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Ravin Wickramaratne censures his critics and is confident of winning the next SLC election[/caption]
On this sudden pandemonium about the collapse of Sri Lanka’s most loved game?
It’s more or less a media myth. Our opposition tries to turn the situation to its advantage. I don’t say there are no problems whatsoever. But this has been the pattern over the years. Things are blown out of proportion by our distracters.
They tried to mislead foreign investors by misinforming them during the LPL (Lanka Premier League). They stooped to such a low level. We are addressing all the problems the best way we possibly can, and things will be much better soon.
What were the benefits the country’s cricket gained by conducting the LPL?
Being able to conduct the LPL was itself a huge success because Sri Lanka could revive its franchise league with it after about seven, eight years; that too during a very difficult period of time.
Then there were some talents that were identified. (Vijayakanth) Viyaskanth is still a schoolboy. His hometown Jaffna got a huge boost because of the LPL.
We began our sport after the halt due to the pandemic and went to the world with it. It was a positive move for the entire country, not only cricket. I must mention here the assistance given by the Honourable Sports Minister (Namal Rajapaksa). It wouldn’t have been possible if not his intervention.
Again, these are organised propaganda and misconception spread by our opposition.
Why did Sri Lanka tour South Africa for two Tests, on the Centurion and Wanderers fast tracks, just after they were engaged in T20 cricket at the LPL?
Though it (the South Africa series) was under the ICC FTP (International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Programme) and the World Test Championship (WTC), we basically wanted to skip the tour. But what happened was that the High Commissioner of South Africa (Robina P. Marks) intervened and had a couple of meetings with our CEO (Ashley de Silva) as well as, I think, the Minister of Sports.
And this is (a matter concerning) two countries and we must collaborate. And that was why we agreed to send our team.
We couldn’t put it (South Africa series) back after the England tour (which immediately followed the South Africa series), as we are engaged in a very, very tight schedule this year. You can’t find a window (for a postponed South Africa series).
Coming to the issue of the LPL preceding the South Africa tour, we were supposed to start the tournament on 24 August (2020). We were ready to go. But what happened was that, with the health authorities, we didn’t come to a conclusion on their guidelines.
Finally, the Sports Minister had to intervene. The Health Minister too had to intervene to get their regulations in place. That is why it was postponed to 26 November (making the LPL coincide with the preparation for the two-Test series in South Africa),” he added.
What’s your position with regard to the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of SLC?
We are very much confident of winning. We have looked after all our stakeholders through a very difficult and challenging time during the pandemic.
Even the cricket boards that are much stronger than us found it difficult to run even their day-to-day activities. Therefore the SLC has been with our stakeholders. Therefore, we must win.
Photo Krishan Kariyawasam