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10 points to save Sri Lanka’s cricket

31 Jan 2021

[caption id="attachment_116915" align="aligncenter" width="1062"] January 1999 in Adelaide: A moment where the Captain, the team, the administration, and the entire country got together to fight for one cause[/caption]   A few suggestions to rebuild SL’s cricket for the future that stemmed from various discussions over the past week:  
  1. Present 25-plus first-class clubs to be reduced to 10-plus
Sri Lanka reached top international level with about 10 clubs in her domestic premier system. The 10 or so clubs would feature the best 150 or so players of the country, the catchment for national representation. The Sports Minister pledged on 27 January that he would take action to have “competitive domestic and provincial tournaments”. A solid provincial structure can also sustain competition and allow emerging outstation areas like Jaffna to come to the top.        
  1. School cricket structure to be further sustained
Schools have historically been the backbone of Sri Lanka’s cricket. But there is a problem: Are enough funds allocated to school cricket compared to club cricket now? Is it because the schools have no major voting capability in the national cricket administration?          
  1. Updating archaic sports law
Laws that were drafted about 50 years ago need to be updated to suit the realities of the present day. Many experts have pointed out this fact. Efforts are also underway to amend the country’s sports laws, and may be the Cricket Board Constitution.        
  1. Alleviating corruption in administration
This allegation has been highlighted in the media for two whole decades since the time the cricket board became a “professional” outfit. Either a new system needs to be implemented to regulate its internal financial activities, or the Government must make sure it paves the way for more sincere and accountable officials to govern its matters.        
  1. Alleviating corruption spilled over to the game
Now bribery and corruption have crept into every sphere of the sport, from top to bottom. Appointment of officials, coaches, player selections, passing fitness tests, etc. have all become deals mixed with corruption. When it’s the corruptors who rule the roost, the best are distanced and the system crumbles.        
  1. Revitalising SL ‘A’, Emerging, and U-19
Some say T20 “bang bang” cricket should not be allowed in school cricket. Anyway, a strong technical base needs to be laid down from the early years of budding players. The main focus should be on Test cricket. The now-stalled international series for SL “A”, SL Emerging, as well as SL U-19 need to be resumed soon.        
  1. Centralising management of contracted players
The privately conducted Player Manager system that exists now needs to be centralised by the cricket board. The present system creates space for undue influence on team selections, makes emerging talents more prone to the evils of commercialism, and forms factions within the national team.        
  1. A disciplinary code which includes social media guidelines
The new generation of cricketers is prone to the ails of social media and their behaviour on Facebook, etc. needs to be streamlined. Drunk driving, drug addiction, clubbing, etc. have become a great menace. A very strict disciplinary code is essential from school to national level.          
  1. Balancing high income and commitment
Cricket is a disproportionately rich sport in an economy like Sri Lanka. So the cricketers could easily tend to lose their way after a certain point. The new “performance-based” paying scheme the Sports Ministry is going to initiate is a timely move.          
  1. Right role models, right spirit
Sri Lanka has a serious problem on having right, well-rounded role models in sport. As a result, perhaps the spirit and temperament at the highest level is dwindling. Unity and teamwork have suffered. No team can consistently do well in such a situation. With greater luxuries that beget distractions, the Indians are doing their job. The reason: The right people – like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and Ravi Shastri – are at right places. A classic example for Sri Lanka!   Compiled by Revatha S. Silva 


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