In India, whenever Congress loses an election, its supreme leader Rahul Gandhi questions the entire process. In Sri Lanka, a certain group doesn’t even contest Cricket Board elections, but immediately starts questioning the election process. The same has happened this time as well. In March this year, Shammi Silva led administration was elected uncontested – fourth time in a row! Opposition didn’t even contest, but soon after former vice President K. Mathivanan filed a case in supreme court, alleging irregularities in conducting the election. However, it has been widely accepted that Mathivanan is just a signature, a face. Former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Upali Dharmadasa is believed to be the mastermind behind this plot!
Regardless of his clean track record, Mathivanan’s worsening health doesn’t permit him to be involved in this sort of stuff! Recently his wheelchair-bound photographs from Singapore were circulated widely, which though was unfortunate, but suggested that it’s difficult for him to stay connected with the game in near future! In this scenario, more questions arise over Upali’s Intention. Due to the ‘money-power’, Upali has parachuted himself at Maitland Place multiple times, most famously after Sri Lanka’s disastrous 2011 World Cup campaign as co-host, where Island’s Cricket Board had gone bankrupt. Even then, Upali, who struggles to even walk properly due to his foot toe amputation, still dreams to become the SLC President.
The so-called court cases are bound to disturb Sri Lanka’s upcoming ICC events hosting plans – most notably T20 World cup early next year – as well as Cricket Board’s ongoing ambitious International Cricket Stadium and Sports City project In Jaffna! As it was the case In 2023 as well, when International Cricket Council (ICC) banned Sri Lanka Cricket over the dissolving the elected administration and appointing an Interim committee by then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe! It eventually deprived Sri Lanka from hosting the U19 World Cup!
The same possibility looms again, as the Supreme Court case date is scheduled for December 15, amid ongoing Infrastructure development of SLC. For example, Jaffna International Cricket Stadium will be Sri Lanka’s seventh international-standard cricket venue and the fifth to be equipped with floodlights, enabling it to host day-night matches. The construction of the stadium forms part of SLC’s broader vision to establish a 138-acre sports city in Jaffna.
Upon the completion of the Jaffna International Cricket Stadium, the Island nation will be thinking about stepping up to the next grade – playing host to a World Cup tournament on its own. Sri Lanka has the logistics to push for a World Cup, along with five International venues – Kandy, Dambulla, SSC, Galle and the R Premadasa Stadium. With another International stadium with floodlights, Sri Lanka will be fully equipped to stage a World Cup.
With all these ongoing development work and World Cup hosting aspirations, if the same scenario of ICC ban occurs again, the ultimate loser will be Cricket!
