SLC and players should look at the bigger picture: Cricket above everything else

The R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium is the venue for the six white ball matches between Sri Lanka and India where so many fascinating contests have taken place

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Cricket above everything else is of essence and there are millions of fans globally and otherwise who follow the game, and therefore the quality and the competitiveness should be at the highest level. This is the reason the broadcasting companies pay the respective cricket boards huge monies which in turn fund the costs.  

The present standoff between Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and 38 cricketers over the signing of a new performance-based annual contract should not in any circumstances undermine and hinder the upcoming six-match white ball series between Sri Lanka and India which is due to commence on 13 July.

24 of the cricketers currently touring England are due to return after a white ball series against England by tomorrow and this hardly leaves any meaningful time for any discussions or negotiations to take place in a tangible manner before the commencement of the series against India.

Thus, the best option left to SLC is to keep the contract issue to be resolved after the Indian series, so that both parties can thrash out whatever shortcomings there are to the satisfaction of all concerned and come to an amicable settlement.

Against India it is imperative the best Sri Lanka team should play and not a second-string side as alleged by sources some or any other for that matter, as there is a lot at stake for SLC financially and otherwise. It is hosting series against countries such as primarily India and possibly England that SLC enrich their coffers, and India has sent their best white ball team sans a few players doing duty for India in the UK for the series regardless of what others may conclude.   The SLC now has to function alongside a Technical and Advisory Cricket Committee, and a National Sports Council both headed by former Sri Lanka captains and a Selection Committee all appointed by the Sports Minister is an unenviable task. However, the game of cricket has to take priority over everything else and all concerned need to take a unified stance at this point of time when cricket is at its lowest ebb.  

It is cricket that binds the nation together even during tough times than what we are experiencing at present.

It was cricket that kept the nation going during the 30-year north-east war, during the Easter Sunday bombings and even during the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic where no other competitive sports at international level has taken place in this country, besides cricket.

In the past SLC have faced bigger and tougher issues and overcome them quite successfully through careful thought and planning and negotiations with the cricketers, and at times have taken a hard stance so that cricket survived above everything else.

The 14 cricketers who took the decision to go on a rebel tour to apartheid South Africa in 1982 just months after Sri Lanka had become a Full Member of the ICC and being subsequently being banned for a lifetime 25 years is a clear example.

Even issues related to player contracts, player managers and Player Cricket Associations have cropped up in the past and successful Cricket Boards have dealt with them quite adequately without ever endangering the game. 

Thus, SLC must use its discretion and get the bigger picture and not allow these infinitesimal issues like player contracts get in the way of a major white ball series against a country like India who are one of the best cricketing nations in the world today. We will have a lot to lose both financially and otherwise if the cricket dished out by our cricketers is of poor quality especially on home soil. Besides, the expectations of the cricket loving public in this country are very high and therefore the need to perform at optimum level is compulsory.   

It is therefore imperative that we pool all available National cricketers together (sans the 3 players suspended on disciplinary grounds) immediately and put our best and most resourceful team to play against India. 

Let all other issues such as contracts etc. take a backseat and be shelved until the conclusion of this tour on 26 July.