Partners in the progress of Sri Lanka cricket (16 June 1999)

Rienzie Wijetilleke, Managing Director, Hatton National Bank and the other members of the Interim Committee appointed to continue the functions of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, by the Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports S

16-Jun-1999

16 June 1999

Partners in the progress of Sri Lanka cricket

Elmo Rodrigopulle

The other members of the committee are Michael Tissera (secretary), Sidat Wettimuny (treasurer), Ashantha de Mel and S. Skandakumar (members).

The Interim Committee will be assisted by Gihan Siribaddana, B. S. Perera, Anura Weerasinghe, Upali Kumarasiri, Shammi Silva, Jayananda Warnaweera and Kamal Dharmasiri.

Wijetilleke has proved his ability and efficiency in his own chosen field, that of banking and business and with the likes of four cricketers of repute to guide him, Wijetilleke is sure to score for the game.

Tissera was easily the best captain produced by Sri Lanka before gaining Test status. He led Sri Lanka to unofficial Test victories over India and Pakistan which paved the way for Sri Lanka to obtain Test status later on. He was unceremoniously deposed as Sri Lanka captain, but showed the sport in him by playing under Anura Tennekoon in the first World Cup in 1975 in England. His excellent feats with the bat and ball in addition to his superb captaincy are too numerous to mention.

I have played against and with Tissera starting from school - he for S. Thomas' and the writer for St. Benedict's. Later on we played against each other at club level and later I had the good fortune of playing for the Board President's XI against Hong Kong in 1972 under his captaincy. This writer has also played against Sidat Wettimuny and S. Skandakumar.

Wettimuny and de Mel are two former Sri Lankan cricketers who performed with great distinction and Wettimuny will be remembered for his near double century at Lord's in 1984. That was the Test where Duleep Mendis missed scoring twin centuries.

That was also the Test where Sri Lanka served notice as an emerging force in the established game. That was when the late Gamini Dissanayake was the President of the Board. That team for the Lord's Test was coached by Stanley Jayasinghe and the team was in the efficient hands of R. Rajamahendren who saw to it that the squad was provided with everything and was the fittest and talented team to leave our shores. The manager was former Sri Lanka allrounder Neil Chanmugam. What that team did at Lord's is history now.

Skandakumar was also an allrounder of repute and it was just one of those things that national honours did not come his way.

With this wonderful four-member team to work with, Wijetilleke should put things right and lead us to the promised land of cricket.

This interim body must first get their priorities right. Are they going to concentrate on the 'cowboy game' or the established game which cricket is all about.

The interim body will not be faulted if they lay the foundation for Sri Lanka fielding two teams - one for the 'cowboy game' and the other for the longer duration of the game. Australia and England are doing this. Australia have met with success as their efforts in the ongoing World Cup are proving.

The interim body will have only a short innings. But during that innings, with their knowledge and foresight they can lay out a pitch and bat for the game from which point whoever taking over can continue and take Sri Lanka, now that we have won the best prize in one-day cricket to being a formidable Test playing nation before long.

The interim body's first priority will be to see that the Australian tour goes on successfully. This tour is sure to be a fiery one considering the incidents that took place in Australia and also in the ongoing World Cup.

The World Cup now in progress in England has not been a big success. Reports reaching us indicate that it has been a big bore. Anyway the semi-final stage has been reached and the second semi-final to be played tomorrow will be as good as a final when South Africa meet the Australians.

In their previous meeting, the Australians led admirably by Stephen Waugh fought back magnificently to pip the Proteas and book a berth in the 'semis'. The Waughs, Mark and Stephen, it is said are ready for any cricket war. After twin brother Mark went early, Stephen rose to the occasion to help his team and their second clash will be no quarter asked or given one.

Pakistan who meet New Zealand in the first semi-final today will have to watch out. New Zealand are a fast improving team and if they beat the Pakistanis it would'nt be a surprise.

Source :: The Daily News