CHARLIE AUSTIN WORKS FOR ME, I DON’T WORK FOR HIM - SANGAKKARA

It was somewhere in 2004 that I got Charlie Austin as my Manager The playermanager concept is nothing new to the cricketing world When we recruit a coach it should be a long term plan

The player-management issue associated with Charlie Austin is one of the latest controversies to hit Sri Lanka cricket in the recent past with the social media receiving a top billing. The subject reached the climax and took a new twist when legendary former Sri Lanka Captain Kumar Sangakkara’s name was also pulled into the scenario. As a result, Sangakkara took some of his time to explain the situation and also regarding the overall state of Sri Lanka cricket through a skype interview from England.

Q How do you analyze the performances of the current Sri Lanka Cricket Team?

I think the present team is not short of talent at the moment and we also have a couple of very experienced players in the side. There are few other young talented players who are also knocking at the door. But unfortunately we lost to Zimbabwe and this result is something which we never expected. The most important fact is that we should not panic and we should realise that there are two more years for the next World Cup. We should start rebuilding the side from now on and the two new captains should take up the responsibility.

Q How do you look at the teams recent setbacks, is it due to lack of talent or is it a psychological issue?

I think the players should have the potential to perform under pressure and this is a key fact in international cricket. It is important that the players prepare themselves mentally as most of the other countries invest a great deal to keep their players in a good frame of mind. We should always have a specialist Sports Psychologist with the players and we should seriously concentrate on this issue in future.

Q You were able to provide administrative support in the beginning of the current cricket administration?

I was invited by Aravinda de Silva, even though it was rather late, to get my views before naming the Sri Lanka World Cup Squad. I agreed to the invitation and my task was to provide assistance to the team. For me, Graham Ford is an outstanding coach. However, at times I found few others also providing advice to the team and this can be a major issue. If a former cricketer or someone else is willing to help he should come through the administration, coaches or with the consent of the players.

Q The performance level of the current team is very low and with the appointment of two new captains how do you look at the future of the side?

Our players are quite talented but unfortunately we have not been able to win matches at this moment through their capabilities. I don’t see as this is the end of Sri Lanka cricket as many people think that it is shameful to lose to a country like Zimbabwe. Even though it is a true fact, I don’t think Sri Lanka cricket has reached doldrums yet. We cannot easily put aside this team considering the fact that there are players who could rub shoulders with some of the elite in the world. If you take Kusal Mendis he is one person who is capable of competing along with players of the calibre of Virat Kohli and Stephen Smith for many years.

Q There have been many comments about Charlie Austin’s player management mafia. How does it affect the current Sri Lanka Team and your thoughts on that?

I have no authority to get down any person to this country or to deport someone from this country. I think it was somewhere in 2004 that I got Charlie Austin as my Manager. Before that he was the Manager for Mahela Jayawardena. It is a clear fact that Charlie Austin did not come after me but I was keen to get Charlie Austin as my Manager because I wanted to enhance my cricketing career. So, Charlie Austin is working for me and I am not working for Charlie Austin. The player-manager concept is nothing new to the cricketing world. Today, every cricketer has a player-manager or he is attached to a reputed cricketers’ association. His main role is to look into the matters which are beyond the interest of national cricket. The player-manager is not involved in any matters related to national cricket. He has no connection with regard to the SLC contract, ICC contract or any issues pertaining to our salaries. The manager cannot demand anything and he is not entitled to receive even part of the payments.

Q The Chairman of National Selectors said recently that some of the senior players were not willing to bat low down the order but Upul Tharanga agreed to bat at any position?

Upul Tharanga is an outstanding cricketer and the opener’s place is his ideal batting position. He has scored more than 15 centuries as an opening batsman. But at different situations his batting position fluctuated and was even thrown out of the side. Fortunately, he has now returned back to the side. I think this is something that should be inquired from Tharanga as well. In my case I have batted from number one to number nine in one day internationals. I batted at number four during the 2007 World Cup while promoting Chandimal to number three. I even batted at number five. One coach advised me to bat at number three if the ball tends to swing. Likewise if the conditions are favourable we have experimented by promoting a newcomer to bat at number three. Having considered all these facts one should be able to understand what is his ideal batting position. Also he should look into whether there is a better player for this batting position.

Q What are the difficulties facing Sri Lanka in selecting coaches?

I think when we recruit a coach it should be a long term plan. It will be a tough task for a young team like Sri Lanka to become a major force within a short period of three, five, six months or even inside one year. The selected coach should be able to work on a long term plan. Also, we should think weather this coach is the best person to guide the team.

Q There were claims that Charlie Austin had influenced in selecting a player during the recent series against Zimbabwe. Did you also faced similar situations when you were leading the side?

Charlie Austin is still my Manager. I don’t understand these false allegations over Charlie Austin. Just because a player is selected to represent the country, his manager is not entitled to receive any payments from the player’s contract, match-fee or even part of the payments received for winning the Man-of-the-match award. I led the team to victory on several occasions and even Mahela Jayawardene had done so for the country. We managed to reach five World Cup finals and emerged champions on one occasion. If one individual could make such an impact then what else he could do in this country. A manager could never demand such payments from a player and if it is so then one should investigate on the matter. Some eight, nine or 10 years ago I suggested to the ICC and SLC if there is a player-manager then he should be registered and one should also look into his background. There is an anti-corruption code in the ICC and everybody needs to sign on it. This should be effective for the playermanager as well in addition to the National Selectors, Cricket Committee and any individual involved in cricket related matters. We should hold a clear investigation into this issue rather than make allegations. The players will never object to it. I have never got involved in any of these issues. The main thing is that I don’t work according to the manager but he has to work according to my ways. As captain I always want the team to win matches. There is one allegation that we never gave a chance to the youngsters to bat in the top order and by that we have ruined Sri Lanka cricket. Some suggest that Charlie Austin is ruining Sri Lanka cricket. Some claim that we have joined Charlie Austin and ruining the game. Some accuse that the Cricket Board is ruining the game in the country. These suggestions come out and then it disappears in a strange manner. These allegations are more when the team losers but it is far less when the team wins. This could happen to me or Mahela Jayawardena.

Q You insist that Charlie Austin cannot make any impact on cricket related matters. But T. M. Dilshan during his farewell media briefing said that there is a crisis with the player-management?

Personally I haven’t heard any such statement from Dilshan. But I heard one thing Dilshan complaining to Charlie Austin about a contract. If he had such an issue at that time then Dilshan should have discussed the matter with the Cricket Board and the National Selection Committee. Dilshan is one of the most outstanding cricketers Sri Lanka has produced. He could have easily approached the Minister of Sports or could have appointed a commission and found out the truth about it. That would have been the ideal solution rather than pointing out the finger. The Minister of Sports has promised to conduct an inquiry into this matter and it is a very good decision. BY PATHUM SRI WIJERATNE

We cannot easily put aside this team considering the fact that there are players who could rub shoulders with some of the elite in the world. If you take Kusal Mendis he is one person who is capable of competing along with players of the calibre of Virat Kohli and Stephen Smith for many years. Some claim that we have joined Charlie Austin and ruining the game. Some accuse that the Cricket Board is ruining the game in the country. These suggestions come out and then it disappears in a strange manner. These allegations are more when the team losers but it is far less when the team wins. This could happen to me or Mahela Jayawardena