
It has been the fashion for frustrated critics to shower scorn on Sri Lanka cricket, accusing it of fiddling with the funds and what not, but proving nothing to date.
The criticism comes mainly from those who had contested for positions and lost, to use cricketing parlance, by innings. Every time the losers open their foul mouths, they never have a good word, but they can only make allegations, but haven’t the backbone to prove anything.
These critics contest for posts to oust the sitting regime and for them losing is more the rule rather than the exception. Their only way to get into the administration is by forcing themselves and being appointed to an Interim Committee.
But now with the governing body for cricket the International Cricket Council saying they would not appreciate interim bodies, the frustrated have made it a fine art to heap criticism on SLC.
But SLC who are aware of the critics machinations bat on regardless ducking and allowing the bouncers and under arm deliveries to go past ignoring them as unfair deliveries --and rightly so--and continuing the good work they are doing regardless.
In this aspect Chairman Shammi Silva and Secretary Mohan de Silva who have been formidable cricketers during their time and who served on SLC previously and done a job pleasing to all - although they are not free of frustrated critics – continue to bat offering straight bats - much to the annoyance of their critics.
At the time of writing with the dreaded coronavirus playing the part of spoil sport and pushing all sports off the field with only God knowing when this curse will end, all governing sports bodies in world sport are suffering financially.
The sports bodies are not able to continue with their future tour programs and as such are suffering financially with no light at the end of the tunnel in sight.
Yet SLC must be cheered and applauded for realizing the plight of the clubs, those owning grounds and the men doing a thankless job out in the middle officiating to the best of their ability.
The SLC management has been quick to provide them with financial assistance so as to lessen their burden and decided to provide relief. SLC which is aware of the frantic needs of its stakeholders has decided to provide relief to the affected segments of its cricketing community.
Member clubs which maintain grounds were paid Rs.100.000 for March and April so as to help upkeep the standards of international cricket playing stadiums.
District Cricket Associations received Rs. 150.000 to uplift the livelihood of its players of the district squads and the managerial staff while 11 other member clubs with grounds and 26 District Cricket Associations also received financial grants.
SLC has also not forgotten the men who stand in the middle and do a thankless job to the best of their ability with the Umpires Association being granted Rs.780.000. So it will be seen that SLC is doing an admirable job and critics instead of always shooting their barbs at SLC should applaud them and encourage them to continue the good work.
Many international cricketers on contract have agreed to pay cuts owing to the present situation with Australian gangling paceman Josh Hazlewood showing the way. The cricket world will appreciate if the Sri Lankan cricketers follow Hazlewood’s example and agree to pay cuts.
With the possibility of conducting the T20 World Cup in Australia in October diminishing each day with the prevailing dreaded coronavirus, former ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed says that financial matters are quite complicated accusing Kevin Roberts Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Australia of failing to offer a certain degree of clarity in these troubled times.
Cricket Australia has put 80 per cent of its staff on 20 per cent salary till end of June and others and executive staff remain on 80 per cent pay.
New Zealand Cricket have had their Awards Night and Tim Southee and Tom Latham were honored winning top awards which they richly deserve for their outstanding consistency in Test cricket.
Southee captured 41 wickets with his clever seam bowling in New Zealand and abroad. Southee helped the Kiwis level the Two Test series against Sri Lanka with six wickets in the second Test at the P.Sara Oval after convincingly losing the first Test in Galle.
Southee maintained his consistency with 12 wickets from two Tests against Australia. At home he took 14 wicket to help his country beat the strong Indian team 2-0.
Left hander Tom Latham played a magnificent knock of 140 against Sri Lanka, 154 against England and also scored heavily against Australia and India. Southee and Latham are two cricketers who work hard at their game and they richly deserved the honours.
Alexander Fernando passes away
Former versatile sportsman and champion wrestler and who later turned actor Alexander Fernando passed away on April 29 after a brief illness.
Fernando who had his education at St.Anthony’s College, Kochikade, which incidentally was the writer’s first school, and St.Benedict’s College showed good talent in boxing, swimming, football and athletics and took to wrestling after watching a tournament.
He immediately took to wrestling like a duck to water and it was not long when national honours came his way. He joined the Armstrong Wrestling Club that was in his home town Kochikade and immediately caught the eye of that wrestling coach par excellence the genial Anthony Gorgonis who taught him and made him a national wrestling champion.
Fernando first sported national colours in the mat game being picked to wrestle at the Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth in 1962. His team mate was the famous boxer Malcolm Bulner. In 1964 he was picked for the Tokyo Olympics but could not make it due to knee injury.
Fernando’s final appearance for the country was at the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1966. He then took to acting and showed his versatility and was popular in many action scenes with the famous Gamini Fonseka and Robin Fernando. May his soul rest in peace.