KEEP CRONIES OUT OF CRICKET

There are some people in this world who become famous through words, others become heroic through their actions and deeds, writes Abu George.
 
In the modern world of multi-media it is becoming increasingly common to find people who can become heroes to their people by raising awareness of the plights from which they suffer and ‘outing’ those responsible.

And so we turn to Kumar Sangakkara who has used the platform at the home of cricket, The Marylebone Cricket Club, as the first overseas guest invited to perform the Cowdrey Spirit of Cricket speech. Drawing on his past successes he has raised awareness of the plight facing cricket in Sri Lanka.
 
It was a frank assessment of the development of Sri Lankan cricket and the struggles it faced as the war-ravaged nation has fought against opposing political factions.

“Accountability and transparency in administration and credibility of conduct were lost in a mad ‘power struggle’ that would leave Sri Lankan cricket with no clear, consistent administration,” said Sangakkara, who captained his country to the World Cup Final earlier this year.

“After 1996, the cricket board has been controlled and administered by a handful of well-meaning individuals, either personally or by proxy, rotated in and out depending on appointment or election.

“Unfortunately, to perpetuate their powers they opened the door of the administration to partisan cronies that would lead to corruption and wanton waste of cricket board finances and resources. It was, and still is, confusing.”

Apparently sensing trouble, the International Cricket Council recently moved to end political influence in the game by ordering its member countries to elect their national boards instead of allowing governments to hand-pick administrators.

This is an era in which many fans are concerned at the level of power wielded by the cricket authorities.

Some have already criticised Sangakkara for his speech. There are those who believe that he is biting the hand that has fed him for so long, while others believe that, if he was to speak out, he should have done so sooner.

Sangakkara is the first player to speak out against the board while still under contract.

The last former captain to do so was World Cup winner, ArjunaRanataunga. Ranatunga has continuously criticised corruption in the game and even provided documentary evidence to parliament, with little action.

But now, in a move that appears to lend weight to Sangakkara’s accusations, instead of launching an investigation into the latest allegations, sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has ordered new Sri Lanka cricket chairman Upali Dharmadasa to submit a report on Sangakkara.

I will leave with you Sangakkara’s closing remarks, for they are a lesson to all.

They encapsulate precisely why the world should work together to ensure politics stays out of sport: “Fans of different races, castes, ethnicities and religions who together celebrate their diversity by uniting for a common cause – they are my foundation, they are my family. I will play my cricket for them. Their spirit is the true spirit of cricket.

“With me are all my people. I am Tamil, Sinhalese, Muslim and Burgher. I am a Buddhist, a Hindu, a follower of Islam and Christianity. I am today, and always, proudly Sri Lankan.”