They all 'no-ball' the cricket management
First time since the World Cup victory in 1996, the entire cricketing fraternity in Sri Lanka is perturbed and is openly expressing its displeasure about the state of the game in its present context.
Though small in numbers, heartbroken fans held a candle light vigil on Tuesday at Independence Square and the following day staged a demonstration at the same place. This is besides the large number of critical comments in the electronic and social media. In addition, there is also a public protest petition that is out for signatures. The initiators will submit the petition to the President and the Prime Minister for speedy action.
According to social media comments, the blame is not put squarely on the players. Most of them blame the poor administration and its manipulations. The Sunday Times decided to see what’s going on and we sought the views of a few prominent past players and administrators on the crisis that has beset Sri Lanka's national cricket.
Former BCCSL President Ana Punchihewa – a vital cog in the 1996 World Cup victory in his capacity as the head of the then cricket administration -- said: “It is the responsibility of Sri Lanka Cricket administration to ensure the stability of the players by not changing the players at the drop of a hat.
“Let’s go back in time and see how things could change for the better. If you remember between January 22 and February 12, 1994, Sri Lanka crashed to their heaviest away defeat at that time when India beat Sri Lanka 3-0 -- all by innings.
“There were huge rumblings in cricket and then, one of the marked changes took place on April 1, 1994 when the late Gamini Dissanayake took over the Lankan cricket administration with me and Upali Dharmadasa as vice-Presidents. Then in a twist of fate, Gamini Dissanayake was assassinated in October 1994 and the two vice presidents looked after the day-to-day affairs of cricket till I took over in 1995.
“In spite of the loss, we went along with a co-group of players that consisted of captain Arjuna Ranatunga, vice captain Aravinda de Silva, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Roshan