Trials and tribulations when Sri Lanka first hosted the Asia Cup

Sri Lanka Captain Duleep Mendis with the Asia Cup

Sri Lanka Cricket Board and Asian Cricket Council President Gamini Dissanayake with President of Sri Lanka  J.R. Jayewardene

Sri Lanka Cricket Board and Asian Cricket Council Secretary Nuski Mohamed

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

With the 16th edition of the Asia Cup due to kick-off in Multan today with the match between host Pakistan and Nepal, it would be pertinent to recall the first ever Asia Cup held in the subcontinent where Sri Lanka was the host. In fact, the first edition took place in the UAE in 1984, but there was no final. The title was decided by the team finishing on top of the league. India beat both Sri Lanka and Pakistan and became the first holders. The second Asia Cup was hosted by Sri Lanka and it was the first to be held in an Asian country.      

During his tenure (1985-87) as the second president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Gamini Dissanayake who was president of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) was keen that Sri Lanka should host the Asia Cup in 1986, but it was easily said than done. Sri Lanka faced several obstacles before staging it. India pulled out of the tournament due to soured cricketing relations with Sri Lanka after a controversial series in Sri Lanka in 1985. Pakistan too threatened to follow their Asian neighbours unhappy with the umpiring in the three Tests and several controversial incidents that took place on the field. Imran Khan, the Pakistan captain said that he was taking his team home without playing in the Asia Cup, a decision which forced Pakistan Cricket Control Board (PCCB) President General Safdar Butt to fly to Sri Lanka. General Butt held talks with Sri Lanka Cricket Board President Gamini Dissanayake, Secretary Nuski Mohamed and other officials, Pakistan team manager Salim Asghar Mian and the Pakistani cricketers and allayed any fears of Pakistan pulling out.

In a statement issued to the press Dissanayake stated: “I have discussed this matter with the Pakistan manager and the Ambassador for Pakistan in Sri Lanka. I feel the game of cricket is important but the relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is more important than the immediate issue. I have not discussed the matter with the Sri Lanka captain, Sri Lanka manager or any of the Board officials. On my own I have had a friendly discussion with the Pakistan Captain and manager and I have persuaded them to continue with the series.”  

Gamini Dissanayake’s statement

Further, Dissanayake came down hard on critics who were against Sri Lanka playing cricket while the country was going through a difficult period with the escalation of the war in the North and East.

“Cricket is one sport in which though we lose occasionally, we have come up to international standards. It is a great leveller of men and the game and has come to stay. So let us stop bickering about it,” said Dissanayake. 

“We are very clever at bickering, fighting, discussing and debating. By stopping all sports activities in the country would be to play into the hands of the terrorists. It will then become an inward looking, negative, destructive society of people. Sports have always been part of human society and each country has its own sports depending on the likes and dislikes of its people.”    

The Asia Cup eventually went ahead with Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh participating. In India’s absence Sri Lanka invited New Zealand to take part in another tournament which was run concurrently with the Asia Cup called the John Player Invitation Triangular. Ceylon Tobacco Company sponsored both tournaments. Sri Lanka captained by Duleep Mendis won the Asia Cup final for the first time beating Pakistan in the final.

The two Asia Cup finalists then met New Zealand forming the John Player Invitation Triangular. There was no final but the winner was decided by the team finishing on top of the league. All three teams finished with one win and one loss each, but Pakistan who had a better net run rate were declared the winners.

Neutral Umpires

For the first time, the Asia Cup and John Player Invitation Triangular saw neutral umpires officiating in matches. The five-member panel comprised Dickie Bird and David Shepherd from England, Mehboob Shah from Pakistan, and Herbie Felsinger and P.W. Vidanagamage from Sri Lanka.

To make all this a reality special mention should be made of the energetic secretary of both the BCCSL and ACC, Nuski Mohamed who sacrificed his time and effort to bring not only the participating countries together in a short span of time but also use his good offices to obtain the top international umpires to officiate at the Asia Cup and, invite New Zealand as the fourth team to participate in the John Player Invitation Triangular.

President J.R. Jayawardene who was the chief guest at the Asia Cup final thanked all participants and said: “We must express our respect and regards to the President and the people of Pakistan and the players for participating in this tournament. I thank the countries for playing the game in a sporting manner and the public for their discipline and exemplary behaviour.”

In response to a request from the 20,000 spectators who came to witness the final at the SSC, President Jayawardene declared a public holiday.

SRI LANKA’S ASIA CUP 1986 WINNING SQUAD: Duleep Mendis (Captain), Roy Dias, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Brendon Kuruppu, Athula Samarasekera, Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinha, Keerthi Ranasinghe, Ravi Ratnayake, Ashantha de Mel, Kaushik Amalean, Champaka Ramanayake, Don Anurasiri, Abu Fuard (manager).