Big match of a different kind

Barely two months after the traditional big match season, there is another big ‘un which has just commenced. Though it does not augur well for Sri Lanka cricket, we have become unfortunate spectators of a big match of a different kind between the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Interim Committee and the Chairman of Selectors.

It all began when former Sri Lanka paceman and present chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel short-pitched a ball on the recent tour of Abu Dhabi. De Mel said the three-match one day international series against Pakistan in the desert city was badly planned.

Having played the game at the highest level, the ex-Test quickie knows his onions. People who have not held a bat cannot teach him how to play the game. De Mel was quite right in saying so as it was evident the way we played with a makeshift side.

Having expended their energy to the maximum for nearly two months in the Caribbean and emerging runners up at the 2007 ICC World Cup, our cricketers badly needed a rest to recharge their batteries.

The cricketers should have been allowed to stay with their families and loved ones as that is generally associated with out culture. In the subcontinent, it is an important aspect to maintain the mental balance of a player.

But the poor lads were forced to go to the Middle East just a week after their strenuous return from the Caribbean. Why? Simply because the authorities were greedy for money. The game has turned highly professional and needs huge finances, we don’t deny that.

But there were enough dollars pouring in to the SLC coffers after we reached the finals of the mega event.

Hence, it was not wise to risk the team to grab that USD 750,000 thrown by the Abu Dhabi organizers, who had previously postponed it. After all, money is not everything.

Instead of taking the advice given by the Selection Committee chief and planing our future itineraries in such a way, the SLC officials took it as an affront and De Mel’s name went into the bad books. As a result, De Mel was kicked out from his chair unceremoniously.

That was a gift De Mel and his team got for picking a perfect World Cup squad which went all the way to the finals when most pre-tournament favourites faded away. But that was the treatment the selectors here get for a job well done. True it’s a thankless job but now it has become a job that would also bring insults even after a successful innings.

While omitting De Mel’s name altogether, the SLC has nominated a person who runs a coaching school and not played Test cricket. We also understand that this move is also to stop players deserting a leading Club as those who leave would be at the receiving end when it comes to selections.

How could a person of this calibre earn respect? Wont there be a conflict of interest even if he hands over his Coaching School to a close buddy?

The selectors do a honorary job and do not expect financial benefits. The present cricket selectors are given only an incidental allowances of Rs. 25,000/- per month to cover their travel expenses. That is understandable because we cannot expect them to do a honorary job at their expense.

But what we can’t understand is the SLC’s lavish Rs. 250,000/- per month package offered to three new selectors. What we see is a move to ‘buy’ selectors and make them the obedient ‘servants’ of the SLC. When a selector becomes a paid employee of the SLC, they could not act independently anymore. Even if they do, people won’t accept that because such selectors are under obligation.

This is exactly the situation what the authorities want to create.

Such an atmosphere would strengthen the authority of SLC Interim officials. There will be room for them to meddle with selections in a ‘diplomatic’ way.

The SLC is gunning for De Mel simply because he is a no-nonsense man. He is not willing to dance to the tune of the officials and curry favour. If De Mel had wanted to get Rs. 250,000/- a month and let the officials take part in the selection process ‘unofficially’, he could have well done that.

But the De Mel we know plays a straight bat and that has angered some of our officials who are interim. We understand the Sports Minister has retained De Mel for two months. But that too is an insult and we strongly feel that he should be given a clear one-year mandate to continue his good work.

De Mel’s role is similar to what Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, the well-known consultant surgeon and former Royal, CR & FC and Sri Lanka player, did as Chairman of Rugby selectors. When people of this calibre do an impartial job and find reasonable deals for up and coming talented players on merit, the interested parties start sinister moves to oust them.

If one expects a fair deal for our budding cricketers purely on merit and to see a stronger national team enriched with talent, the Sports Minister should make use of his powers and no ball the SLC. De Mel should be given another term to play another fearless innings.

It’s a pity that the officials and petty club politics are ruining our sport. Fearless and impartial people cannot survive in this dirty structure.