SLC General Secretary Mohan de Silva[/caption]
We ought to move forward
There is ample criticism, many doubts, and mistrust too, shown by various parties at SLC’s frantic effort to hold the LPL amid a staggering pandemic since last August. The event’s start was postponed at least four times only to create more and more uncertainty.
“Sometimes you would be proved right and sometimes you could be wrong. But the most important thing in this situation is to move forward,” opined de Silva, adding it could be the only means to answer the critics.
Delay in paying event rights fees
The Dubai-based Innovative Production Group (IPG), SLC’s current television production rights holders, are the event rights holders of the LPL too. Despite SLC announced the final schedule of the tournament yesterday, after getting Government approval last Friday (6), IPG which signed the rights agreement with SLC on 14 October, is yet to pay the “upfront” for the event rights that is $ 1,775,000 (approx. Rs. 327 million).
Sports Minister’s keen interest
SLC Secretary also praised heavily the interest shown by Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa in making its way clear to stage the LPL this month and also having a successful tournament.
“We can see that the Sports Minister is taking so much of interest (while) taking the risk and getting the approval from the (Health) Ministry and the HE (President Gotabaya Rajapaksa). The Sports Minister is handling it. It is a great source of strength and inspiration to us,” he said.
Only with good intentions
“We can’t entirely rule out that there is a possibility of something going wrong. There is always a risk involved in taking decisions when there is a pandemic of this magnitude. But the most important thing is that we have to take decisions progressively,” de Silva further added.
“We know that we are doing everything with good intentions and without any hanky-panky. We are taking decisions that we assume are good for Sri Lanka’s cricket.”