World T20 flop prompts SLC soul-searching

By Madushka Balasuriya 

Acceptance, they say, is the first step on the road to recovery and following the debacle that was Sri Lanka’s performances in Bangladesh and India, Sri Lanka Cricket last night accepted that they needed help in setting right the rot that has clearly set in over the past year.

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to enter a new era of positive action and forward thinking with an ultimate goal of returning Sri Lanka to its former cricketing glory. This task is arduous and requires the complete support of all stakeholders of Sri Lanka Cricket – this means you, our partners in the media especially,” stated the official invite, and so the media were presented with an informal setting in which to engage in spirited discussion with SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala and SLC Vice President Jayantha Dharmadasa regarding the board’s plans to pull the national team out of the mire it presently finds itself in.

With food and cocktails flowing amidst the live music, journalists and official SLC representatives alike were at ease, more so than at a traditional setting of a press conference, in discussing the problems plaguing the sport at the moment. 

Sumathipala and Dharmadasa were questioned on proposed constitutional changes, the eleventh hour sacking of a selection committee, Malinga’s lack of fitness and subsequent selection, alleged factions within the team, and rumours of indiscipline. All these questions among others were answered with honesty and candour. 

However if one was to be completely honest, there was little to no chance of minds being changed one way or the other with regard to how this latest group of administrators were going to go about reviving the fortunes of the national side. Like those before them, they batted opposing ideas away, listening but nevertheless promising that their way was best. 

A first step though, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, is progress at some level. This newly elected board came in on the promise of transparency, and so far on that front they have delivered. Whether they deliver on their other promises remains to be seen but for now it’s up to all stakeholders - the public and media especially - to continue to keep them honest.