Jaywardene jumped the gun?

Mahela Jayawardene has resigned without an explanation…

What does this mean?

Were there any conflicts in the team?

Wasn’t he enjoying the job anymore?

Or, did he jump the gun by announcing his retirement before he got the boot?

Well, the last option looks a bit farfetched, considering how it is kinda’ like ‘protocol’ to give the captain a good run till you kick him out.

However, a leading Sunday newspaper, which has always been very reliable with its insider information, claims that they were planning to seperate the captaincy.

If this was the case, then what Mahela did was good. He could’ve just resigned from ODIs and continued as Test captain (mind you, he had a win-loss ratio of 2.15, which is quite good), but he would’ve felt that the team would’ve benefitted by having just one captain (look no further than England to see how bad split-captains can be).

What I would do now is kick him from the limited-overs side and ask him to get some form on the domestic circuit. However, his test record still remains impeccable and I would keep him in the test side!

In all probability, Sanga will become the captain, but in the unlikely event that he doesn’t become the captain, it’ll be Dilshan

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SLC lifts ban on ICL players! Something sinister?

My my, I think a thousand flies would’ve been able to enter my mouth when I saw the top news on cricinfo! Quite unbelievable, isn’t it? I was expecting something like this to come from a bigger power, someone like Australia or South Africa! But, this coming from a board which has an overdraft of nearly Rs. 200 million ($2 million), is just shocking!

Well, if you look at it from another angle, it isn’t all the too shocking, when you consider the fact that Arjuna was behind this, as he isn’t in everyone’s good books due to the fact that he likes to give everyone a piece of his mind. I don’t think a lot of people can forget the ‘finger – wagging’ he gave the Aussie ump, Russell Tiffin (or someone, I’m not sure of the name), a piece of his mind. There are many incidents, most recent of which was his comments on T20 cricket and the IPL, comparing it to a ‘thamasha’ (party), which didn’t go too well with the BCCI.

Moreover, I was quite surprised to see the likes of Russell Arnold and Upul Chandana, ICL recruits, on the presentation stage during the recently concluded India – Sri Lanka ODI series! Of all the countries, it had to be in a series involving India that these guys had to be there! You have to admire Arjuna’s bravery!

However, insider sources revealed something disheartening, yet something I have come to expect when reading about the mismanagement of Sri Lanka cricket. Apparently, popular Sri Lankan whistleblower site, lankadissent.com, had published an article stating that the ban was lifted mainly because Atapattu, one of the ICL recruits, is a close relative of Arjuna!

Perhaps that’s why the media manager, Shane Fernando, stopped short of clarifying whether future ICL recruits will also be allowed to play domestic cricket or not!

Ranatunga bowing down to someone?

Since there isn’t nothing much, I decided to touch upon this. My good God, I don’t think ‘Captain Cool’ (as he is known here in SL) has ever bowed down to anyone. However, to my glee, the current crop of Sri Lankan players have managed to do it, something which not even Mark Taylor’s Aussies were unable to do!

It’s regarding the IPL. Thing is, the Sri Lanka Cricket board (SLC) had got an offer from the ECB to tour England in April and May for 2 tests and 3 ODIs (as a replacement for Zimbabwe). Ranatunga, in a moment of stupidity, accepted it, thinking that the SL players would accept it joyfully. Sadly, its a well known fact that Sri Lankan players are the 2nd most underpaid players among all top nations, and, so, the money from the IPL is like diamonds to the players’ eyes. Since this England tour would clash with the IPL, the players are adamant that they want to go to the IPL. The crisis is further compounded by the fact that the SL players have no official contract with the SLC (they only had a ‘tour contract’ for the Asia Cup).

The reason why I’m so happy is that the SLC is one of the most corrupt bodies in Sri Lanka, and every single cent in the SLC coffers are swindled by businessmen who join the SLC ‘in the best interests of the game’. I know, people might think that they’re being selfish, but this is what the SLC deserves! (and Ranatunga, for thinking that just because he was a good captain, he could be a good administrator)