Cleaning up cricket

Saturday, 9 April 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CRICKET is the soul of Sri Lanka. However keeping it alive has become a challenge with the recent spate of resignations that have resulted with the team losing to India in the World Cup final.

Though 20 million people were saddened by the loss of the team they were little prepared for the aftermath. Fans watched in shock as both the captain and the vice captain of the squad resigned followed by the three-member selection committee.

Uncertain as to where the next resignation would come from the most popular conversation piece in the country even inspired a tongue-in-cheek blog that described how the bus driver of the team had resigned. This was another straw on the pile to emphasise the growing disillusionment and fear for Sri Lanka cricket that had also become a parody through the intense exaggeration of the situation.

Whatever the case may be the most critical evaluation was provided by Coach Trevor Bayliss who in an interview to AFP insisted that keeping cricket clean and free of politics was essential. He focused on the fact that both Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene had to deal with tricky situations “that had nothing to do with cricket.” He lauded the two players for managing to keep their performance at international level despite the “distractions” and urged authorities to back the team with stable and transparent management.

Even though Chief Selector Aravinda de Silva had told a press conference that there was no political interference and that even the president had stepped in to ensure that the selection process would be free from chicanery there are still a few doubters. The fact that Bayliss touched on the political chaos as being a sub-continent trait is certainly valid given that India and Pakistan, the other two power teams in the sub-continent have produced drama from time to time, the most memorable in recent history being the IPL fiasco that saw the exit of IPL Chairman Lalit Modi. There have been repeated calls for more professional people in the otherwise bureaucratic cricket boards that govern this lucrative industry.

Some fans have pointed out that when Sri Lanka won its greatest sporting achievement in 1996 that brought together a divided nation there was no interim board. However one thing that was never absent then or now is politics provoking the idea that it is time for change. Yet how and when change will take place remains to be seen with many fans fearful that chaos at the top will filter down and affect the performance of their players.

Interestingly in the midst of these negative developments four ardent fans have appealed to likeminded people to gather at the Independence Square at 3 p.m. today to participate in a peaceful demonstration to appeal for Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to remain at the helm of the team. According to reports over 5,000 fans have confirmed participation and the request on Facebook has reached an estimated 32,000 people. The only hope for cricket at this point seems to be the ardent love of fans who have always stuck by the team through thick and thin. It is in their loyalty that will lift the game beyond politics and spur change that will work to keep Sri Lanka at the top.