New SLC Interim Com. keen on appointing security expert
Chris DHAMBARAGE
The need of a top security expert to the Sri Lanka cricket team was
among the main priorities when the newly appointed Seven Member Sri
Lanka Cricket (SLC) Interim Committee took office at their Headquarters
in Maitland Place yesterday.
Chairman of the SLC Interim Committee and Presidential Advisor D.
Somachandra de Silva revealed that they will soon appoint a security
consultant following the terror attack that took place in Lahore on
March 3 during the second Test against Pakistan.
The former Sri Lanka leg spinner stressed the importance of the
safety of the cricketers and vowed to look into the welfare and the
facilities of the players who were affected from the Lahore terror
attack.
He stated that future overseas tours will be finalized based on the
security report provided by the Team Manager and the independent
security consultant.
De Silva said that following a discussion with the team captain and
vice captain they decided to recruit a security expert who will travel
with the Team Manager ahead of the tour and visit the venues and the
hotels before making a final decision.
“We will undertake the responsibility of sending an independent
person to assess the security situation in the country the players are
scheduled to play in and depending on the report a final decision will
be taken”.
De Silva who captained the country in two Test matches noted that
they would also review the security situation in India before their
players compete in the second session of the high profile Indian Premier
League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament organized by the Board of Control for
Cricket in India.
A total of fourteen Sri Lankan players are set to make their presence
felt in the IPL which will be worked off from April 10 to May 24. The
players are Sanath Jayasuriya, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Mahela
Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Farveez Maharoof,
Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Muttiah Muralitharan,
Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa and Chamara Silva.
De Silva said that they will be discussing all these matters and will
be talking to the cricketers to obtain their views on the security
situation in India.
The fate of this Twenty20 tournament is hanging on balance as the
Indian government has refused to provide security during the election
period with which dates of the IPL matches are clashing.
De Silva stressed the fact that they will need to look at the
security aspect as the cricketers are under contract and are associated
with the Sri Lanka Cricket and is their duty to protect and assist them.
The new Interim Committee Chairman also revealed that in future they
will not appoint an overseas person as the assistant coach of the
national team and instead that job will be provided to an experienced
domestic Tier ‘A’ coach with proven abilities.
He also stated that their prime intention is to provide the maximum
exposure to the top local coaches who will be given the opportunity of
proving themselves at the highest level.
In another major development De Silva said that the Hambantonta
International Stadium will be completed in time to host the semi final
match of the 2011 ICC World Cup through the courtesy of Namal Rajapaksa
who is the head of the ‘Thaarunyata Hetak Foundation’.
Meanwhile in a press release Sri Lanka Cricket has apologized to all
the Media for the unfortunate incident that took place at yesterdayâ’s
Media Briefing at SLC Headquarters which was held to introduce the newly
appointed Interim Committee members of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The media release states that Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to condemn the
unethical behaviour of B. H. Perera Administration Manager during the
Media Briefing and wish to state that appropriate steps have been taken
in this regard for the best interest of Sri Lanka Cricket to maintain
discipline at all levels. |
