Sri Lanka set panel to probe debacle (7 June 1999)

7 June 1999

Sri Lanka set panel to probe debacle

Ranjitha Balasubramanyam

Colombo, June 6: Amidst growing demands for a total revamp of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) following the country's World Cup debacle, the board has set up a panel of eminent cricket players and cricket administrators to probe the reasons for the dismal performance by the cup holders.

The inquiry committee is expected to hold its first meeting on June 11, when it will discuss the tour report submitted by the team manager, Mr. Duleep Mendis, who arrived here on Friday. Mr Mendis is on the inquiry panel too.

The committee, reports said, had also been asked to chalk out a strategy to revive the game in the country.

The BCCSL's decision to hold an inquiry has been described as a knee-jerk reaction to the intensifying demands for its overhaul following the team's early exit from the tournament. Sources said that the office bearers, whose controversial election held a couple of months ago, has been challenged in the court, ordered the inquiry as pressure was mounting on them to quit.

Meanwhile, a group of eminent persons, including some businessmen and professionals, has urged the President, Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga, to reconstitute the board. In a letter to the President, the group has pleaded that the board be dissolved and that an interim body be set up to take over the functions of the board's governing body.

The letter states that ageing players, the lack of a nursery to groom new players, faulty selection of team members and the obvious lack of commitment on the part of players were the basic reasons for the hopeless performance of the team in the World Cup matches.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mendis, who returned from England along with six of the 14-member team that had gone to play the World Cup, said that he would take the responsibility for the poor performance of the team. He admitted that the cricketers had disappointed their fans. Mr Mendis, who captained the Sri Lankan side from 1983 to 87, said that the team's batting was its undoing. "Earlier our batting from number one to number seven was very strong, now it is the weakest. We must introduce new players," he said. The team manager said that they adopted various tactics and experimented several game plans to remain in the fray, but none of these had worked.

Captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who has extended his stay in Europe, said in a statement released here that he took the responsibility for all the decisions taken during the tour, which unfortunately, did not go according to plan. "I wish to express my profound regret to you all for the debacle of Sri Lanka team at the World Cup. Please try to understand that the team, the tour management and the cricket board did their very best to ensure that we retain the world cup," he said in a statement addressed to Sri Lankan cricket fans.

These statements have apparently failed to assuage the feelings of cricket-lovers here, who are dejected by the team's performance. Sources said that many players had not returned with the team on Friday as they apprehended that they might have to face a hostile crowd of fans at the airport and elsewhere as protests by fans have been rather vociferous.

Contrary to the tumultuous welcomed they had received on their return from Lahore after winning the World Cup in 1996, not a single fan had turned up at the airport to receive the team this time round. A security blanket was thrown around the international airport and a host of policemen stood guard. A media reports suggests that unlike previous the occasions when cricketers were allowed to go through the green channel, this time the crestfallen squad had to go through the regular customs check on their arrival.

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)