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Those who score 50 and complain of pains should go home: Minister

19 June 2017 10:56 am - 30     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has said cricketers who score 50 runs and complain of leg pains should go home.

“Most of our cricketers start doing exercises, after coming into a team. By that time the strength has been directed to another segment of the body. Our cricketers when they reach 50 runs, hold their legs and are unable to run. Earlier, a runner could be used.Now that too is prohibited. This is a good decision. If he cannot run after scoring 50, he should go home!" he said.

Minister Jayasekera has meanwhile decided that 23 sports in each district should be specially encouraged and 23 coaches should be assigned to do this job.

His main targets are the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, where these athletes will be able to rake in medals. Meanwhile if there are special coaches among them, they are to be sent abroad for special training.

“Our athletics coaches are stuck in a mud hole. If Sri Lanka’s Chandika Haturusinghe as coach was able to bring the Bangladesh cricket team to its present status, there are obviously many more talented coaches among our ranks. Just because a player takes part in the Olympics, or is a member of a top notch cricket team, he cannot be rated as a top level coach. Just because a bowler takes 400 or 800 wickets, he cannot be judged as a leading coach.

“Chaminda Vaas is a player who has taken 400 international wickets. I told him that if he aspired to be a coach, he should obtain training in coaching. Today he is training in various countries abroad because he has obtained that coaching. Just because someone wins a big medal, do not think he can be a top level coach!

“The best example is Dav Whatmore. He has not even played 50 Tests. But today he is one of the best cricket coaches.We hope to obtain several foreign coaches in the future. In the past we have sent sprint and middle distance runners to Kenya for special training.

“Then a Kenyan coach came to Sri Lanka to train our athletes. This coach said that Sri Lanka possesses extremely talented coaches. Today most of the coaches are a selfish lot.That is the main reason for the downfall in sports. There is no opportunity for young coaches to come forward. Present coaches train children without any education or knowledge of the game.

“As a sportsman, I know that the methods used today are the ones used in the 60’s. The stomach exercises that athletes do today belong to the 1975-1980 era. Our coaches are unaware of the changes that have taken place in exercises.

“Most of our cricketers start doing exercises, after coming into a team. By that time the strength has been directed to another segment of the body. Our cricketers when they reach 50 runs, hold their legs and are unable to run. Earlier, a runner could be used.Now that too is prohibited. This is a good decision. If he cannot run after scoring 50, he should go home!

“If a player is not fit or strong enough, there is no point in continuing in the sport. Most of our cricketers are pot bellied.This can be seen from the tee-shirts that they wear.There are no such ugly cricketers in any other country other than Sri Lanka. Only a few cricketers exists of perfect stature.
“One player has said that just because you drop a catch, one does not lose a game. But I say that the dropped catches, lose matches. If the stomach is big the hand does not go to take the catch.Then the cricketer catches his head in dismay!

“Take for instance the Bangladesh cricketers. None of them has a protruding stomach. This should be the style. I suggest that our players should undergo six months training in a Forces Camp”, these comments were made by the Sports Minister at a Sports Science Diploma ceremony held at the Sports Ministry Auditorium. Over 600 sports instructors wer awarded diplomas at this ceremony.(Susil Premalal)


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  Comments - 30

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  • IVJ Monday, 19 June 2017 02:45 PM

    Cannot agree more Mr. Jayasekera. Some of our senior cricket players are not fit.......period. Even if you have to do away with such senior bunch, please do so. We should build a new DNA in our team. Am sure, the youngsters will put their hands up and in time do a better job.

    HANY AZZAM Friday, 23 June 2017 07:11 AM

    What do you expect when 80% of the Men in the country has the same pot tummy? It is easy to identify a SL anywhere even if they are mixed with the sub continent neighbors. The fitness and discipline should be implemented and maintained from school cricket onwards so when they move to the next level they will take the good traits along with them. Time to whip them badly especially a team which has players who give priority to the mercenary game(20/20) over the country.

    PIBI Tuesday, 20 June 2017 03:34 AM

    This man is too much!

