Sri Lanka: BCCSL Elections (17 March 1999)

17 March 1999

Sri Lanka: BCCSL Elections

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

At packed press conference in Colombo, BCCSL Presidential candidate Clifford Ratwatte pledges to clean up cricket administration and revive the game.

BCCSL presidential candidate Clifford Ratwatte assured the cricketing public that one of his first priorities if elected to the post, will be to clean up the administration of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL).

"There are allegations of several things happening. I don't know how far it is true. I can't comment on something which I am not sure of. But if they are true, I hope to clean them up," said Ratwatte addressing a well attended press conference at Galadari Hotel yesterday to launch his campaign to become the next president of the BCCSL.

"I will assure you that in whatever we do there will be transparency. Nothing will be decided under the table. I am not going to be a dictator. I will discuss democratically with the rest of the Executive committee and work out a plan for the future of cricket," he said.

Ratwatte is contesting incumbent president Thilanga Sumathipala for the BCCSL presidency at the annual general meeting scheduled for March 28 at the Cricket Board headquarters.

Ratwatte said that contesting the Cricket Board presidency was furthest from his mind until two weeks ago when several leading people from the local cricketing world requested him to come forward.

"They almost forced me to contest this post. When I asked them why, the reply was that I had been doing a lot for sports in the last so many years and they thought I could serve the game," said Ratwatte.

"I have administered so many bodies I have never been fooled by anybody. That I can assure you. I know the people who asked me to come forward are those who know the game and have been in it," he said.

Ratwatte, who is the president of the Nationalised Service Cricket Association and chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Promotion Board replying to a question, said he had no political backing to contest the election.

"I have not been approached by any politician on this matter. I have been brought into the contest by cricketing people. To tell you the fact it was this morning (Tuesday) that I mentioned to Her Excellency at breakfast that I was coming forward for the Cricket Board presidency. She never knew anything about it. I belong to a political party, but I am coming as an individual," said Ratwatte.

He also denied a newspaper report (not ANCL) that he had a fight with Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga when he came to hand over his nomination at the Cricket Board.

"It is a downright lie. You can bring Arjuna here and ask him. Arjuna asked me what I hope to do if I was elected president. I told him my plan was to clean up the administration and that I will leave it to him and his team to play the game of cricket. I will not interfere in that. There was no reason for a fight.

"I know Arjuna's father and all his brothers, so why should I fight with him. The newspaper I feel has purposely done this to prejudice Arjuna's supporters against me," alleged Ratwatte.

He said that he was mindful of the present state of Sri Lanka cricket and that was something he would look into.

"To be on top of the ladder and to come down like this, there is something radically wrong somewhere. I cannot comment on it from outside because I don't know the inside set up. If I am elected by the majority, I will discuss the matter and put it straight," he said.

Abu Fuard, a vice president of the BCCSL who is supporting Ratwatte's candidature for presidency, said the standard of cricket had dropped because there was no serious thought given to developing a second team. "We did not pay heed of thought for the young cricketers to fill the ensuing vacuum that will be created in the near future with the retirement of six to seven players. Players are now getting old, they are getting injury prone. For multiple reasons our cricket has now nosedived," he said.

Having played for the country for 15 years and been in the administration for a further 17 years, Fuard accused the present administrators of conducting the affairs of the BCCSL in a manner 'not keeping to the expectations of his seniority'. "Only a few ExCo members know what is happening within the Board," he said.

Fuard was critical of the vast sums of money the BCCSL plan to spend in putting up a stadium at Dambulla and said the money should be first channelled to developing existing grounds in Radella, Matara, Kandy and Kurunegala and the Sara Stadium. He said the anticipated income for the BCCSL for the next four years is Rs. 600 million - Rs. 400 million from the World Cup and Rs. 200 million by way of television rights, and that it should be channelled properly.

Jayantha Dharmadasa, Gerry Hidelaratchchi and Chrisantha de Silva also spoke. Past Cricket Board presidents and administrators were also present at the conference.

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