What happened to CWG money?

By Harsha Amarasinghe

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in a staggering media briefing on Tuesday (3) accused former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa of stealing money through a company under the name ‘CWG Hambantota’.  

According to Dissanayake, a number of leading organizations in Sri Lanka and recognized figures including the former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal had contributed to this fund which had been opened up in an attempt to promote Sri Lanka’s chances of hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but as of now, there is no explanation as to what happened to the millions of rupees in the fund.

Namal Rajapaksa had the audacity to suspend Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) for an administrative blunder on April Fool’s Day, for the moment atleast, as his final act as the Minister of Sports but he has to tell all the sports personalities of this country what happened to that money because there are hundreds and thousands of athletes who have given up sports because of the financial difficulties.

Best League with Worst Umpires

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is easily the best franchise-based cricket tournament in the world at the minute. For nearly fifteen years the tournament has given some thrilling memories for cricket fans all over the world. However, this year’s tournament has been hampered by some decisions made by the match officials.

When Delhi Capitals batsman Rovman Powell had whacked three sixes in a row in a final over needing 36 runs, bowled his compatriot Obed McCoy, the Indian umpires Nitin Menon and Nikhil Patwardhan probably cost the greatest moment in T20 cricket, failing to spot a waist-high full toss. This led to an interruption when Delhi Captain Rishabh Pant demanded his batsmen return to the dugout in protest against the reluctance of the on-field umpires to check the legality of the delivery with the third umpire. Powell lost the momentum, Delhi lost the match and fans probably lost one magical finish. Following the incident Pant was fined 100% of his match fee, but the umpires seem to have no problem with making match-changing decisions.

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis playing for Lucknow Super Giants was also penalized for abusing umpire Chris Gaffney, who missed a very obvious wide call. On Monday (2) Sanju Samson was seen arguing with umpire Nitin Pandit for his ridiculous wide calls. When Shimron Hetmyer was batting in the last over for Rajasthan Royals, Pandit opted not to give a wide for two obvious wide deliveries indicating the left hander moved to his left. But when uncapped Rinku Singh of Kolkata Knight Riders was batting in the 19th over of their innings, Pandit would have no problems giving a wide despite the batter’s movements. IPL fans would even go on to call him ‘the game changer of the match’ on social media after his incompetence and inconsistency cost Rajasthan the match.

The IPL has paid huge amounts for players, it has changed lives of so many cricketers and given pure joy for millions of cricket fans – but it is shocking how they could not afford top class umpires to officiate such highly-competitive matches.

Curious case of Roshen Silva

Sri Lanka Test batsman Roshen Silva’s international career looks to be over after his refusal to return home from England to perform a fitness test.

Although the 33-year-old did not get many chances from the Sri Lanka Cricket, he has performed exceptionally in the domestic circuit maintaining a first-class average of nearly 50. In the ten Test matches he played the right hander has scored a century and five fifties at an average of 35 which also doesn’t look all that bad for a guy who was left to bat with the tail more often than not.  

Sri Lanka announced an 18-member Test squad for Bangladesh last week which included Roshen Silva, but the selectors had no clue that Silva had been playing in a Lancashire-based league tournament. So in the eleventh hour they had asked Silva to return home for a fitness test to which the former Josephian had said ‘no’, stating financial difficulties.
However, it is interesting to see whether Dimuth Karunaratne would also have to come home for a fitness test as he is taking part in the County Championship in England.

Either way, the real question is whether these players have been managed properly. Bhanuka Rajapaksa for instance, arguably the best power-hitter in Sri Lanka, somehow missed the crucial tours to Australia and India. Angelo Mathews nearly retired from all forms of cricket. So, there are huge question marks over the administration.