SLC, Born Again, and squandering of national pride

The Indian team poses with the winner's trophy after handing a 317-run thrashing of Sri Lanka, thus clinching the 3 match ODI series 3-0.

The National Cricket team took a world record trouncing in India during the weekend in their third and final ODI, losing the series to 3-0. 

The 317-run defeat was shocking, demoralising and humiliating. An even more terrifying prospect is the upcoming ODI world cup, which will be played in India, probably under similar pitch conditions. 

For those who have been scratching their heads about the precipitous decline of Sri Lankan cricket, answers may be inconclusive. But a committee appointed after the disappointing T20 World Cup in Australia, headed by retired Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardene provides some explanations.

The committee report submitted to the sports minister last week reveals that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Board is run by a bunch of rent-seeking profiteers, who splash funds on personal expenses, much less on the development of cricket. Where angels feared to tread, fools rush in. SLC and the top-level cricket structure are infested by a cult of Born-Again evangelicals, who exercise a pervasive influence over the players and administrators.

The collapse of Sri Lanka cricket mimics the collapse of Sri Lanka. An incestual circle of conmen have elevated to power by exploiting the peculiarities of the public or the system. As for the SLC, the elections to the board through the votes of the club system, where votes are generally bought, is perhaps more corrupt than anything else in this country. When the World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga first ran for the board’s presidency, he could not even win the vote of his home club, the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC). 

Such an insular outfit is a breeding ground for corruption and rent-seeking—no wonder the International Cricket Council (ICC) previously termed Sri Lanka Cricket the most corrupt of all.

SLC represents a good part of Sri Lanka. It has given solace and was a source of national pride and unity in good and bad times. Therefore, it should no longer be a heaven for a few wheeler-dealing racketeers to loot it and run it to the ground, citing ICC’s rule on independence from government control. Independence should be conditional on integrity, which neither the current board nor the entire structure of Sri Lankan cricket seems to be having.
The committee report provides some illuminating details on the extent of financial misappropriation by the SLC administration.

As for the SLC, the elections to the board through the votes of the club system, where votes are generally bought, is perhaps more corrupt than anything else in this country

According to the report, SLC has spent over Rs.65 million - including Rs 25.5 million for business class travel - to send 16 administrators to watch the World Cup despite Instructions from the Sports Ministry to minimise costs. But only a few have watched any match, many opting to attend to personal business and visit relatives in the Down Under. The report alleged that the SLC administrators tried to mislead the committee by providing contradictory statements on their dealings and official objectives during the tour.

Where the structure is rotten, it provides a fertile ground for unscrupulous elements to creep in. The report has raised concerns over the influence wielded by an evangelical cult of ‘Born Again’ Christians, led by Jerome Fernando, aka Prophet Jerome, who was seen on the podium of a church congregation with batter Banuka Rajapaksa after Sri Lanka’s Asia cup victory.

The committee cites certain players refused to share information due to the fear of repercussions, many influential officials of the SLC and some players are said to be members of this sect, and proselytization targeting players and administrators have been alleged.

Elsewhere, a former manager, Charith Senanayake, is on record in a newspaper interview: “Many players turned to ‘Born Again, because they thought that if they become ‘Born Again,’ they could play for the team”. 
Worst still, the players rely on mythical, spiritual remedies of bogus and self-proclaimed prophets rather than developing their techniques. This, as proven in India last week, is a recipe for disaster.

This is not the first-time con artists have encroached on the SLC and its structures. Previously, there were verifiable allegations of undue influence of a cricket agent of then two senior players; the national team was dominated by the players who were represented by the particular agent; the replacement captains were picked from his players, and Sri Lanka cricket’s doom that began then, sadly though sees no end.

Sri Lankan players are surely not lacking in talent – the raw skill. But most seem to be lacking in creativity, patience and emotional maturity. Bowlers struggle at new pitch conditions, much worse than an Under-19 team would do. Batters just throw wickets. ‘Prophet Jerome’’ surely cannot fix these miseries. However, the coaching staff should be perfectly capable of doing that. But, then, there were reports of players not turning up for practice after the Asia cup triumph.

SLC is in one big mess, probably a bigger and insurmountable one than the country is in, because those who run the SLC seemed to be a law unto themselves in their insular confines.

SLC is the richest sports body in the country- with US$ 40 million in their kitty. How much of its resources have been spent on developing grassroots cricket, so that the national team can tap into new talent is open to question. Many blame the lack of new talent.

The SLC must cultivate and nurture that talent. How many schools have a real coach? Let alone access to a turf wicket? With its deep pockets, SLC should be able to emulate the French experience, where they built the countrywide national academies to tap into the young talent, which has now turned France into the global powerhouse of football talent. Indian Cricket Board recently announced an equal salary for their women’s team. SLC can take a leaf from the neighbour. 

But, SLC, as it stands now, is corrupt and incompetent. The sports minister should dissolve it and appoint an interim committee to clean the house and fix the mess. However, Sri Lanka dissolved the SLC in 2011, but the same racketeers sneaked into the board soon after the elections were held. To avoid repetition, criminal charges should be brought against those implicated in mismanagement and financial misappropriation.

Sri Lanka Cricket players deserve better. Sri Lankans, as a nation, deserve better. But, SLC has failed to deliver. The Sports Minister should find ways to end this embarrassing slide of one of the preeminent sources of national pride.

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