Whither Sri Lanka cricket?

Sri Lanka’s performance at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA is nothing short of disastrous. The Lankan team has been knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2024, along with New Zealand, due to their disappointing performance much to the dismay of millions of cricket fans.

SLC has been stricken with many ailments for months now and in fact there has been more drama out of the field than on the field.

The former Minister of Sports SLPP MP Roshan Ranasinghe was sacked from his post by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in November last year after the former appointed an interim committee for cricket after sacking the sport’s governing body. The appointment of the interim committee led to Sri Lanka’s suspension from the International Cricket Council (ICC) which cited political interference in sports as the reason for its decision.

The President appointed Harin Fernando as the new Sports Minister who then dissolved the interim committee and gave control back to SL Cricket. In January, the ICC lifted the suspension on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). However, all this drama outside the field has not only left a bad taste in the mouth of lovers of the sport but also exposed mismanagement by SLC as well as the lack of professionalism among players.

The SL outing in the USA has been a particularly bad one. The Sports Minister told Parliament that some teams were treated better than the others during their US visit and he had lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding this. He also said the grounds in NY were not up to the required standard.

The Minister had travelled to the US ahead of the tournament to oversee preparations, along with officials but now there are questions about the “recce” by the Lankans on the suitability of the grounds and other facilities by the tournament organisers. Did they go on a joyride to New York, or did they actually take a serious appraisal of what awaits the Lankan team there?

What ails men’s cricket in Sri Lanka is what ails this country in general. There is politicisation of the sport with the election process for office bearers to SLC itself highly corrupted. It has become a “money talks” entity with those in top positions holding on to them whatever the outcome of the game. Those who come forward for the love of the game have their term limits cut abruptly while those with powerful political connections survive.

It is the lack of public faith in SLC that has also led to lack of faith in players. However talented they may be, players too have been drawn into the power struggles within cricket in the country. There is a lack of discipline among players as has been demonstrated by many incidents involving them while on overseas tours. While it’s understandable that being in a new country is tempting and the young players are eager to spend some free time, there needs to be strict discipline when they are playing for their country. If the players perform well, they will have enough money to undertake visits to whatever foreign lands they fancy, but using official tours for personal work does not augur well for them as well as the country.

Millions of Sri Lankans are passionate about cricket and want their country to do well. They do so with a genuine love for the game and not in expectation of anything for themselves. Cricket has been a great leveller bringing together people from all communities and backgrounds but the repeated poor showing by the national team has made the public angry.

Minister Fernando, who is known as a good talker, hasn’t done enough to deal with the serious allegations levelled at those in top positions in SLC. The truth is that unless the governing body of cricket cleans itself up, it’s unlikely they will be able to guide the players to a winning streak.