Sidath Wettimuny tells SL Cricket Board to stick to inter-club system (17 May 1998)

Sunday, May 17, 1998

Sidath Wettimuny tells Cricket Board to stick to inter-club system

The Daily News

FORMER SRI Lanka Test opener Sidath Wettimuny told that the cricket administrators of the Cricket Board to stick to inter-club system which has been going on for the past century rather than go for the provincial or district tournaments for the development of the game.

He aired his views at a workshop organised by the Cricket Board with a view of restructuring the cricket format in the country.

" Our spectator affiliation is towards clubs. We have to promote club cricket, like in England towards a county or a state in Australia. In Sri Lanka, it's towards a club top facilities should be provided to these clubs that it will be on par of the few Colombo cricket clubs provides all facilities," said Wettimuny.

He also brought to the notice of the importance of a professional player in every club so that his knowledge could be imparted for the benefit of the other players. The Cricket Board should insist on sending experience and professional players to clubs so that the standards would improve.

" Every year, a Bloomfield - SSC Sara Trophy final will not take Sri Lanka cricket anywhere, I would prefer a Kurunegala - Galle final instead, then only we could say that there is a development in the game. The two Colombo clubs contain the cream of Sri Lanka cricket and we see them over television most of the time.

He further said that the Cricket Board should allocate the money for clubs according to a formula.

'It's better to spend money in big quantities for a few clubs for a slow development than give little money for many clubs and do nothing. (RA)

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