    Dan Ratnam Tuesday, 20 June 2017 03:14 AM

    What did he PLAY Marbles and Elle.

    neil alvis Tuesday, 20 June 2017 01:48 AM

    at last a minister talk sense - speak your mind buddy! not party politics or show your obeyance to a pabaya and a ponnaya like all other ministers.

    TONY Tuesday, 20 June 2017 12:14 AM

    GOING FORWARD A POLITICIAN WHO REACHES 70 SHOULD RESIGN

    TONY Tuesday, 20 June 2017 12:12 AM

    WE LOST THE MATCH AGAINST PAKISTAN BECAUSE WE DROPPED CRUCIAL CATCHES. PLAYERS WHO DROP CATCHES IN A MATCH SHOULD BE DROPPED FROM THE NEXT MATCH

    Sincere Monday, 19 June 2017 11:11 PM

    What about politicians who cannot perform?

    chandradeva Monday, 19 June 2017 09:42 PM

    Nominate investigation board and investigate the matter.

    Peter Apphuhamy Monday, 19 June 2017 04:02 PM

    Mr. Sports Minister, SriLanka and India should learn from Bangladesh, see how fit those young bullets.

    ANTON Monday, 19 June 2017 04:01 PM

    OUR CRICKETERS PLAY THE GAME BY USING HEADS NOT STOMACH.

    Dennis Reeves Monday, 19 June 2017 03:59 PM

    You are the right Cricketer who knows cricket, its funny these guys talk about stomach.

    Samson Wickremanayake Monday, 19 June 2017 03:57 PM

    Very brave, unlike our former sports minister Aluthgamage who will get something and say OK for everything.

    Ivon Fernando Monday, 19 June 2017 03:55 PM

    Sir, no need to punish anyone, let us get the right coach from abroad and build our team.

    Hiran Monday, 19 June 2017 03:05 PM

    That was 20 years ago.Now the game has completely changed. Power plays are longer you need more stamina to survive and strength to clear the boundaries. 300 is only a par score now in ODI.

    Ranjit W. Monday, 19 June 2017 11:18 AM

    "Do as I say, and not as I do." This is Sri Lankan style of governance.

    Shervin Monday, 19 June 2017 02:42 PM

    Spot on................Fitness is the key ingredient in a sportsman's success. Contributing with the bat is a must but if you have a system where you are able to deduct the fielding lapses of each cricketer against his runs scored you would really know how mush he/she has exactly contributed with the bat on that day. The famous norm said then and now is "catchers win matches" To make all this happen and go forward, discipline is a must and it should start right from top. In the best of intentions and for the Glory of Sport.....

    samitha Monday, 19 June 2017 02:29 PM

    Good Strategy . Please make sure for those coaches you are intend to hire will be without political interference.

    chris Monday, 19 June 2017 02:18 PM

    they had runners then. Now its forbidden.

    HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME Monday, 19 June 2017 01:41 PM

    " His main targets are the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, where these athletes will be able to rake in medals." -- Dayasiri --" it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" Dayasiri -this also applies to your political long jumps as well ! !

    Ajja Monday, 19 June 2017 01:37 PM

    Quite True....."Kate Masurang daana Watinawa"

    REEZ Monday, 19 June 2017 01:33 PM

    Is he saying that KJP must go home???

    nick Monday, 19 June 2017 01:32 PM

    the whole country is upset with cricket but more than cricket we all upset with the politician who make lie promises to send common people on kade via DM Android App

    AIA Monday, 19 June 2017 11:41 AM

    Certain things said by him are true, but its another publicity stunt by this cheap attention seeker

    Claude Peries Monday, 19 June 2017 11:40 AM

    Well Said Mr Minister , Well Said .

    KOLA KOTIYA Monday, 19 June 2017 11:39 AM

    NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STOMACH. 1996 WORLD CUP ARAVINDA N ARJUNA HOW THEY PLAYED ?

    joyboy Monday, 19 June 2017 11:33 AM

    not only cricket....police and forces are too with huge belly via DM Android App

    Srilankan Monday, 19 June 2017 11:30 AM

    awsoume...sirrr....

    KJ Monday, 19 June 2017 11:29 AM

    Partly agreed..

    Lankan Man Monday, 19 June 2017 11:25 AM

    Spot on Minister.


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