Sri Lanka Cricket is facing intense pressure within the board and from outside to strip Galle International Cricket Stadium of all international games this year following allegations of pitch doctoring in two Test matches in the last two years. A sting operation conducted by Al Jazeera Television Network had revealed that the pitches for the 2016 Test against Australia and last year’s Test match against India were doctored.
Prominent figures within the board are putting pressure on SLC bosses to ban the venue from holding any international cricket for the rest of the year in order to restore the reputation of the institution.
The iconic cricket ground, a stone’s throw away from the Indian Ocean and with the 16th century Dutch Fort as the background, is one of the favourite destinations of international cricket teams. However, with SLC’s reputation taking a severe beating following these recent allegations, some officials want strong action taken.
“The damning evidence that emerged last week about corruption is too damaging and the venue should be banned from hosting the two Test matches this year,” an SLC official told Cricbuzz.
Although SLC will not have many issues if they move the game against South Africa, the board is deliberating the complications that will be caused if the venue for the England game, scheduled in October, is changed.
An official told Cricbuzz that they are expecting about 5000 fans from England for the opening Test match of the three-match series scheduled from October 6-10.
The official added that some fans had already made hotel reservations for the Galle Test match, a popular attraction among touring fans. SLC has slotted an England Test match to Galle during each of their last four visits, in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2012.
Tharanga Indika, the official attached to the venue who was suspended after the Al Jazeera revelations, had been appointed in February 2016, five months before the Australia Test match in Galle. Tharanga’s name was one of the 15 names recommended by SLC International Venue Manager Godfrey Dabare to be taken in as Galle venue’s workforce.
However, the Secretary of Southern Province Cricket Association Halambage Premasiri had objected to the appointment. While raising concerns, Premasiri had pointed out that the venue’s cadre had been in operation for 15 years and there was no need for a change. Premasiri had further pointed out that with the suspension of former curator Jayananda Warnaweera by the International Cricket Council, the reputation of the venue had already suffered. However, his concerns were overruled and Indika was appointed as an Assistant Venue Manager.
Premasiri was gunned down a week after the Australia versus Sri Lanka Test match in Galle in August. The murder is yet unsolved and although a family feud was suspected initially, in cricket circles, some allege that a sinister move was behind the killing.
On Sunday, SLC appointed a three member panel comprising Vice-President Mohan De Silva, Secretary Air Commodore Roshan Biyanwala and Channa Weerakkody to submit a report making recommendations on the existing protocols with regards to the cricket venues. SLC is also contemplating to bring in neutral curators sanctioned by ICC to prepare wickets for upcoming games.
