Sri Lanka Cricket continues to be marred by eternal controversies

Cricket is not just a sport in Sri Lanka but is almost followed as a religion.  Similarly, the national players are seen as icons and de facto ambassadors of the country at large. As a result, the Cricketers enjoy virtual celebrity status.  People all over the world look up to them inquisitively on other facets of their characteristics too.  The players are expected to maintain an exemplary life style on and off the field.  However, a drastic deterioration of discipline among some local players has been a critical issue of concern since of late.  The incident involving three senior players wandering out of the official hotel defying the bio bubble in which they are confined to, during the current tour of England is just another shocking incident.

Emergence of evidence

On a video clip released on social media, the players namely Vice Captain Kusal Mendis, Wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwelle and stylish bat Danushka Gunatilake were seen merry making on a street outside the official hotel at midnight just a day prior to the commencement of ODI series.  This is in spite of the fact that Sri Lanka, having been miserably routed in the preceding Twenty/ 20 series, is already anguishing a troubled tour so far.   This shameful white wash was hard to stomach for Cricket loving fans who have been starving in vain for a solitary win to rejoice over.  As a matter of fact, the local fans are highly disappointed and perturbed over the dismal performance of the team and Kusal Mendis in particular for his perpetual appalling display on field.  It is also worthy of note that he was appointed Vice Captain during Sri Lanka’s tour of Bangladesh and much was expected of him with the new responsibility on his shoulder. Unfortunately, he is yet to deliver goods. 

Past track record of players

Our national players were embroiled in many breaches of discipline in the recent past too.  One promising player was implicated in an alleged sexual behavior, inviting a lady to creep into his room at night once again during an overseas tour.  However, he was acquitted at the inquiry and spared of an imminent punishment.  Most recently, a leading player was said to have a sexual encounter with the lady Medical Doctor on tour.   This case too was dismissed by the authorities for lack of sufficient evidence.  Another player who was one of the players under scrutiny for the latest case of off -the field misdemeanor, was involved in a brawl after intoxication at a party.  He is rather a lucky guy to escape punitive action but not everyone.  About a few years back, an up and coming player was allegedly involved in a similar party brawl at a plush hotel in Colombo after liquor and it had ended his promising career abruptly and in entirety.  In another incident, a national player was arrested for peddling drugs and his case is before the courts now.  A long term imprisonment is imminent in his case. 

Solitary attempt to remedy

However, some previous administrations were genuinely concerned about discipline among national level players. In 2015, the interim committee headed by former national Cricketer Sidath Wettimuny took an initiative to educate players through a comprehensive training program, in a bid to produce well-rounded players in Sri Lanka.  The subjects include social etiquette, personal grooming, and development of leadership qualities and even the spirit of the game.  This training program encompassed all age group teams, development squads and national teams, including women’s teams.  A panel of best resource personnel was enlisted for the task with a view to imparting best of knowledge in each aspect. The underlying element of the entire program was to instill a degree of self-discipline among local players to match their international counterparts on and off the field.  This program came to an abrupt end with the change of administrations in ensued years. Now, it is high time that the current administration thought of it, to implement an ongoing training program of this caliber to escalate the standards of the players to a desirable level. 

Mockery disciplinary procedure

It is reported that three players who were implicated in the incident, were dismissed from the current tour, pending an inquiry.  No doubt that it will add salt to the wounds which Sri Lanka Cricket is nursing at the moment.  According to the unconfirmed inside sources of Sri Lanka Cricket, the primary of objective of the inquiry board is to determine whether the players were intoxicated at the time of the unsavory incident.  Usual practice of such inquiries is to impose 2 or 3 match ban on players or fine if they are found guilty.  This is seen as only a temporary measure that will not address the issue completely nor will it give a guarantee to the effect that incidents of this nature will not occur.  Many past players and administrators opined that a far reaching and more viable solution should be found instead.  

Mooting a way forward

Sri Lankan Cricket team is a national treasure which should be preserved at all costs.  Therefore the need of the hour is to establish a professional administration which has a vision for this lovely game of Cricket in Sri Lanka.  It is alleged that Sri Lanka Cricket is highly politicized with the administrators being corrupt.  Some sports critics are of the view that Sri Lanka Cricket is plagued by a mafia at present. In a strange move, some past Cricketers of repute even resorted to legal action recently, seeking an injunction on Sri Lanka Cricket elections, pending amendments to the Sports Law enacted in 1973.  For some reasons best known to them, the case was withdrawn at the eleventh hour before the election.  All stake holders agree that a concrete solution should be found for woes of Sri Lanka Cricket which would address the recurrent discipline issue of the players as well.  But they are somewhat clueless as to how it should be done.  The government intervention is seen as the best solution.  Will the government step into settle this burning issue for the best interests of the game?  It is a now or never situation that the Cricket enthusiasts will have to wait and see.