC.
Michael’s father was the much-celebrated Lucien de Zoysa (1917-1995), a leg- spinner who played for Ceylon in the era 1947-54, with distinction. However, his first love was the theatre. Actor, Director and playwright who wrote several plays, cricket commentator (along with Bertie Wijesinha) and a raconteur par excellance. Lucien first attended STC, Mt. Lavinia and (realizing his mistake?!) joined Royal College, Colombo, where he played for the 1st XI (1935-36) as an opening batsman. His skill as a leg- spinner came much later. In Lucien’s memoir, “First Love”, there is an interesting anecdote, where he relates when the Thomians sledged him during the Royal-Thomian. “Every time some of them passed me at the end of an over, they would mumble, “traitor learned your cricket with us and now you are cheating us. Once a Thomian, always a Thomian…..get out traitor” All this I must say was said in a totally different spirit to the sledging which goes on today.”
Aubrey Kuruppu (11.03.194512.10.2019) represented the first XI at STC Mt. Lavinia and won his Colours in 1965, though not with much distinction, but later played for University of Peradeniya (UoP) in the P.Sara Trophy tournament with success, and was picked to play for the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI. After graduating from the UoP, he functioned as the Coordinator, English Language Unit, of the UoP. He toured Lucknow, India, with the State Services team in 1972 and also played for Central Province and State Services teams and led Saracens Sports Club in Division I cricket and Kandy District and Central Province teams in various tournaments. The soft- spoken, cultured and distinguished cricket journalist, he was a respected cricket administrator and was Secretary of the Kandy District Cricket Association and a member of the tour organizing committee of the SL Cricket Board for 5 years, and coached Vidyartha and Rahula Colleges in the Kandy areas. In effect, here was a complete cricketer.
The situation, in general, however, where cricket, both in Sri Lanka and around the world, where the phantom of the bookies, match-fixing, are concerned is another matter. In Sri Lanka, a former President of the Cricket Board, Thilanga Sumathipala has been banned from holding office at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). In brief, this is based on “the report submitted by the ICC, Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), which included submissions by Glyn Palmer, a British National, involved in the gambling industry who indicated that Mr. Palmer and Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala were engaged in gambling internationally and locally.” In a letter to SLC, the Minister of Sports, directed them to “prevent and/or exclude Mr. Sumathipala from “participating, voting in any committee, exercise, discharge and perform any powers, functions and duties as an Office Bearer or Immediate Past President or representing SLC.” Further, the report added that the ICC ACU had material that could be tantamount to an infringement of the provisions of Criminal Law in Sri Lanka. Hence, it appears that Mr. Sumathipala may be walking on thin ice at the moment.
Overseas, the picture on corruption and match-fixing is not much better. United Arab Emirates (UAE) skipper, Mohammed Naveed, inclusive of 3 national players, has been provisionally suspended for having breached the ICC Anti-Corruption code with a combined 13 counts.
Are these merely the tip of the iceberg? What is the solution?
Match-fixing and related issues are based on the greed of the bookies, who entice players into their net by promising the moon. Is there a solution to eradicate craving of the bookies and/or players? Be it craving of the bookies and/or players, in relation to match-fixing, or that of any human beings, that is something which, sadly, there is no quick fix!