Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Rising from the Ashes

Pearl of the Indian ocean is a beautiful cricketing country in Indian subcontinent. They became ICC world champions in 1996, because of many scarifications of past players and cricket management. 1996-2014 was the golden era in the lion’s cricket. Under Arjuna Ranathunga’s harboring there were many legendary cricketers produced. From the Aravinda de Silva to Lasith Malinga had their cricketing birth in that golden era.

Prime factors

But the culture of Sri Lankan cricket changed during the period of 2014 -2020. Players got higher salary, sponsors, facilities while they are playing in national level. Money destroys the Disciplines. Many young cricketers couldn’t handle their sudden Income and prestige they earn from society. Hence, they depend on their personal player managers who not haven’t any basic cricketing knowledge. Young, born talented cricketers not considered their fitness level while enjoying their day to day life in bars, nightclubs and etc. Many officials, politicians used those young cricketers for their own wellbeing. Without discipline and fitness there is no competition cricket. Spectators, Cricket lovers from all over the world started to abounded the SL cricket team.

The Turnaround

SLC formed a new cricketing committee with great Aravinda, Muralitharan and Mahanama. Also formed new selecting committee under the world cup winners Pramodya, Kaluwitharana. They have revised payment scheme as performance based, revised the player contract with new disciplinary rules and change the fitness level test criteria. 

The revolt

Unfortunately, senior players have not agreed with those changes and juniors also followed them. All Players refused to sign their player contract, some players requested length leave due to personal reasons and any players appealed about their payments. With those issues they traveled England. 

Suddenly one or two videos spread on social media about three national cricketers breached bio bubble and visited night clubs during the England tour. 

The Action

New committee decided to suspend those culprits to some period due to those players had early disciplinary warnings. Ample number of Srilankan cricket lovers thinking that was the turning point of current victories.

The Much Needed Series Win

After England series young fellows faced two successful host series and domestic T20 tournament. Now seems there is no politics in inside the team or team selection. Either senior or junior, either big hitter or fastest bowler all need to pass the fitness tests and need to play the domestic circuit. Then only the player can qualify for selection. Many young talented cricketers now gather with 29 years old captain Dasun Shanaka who has only 6 test matches and 34 ODI experiences. The team is having energetic heated young blood, they are greedy to win and positive attitudes like never give up.

Let's S
upport

But cricket not only physical game. It is mind game also. We need to guide those players till another 3-4 years. Then only we can provide more pearls from pearl of the Indian Ocean. WAIT AND SEE.