Jayasinghe says cricket selectors use two spoons
Sri Lanka Twenty20 batsman Chinthaka Jayasinghe made an emotional yet brave decision to cut short his domestic first-class career in Sri Lanka but made sure to raise his frustrated voice against the intimidating policies of Sri Lanka Cricket’s officials and selectors.
He raised the question as to why Sri Lanka needs a first-class domestic competition if local selectors could not justify the performances of their cricketers by giving them due recognition when they are at the peak of their ability.
“I cannot question or say anything on the selectors’ decisions. But we do not know if they (selectors) consider players to the next level based on performances or on merit. Regrettably I must say that I was one of those who were ignored for no good reason. Others who tried their level best with futile may have decided to retire, but they never stood up to talk about on this ill-treatment. Why I decided to raise these matters was to at least open the eyes of the top officials, so Sri Lanka’s future hopefuls will not suffer the same agony,” Jayasinghe told reporters on Thursday, few hours prior to his departure to Australia.
Jayasinghe, 34, who announced his retirement from first-class cricket in Sri Lanka, played in five T20 international matches during a short career which spanned five months from December 2009. He played three innings hitting a best of 38 against India batting the lower-middle order. Jayasinghe who was also a member of the Sri Lanka Twenty20 team at the ICC World Championship held in West Indies in 2010, went on to say that he was given very little opportunities despite performing well at domestic level since May later that year.
“In five Twenty20 interna- tionals you cannot valuate a batsman, especially when he gets fewer chances. I did not bat in my debut against India in Nagpur but in the second game I scored 38. Then I was called for the Twenty20 World Championship but I just faced only one ball for the whole tournament. Still I proved my potential at domestic level and there were many occasions that I thought I could fit into the national side. But then I realised that there is a mafia in selections, so I never got the due opportunity,” Jayasinghe clad in his 2010 Twenty20 World Championship warm up kit said.
“I think one or two selectors have certain players, who favour, in their minds. It is clear that they are favouring certain players by giving ample of opportunities that never should have been given. These players however have proved to be constant failures, but these selectors say that they are good and are waiting for those players to strike any time. Anyone who is keen on cricket knows what a thoughtless policy that should be, to favour certain individuals and overlook those who perform,” he charged.
We know what is taking place among selectors. The selectors may have changed time to time but certain individuals of this panel have been hanging around for over ten years now. That is a great downfall from Sri Lanka’s cricket’s point of view. They come and watch us play, but never do they consider the top performers from the domestic season. They continue to favour certain players who are proven failures. What kind of policy do they adhere and if things are so what is the use of playing a first-class competition,” he asked. Jayasinghe who played 14 years of firstclass cricket in Sri Lanka have scored 6417 runs and captured 104 wickets as a batting all-rounder for vari- ous clubs, ranging from BRC, NCC, Chilaw Marians before throwing the towel while playing for Bloomfield. During his school cricket career for Dharmapala College Pannipitiya, Jayasinghe had scored 1000 runs on three consecutive years, inclusive of a rare twin centuries against Royal College Colombo during the 1995/96 season. He was later elevated to the national level to represent the Sri Lanka Under-19s as a one-down batsman. Jayasinghe also represented Sri Lanka ‘A’ but said that he considered himself as an attacking batsman.
“I don’t consider myself as a Test cricketer. I tried my level best to represent Sri Lanka in One Day Internationals (ODI) and T20s. I focused on those versions a lot and I really feel pity that I could not play an ODI for Sri Lanka.”
Jayasinghe went on to say that he has signed a contract to play league cricket in Australia for six months followed by another six-month contract to play league cricket in England in 2013.
He was among the contracted players of SLC some years ago but in 2012 his name was not among the list of 60 players who were offered contracts. In addition Jayasinghe was two times among the top five domestic batsmen in Sri Lanka. Despite scoring the fastest hundred last year and the most number of sixes for two consecutive years Jayasinghe had high hopes of playing at the Hong Kong Sixes which was held two weeks ago. But when his name did not appear in the list he said he had to make the final call. Jayasinghe will now join the brand of players in the calibre of Varuna Waragoda, Sajith Fernando and others who were at their best in domestic cricket but were less considered for national duty.