Cricket and Critics - a Sri Lankan point of view (19 Apr 1997)

Saturday 19, April 1997

Cricket and Critics - a point of view

Daily News

Our cricket team won the Singer Akai Cup in Sharjah after a nail-biting final, against the formidable Pakistan. They silenced the critics who were lamenting about Whatmore, Gurusinha and numerous others.

Imagine what the situation would be had we lost. If Pakistan scored over 250 or Aravinda de Silva got out for alow score that would have been a real possibility. Then we will be reading and hearing now the same critics bashing our cricketers and administrators.

Constructive criticism is welcome. It is healthy. What is painful is to hear criticism based on personal animosity, hatred and jealousy.

NOT FOR EVER

No cricket team in the world went on winning all their matches or series. No team, once becoming champions in a tournament, remained champions for ever.

In the same manner, no cricketer ever remained in their best form throughout his career. There are `ups' and `downs'. Why cannot our critics and some cricket fans realise these simple facts?

If players like Brian Lara and Mark Taylor can have `bad patches' in their careers why cannot our champions also go through such unfortunate, but brief `downs'? THEIR BEST

Our cricketers, led by Arjuna Ranatunga, clearly give their best wherever they represent our country.

When he was asked about the century he could not complete in the Pakistan match, Aravinda de Silva stated, what mattered was not his century but the victory for the country! That is the way our players think.

It is true that Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and some others did not score enough in New Zealand. It is true that Romesh Kaluwitharana has failed in Sharjah. But can we ever forget the contribution of these players and the rest of the team in the past. Isn't Kaluwitharana's failure partly due to his attempts to get a good run rate for the team in the first 10 to 15 overs, forgetting his personal gain? Have we forgotten his excellent wicket keeping?

CONTRIBUTIONS

The contributions made by Dave Whatmore and Asanka Gurusinha, or for that matter Bandula Warnapura, Ranjan Madugalle and a whole group of our glorious cricketers, coaches and administrators cannot be and should not be forgotten. They, like all of us may have made mistakes.

The critics should not attempt to link the failure of our team in a match or a series to Whatmore, the cricket board or to somebody else and satisfy themselves or others by unfair criticism.

Disputes, differences and misunderstandings have occasionally occurred, and will continue to occur among team mates and administrates in all sports in all countries.

ADMINISTRATORS

But the cricketers or administrators do not deserve vicious personal attacks.

We will not be champions for ever. No other country has been. We will continue to win and lose. Whether we win or lose our cricketers will do their best for the sake of the country and the grateful fans. They must have realised by now how difficult life is once you are the best!

We may or may not succeed in our goal to become the best Test playing nation. It does not matter. What matters is to have a goal and strive to attain it with excellence.

PERMANENT PLAYERS

I hope Asanka Gurusinha will rejoin the team. Senior permanent players Arjuna, Aravinda, Roshan and others will continue to play for the country as long as they are the best. When they retire, new players Marvan Atapattu and Upul Chandana will take over.

Still, we will win and lose. Our politicians and cricket fans should welcome the team at the airport whether they return with a cup or not. Because they are our cricketers. They are the best, though they may have `downs'.

Decades ago, when we travelled abroad some foreigners asked us about Bandaranaikes. A few years ago, they knew about the ethnic issue and `killing'. Now they link Sri Lanka to Arjuna, Aravinda, Sanath and cricket. EVER SO PROUD

We are ever so proud when foreigners speak of our cricketers' achievements. I still remember my head of the department at Guy's Hospital, London, a Scottish doctor, loudly and openly congratulating me in front of our English colleagues when we beat England a few years ago. Can we or should we forget all what the cricketers have done when they lose a match or series?

Can we be an ungrateful nation? Surely, no.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)