The Panadura SC and Kalutara PCC who were accused of fixing their Premier league Tier B match so that both teams benefitted from it – one to gain promotion and the other to avoid relegation to a lower division has taken another twist with both these clubs wanting the one-man committee appointed by the Minister of Sports to inquire further into the incident. They have requested the committee to investigate how a club by the name of Seeduwa-Raddoluwa which was affiliated to Sri Lanka Cricket suddenly changed its name and began playing as Sri Lanka Ports Authority in the major domestic tournament.
The clubs have also requested an inquiry into Sri Lanka Ports Authority’s Premier Tier B league match against Kurunegala Youth CC and the match between Colts and Chilaw Marians - two matches which has aroused suspicion for their low scores.
It was due to the protest lodged by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) that they were deprived of promotion from Premier Tier B to Tier A by Panadura and Kalutara PCC ‘fixing’ their match that sparked off an investigation by SLC. After months of deliberation the SLC came to a conclusion that the match is declared null and void and the points obtained from the match be withdrawn and also fined both clubs Rs. 500,000 each. Where the SLC erred in their decision-making was that they allowed the two offending clubs to escape suspension but suspended the captains of the two teams for two years and the players and coach of the two teams for one year.
This decision drew an angry reaction from the captains and the players and they sought redress through their lawyers. They accused the clubs of not allowing them to be present at the inquiry to tell their side of the story and it was the club officials who attended the inquiry and based on their statements that SLC had handed out the punishment.
As things came to a head the Sports Minister sensing something sinister in the whole episode ordered a fresh inquiry by appointing a separate one-man committee to see that justice is done to all concerned.
It is at this newly initiated inquiry that both Panadura and Kalutara PCC have requested for an investigation into the procedures adopted by Sri Lanka Ports Authority on what grounds they became a team qualified to play in the Premier tournament by just a change of name and for two other Premier matches.
The normal procedure would have been that SLPA should have come through the usual system of playing in the lower division as a newly registered club and then qualify to play in the top Tier.
If SLPA fails to prove how they came to play in the Premier division without a valid reason then they stand to be disqualified.
Well, as it stands the so called ‘match-fixing’ case is intriguingly poised like a Test match for a classic finish with the chances of tables being turned over.
WHY IS CAPTAIN COOL QUITE?
Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga who has been rather vociferous with the current cricket administration calling for its change and for the appointment of an interim committee has suddenly gone quite.
With the national team being beaten by nearly all and sundry – a first time Test loss to Bangladesh, a first ODI series loss to Zimbabwe and a complete whitewash by India across all three formats gave the critics enough ammo to launch a scathing attack on the present cricket administration and the national team.
Ranatunga who is a cabinet minister in the present government even went to the extent of writing to the President and Prime Minister of the country demanding the sacking of the present cricket administration of Thilanga Sumathipala who is also the deputy speaker of parliament.
Sumathipala’s response to Ranatunga’s accusation was “There is no need to resign the administration is not at fault for the team’s poor showing."
Now with the sudden turn in fortunes for the national team in the UAE where they have comprehensively beaten Pakistan 2-0 in the two-match Test series and thereby inflicting the first series loss for them in their newly found home base UAE in 10 series, there is not even a word of congratulations or encouragement from the past World Cup winning captain to the team.
Ranatunga’s frustrations at not being able to defeat Sumathipala in an SLC election (which he accuses the voting system of being corrupt) should not be taken on the national cricket team. Where credit is due it should be given.
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