The Education Minister, Sports Minister and Education authorities should take stern action against the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) President Thilak Waththuhewa and other SLSCA officials who boycotted the Sunday Observer-SLT Mobitel School Cricket Awards ceremony at the BMICH on Thursday, the biggest night in the school cricket calendar on flimsy and untenable grounds.
It is obvious that cricket officials are more concerned about their perks and privileges than the future of emerging school cricket stars who may one day represent the country. Hence, a probe should be conducted against those who blackened an otherwise memorable night and stern action taken.
Those who participate in this type of Awards Ceremony must not think of their own comfort for a few hours, but instead share the joy of success with the school cricketers who have won awards for their brilliant performances.
As far as we know, Waththuhewa and Co. boycotted the Awards Ceremony apparently because they were not given front row seats at the BMICH. However, the organisers had reserved 11 front row seats for Waththuhewa and other SLSCA officials. Despite their boycott of the Awards ceremony, the previous day SLSCA President Waththuhewa had signed and sent all the certificates of the winners as well.
When Ratnawali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha received the trophy and a cash award for the Best Schoolgirl Team of the Year 2022, Girls’ Tournament Secretary of the SLSCA Anusha Gunasekera, also a teacher of the school came on stage along with the team. However, when she was invited for the presentation of awards, she ignored it.
The biggest issue here seems to be that some persons who do not have an iota of knowledge on the rules and morals of cricket – on and off the field – are steering the SLSCA. It is indeed doubtful whether these officials even know about concepts such as fairplay, an integral part of cricket. The authorities must rescue school cricket from those who have no knowledge or experience of cricket. This could be a good opportunity to take a long, hard look at sport administration at school level (not just cricket) and rectify any shortcomings.