I have a contingency plan to save Cricket: Dayasiri

7 December 2017 02:19 am - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said he has a Contingency Plan in place to save cricket from its current predicament prepared with the assistance of former senior cricketers and if the Cricket Board did not cooperate and gave its blessings to the plan, he would not hesitate to dissolve the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLCB) and appoint an interim committee.

Minister Jayasekara added that the CP has been drafted with after a comprehensive study, consultation with all stake holders and with the advice of former senior and respected cricket stars like Mahela Jayawardana and Kumar Sangakkara.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet news briefing on Wednesday, Minister Jayasekara admitted that the most popular sports, cricket in Sri Lanka has plunged to the lowest level possible at all level but he refused to put the blame fully on the SLCB and its management.

“I don’t rush to the extreme and appoint an interim committee for cricket as I believe I can with the assistance of all stakeholders to save cricket with the new plan. We have to do something sooner than later because time is running out for us. I think appointing interim committees at every two or three years not only for cricket but for any other sport in the country is not healthy for any sport. Besides, the International Cricket Council (ICC) does nor recognize interim committees,” Minister Jayasekara emphasized.

He admitted that the SLCB has been highly politicized and top management takes decisions aimed at winning the election held to elect top officials to the board.

“One of the main weaknesses that has severely affected cricket is the lack of top tier cricket tournaments to prepare national level cricketers. The top level our cricketers participate in competitive level is club cricket. In club cricket we have no four day competitions. We also don’t have top level cricket competitions in shorter form to prepare cricketers for limited over and 20-20 cricket. Then we must also train our young cricketers to play night test cricket and to play red, white and rose balls. Sri Lanka has failed to produce top level cricketers who can face any team in the world like Mahela and Sangakkara in the last 8 years. We also have not produced spin bowlers with the calibre of Muralitharan except Rangana Herath or a fast bowler like Chaminda Vaas or a fast bowler who can reach 150 kilometres per hour. These mistakes or lapses have affected Sri Lanka cricket badly and results are that we get beaten badly at international level. That is why the new plan and I believe we can deliver with that plan,” Minister Jayasekara stressed.

Responding to a journalist Minister Jayasekara said the attempt to send a group of cricketers for the forthcoming limited over and 20/20 series without his sanctions was a violation of the Sports Law and he has asked the SLCB to submit a full report on the issue immediately.

He vowed that he would take appropriate action who made the blunder and added that even SLCB chairman, deputy Speaker Tilanga Sumathipala told him that he was in the dark on the sinister move.

“They tried to get my approval at the last moment and cricketers were already on board of the aircraft. Under the Sports Law, sports bodies must get Sport Minister’s approval for foreign competitions 21 days prior to the departure. At this instance they have not done that for a reason best known to them,” he charged.

Minister Jayasekara said when he took over the Ministry there were 140 odd cricket clubs and he brought down the number to 24 with the right to vote at elections.

“Please give me some time. I try my best to correct this sorry state of affairs in cricket. I need only your help and blessings for this,” Minister Jayasekara appealed. (Sandun A Jayasskera)

Pix by Nisal Baduge

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Comments - 14

Mevan Thursday, 07 December 2017 07:48 AM

Your words and deeds should match.

RDF Thursday, 07 December 2017 11:36 AM

But minister your recent knee-jerk action on the one day team was so childish and foolish, unbecoming of a senior politician. You have lost respect with this action.

Aussie Thursday, 07 December 2017 07:51 AM

Minister Good intention though you also should remove all the red tapes and let SLC to make decisions. You should only act as a watchdog. Why do you have to authorise or sanction a team for a tour. May be the law but in that case change the law for better. Isn't that a red tape or political interefence of the game. Minister please grow up and act in a responsible manner.

nick Thursday, 07 December 2017 07:51 AM

Will that include kicking off the cricketing body chief whos is more like a thief via DM Android App

ANTON Thursday, 07 December 2017 08:15 AM

I THINK, FIRST OF ALL , THERE SHOULD BE SO CALLED "CONTINGENCY PLAN" FOR SAVING SLC AND MINISTRY OF SPORTS AND VERY SPECIALLY , THE MINISTER OF SPORTS.

Sara Ariyamanesh Thursday, 07 December 2017 10:30 AM

A person who does not know the difference between a bat and a ball having a contingency plan ????? What a joke.

malij Thursday, 07 December 2017 10:40 AM

Mr. Minister, It is better to have a contingency plan to save yourself. There is very little we can expect from a man who had ordered nine players to disembark from a plane like common criminals shaking their moral which is already at a very low ebb. You had done that knowing very well that the approval (signature) on the selected list is a mere formality, without taking up the matter with bungling cricket board officials who are the real culprits. Please come back down to earth and get someone to examine your pompous swollen head.

fucka Palanaya Thursday, 07 December 2017 10:51 AM

first Save your ASS before anything. Do not play with cricket after playing our country economic with corrupted governments pASt and present

Countryman Thursday, 07 December 2017 11:00 AM

Please somebody come up with a contingency plan to save the country from the politicians, now all the master/main plans are outdated!!!

Para Thursday, 07 December 2017 11:33 AM

We had best performing team before. What happened to our players... take good rest and better practice before all the matches.

Raj Thursday, 07 December 2017 04:42 PM

What is your contingency plan for the next general elections with UNP, SLFP or JO?

S.P.RAMKUMAR Thursday, 07 December 2017 05:45 PM

Hon. Minister Sir, Why did you stopped cricketers traveled to India when So many players had been effected by pollution. You should have to allow them travel this situation.

Ben Thursday, 07 December 2017 08:26 PM

meka cricket bole allalawath thiyenawada?

Jay Sunday, 17 December 2017 04:35 PM

Current SL cricket team is so bad that they should not be allowed to play in the international level. Can't even watch them play. They have no skills at all. I don't even know how they made the team, probably they are sons of all ministers and highly influential people.They should be banned from international competition.

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I have a contingency plan to save Cricket: Dayasiri

Comments - 14

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