Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage says that the country’s print and electronic media were guilty of twisting the stance taken by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) concerning seniors of the national team Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, upon their return to Sri Lanka with the World Cup early this month.
SLC issuing a communiqué on Tuesday stated that it had decided to refer the unsubstantiated statements made by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene at the press conference held at the BIA on the 8th of April 2014, to the Disciplinary Committee for their views and recommendations on the same.
Minister Aluthgamage speaking to Ceylon Today said that it was unethical of the media to have portrayed the entire issue as that of an attempt made by SLC to force Jayawardene and Sangakkara to show cause over the comments uttered by the legendary duo at the BIA.
“It was never a case of forcing either Mahela or Sanga to show cause,” the Minister said.
“It was only an attempt by SLC to refer the comments made by them to the Disciplinary Committee. But, this was blown out of proportion by the media here and as a result of it what the public came to know was that the SLC was on a witch hunt against both Mahela and Sanga. As a result the public’s ire was directed at both the government and the SLC.”
However, the Minister also found fault with the SLC for its crass manner of handling the issue and insisted that this was not the time for such action to be taken against the two stalwarts in light of their contribution to the game and their retirement from T-20 cricket on the back of winning the World Cup.
The Minister insisted that yet it was imperative that discipline was maintained among players at all times and was quick to remind that no matter how esteemed the players are, no one was indispensable and that the sport was greater than the individual.
Meanwhile, Minister Aluthgamage also was aghast at the sudden decision taken by head coach Paul Farbrace to terminate his two-year contract with the SLC after barely being in the post for three months.
He said that such an ‘ungentlemanly’ move made by a person from England which introduced cricket to the world was disappointing to say the least.
He described Farbrace’s decision to head to his native country as an occasion where a foreigner had dumped his current employers in search of greener pastures.
“This is nothing but a case of a foreigner enhancing his coaching CV and then turning his back on his current pay masters,” the Minister added.
However, the Minister rubbished media reports which stated that the SLC had failed to grant salary and bonuses including the incentives as promised to Paul Farbrace on time and said it was nothing but a case of an Englishman displaying his true identity when it comes to loyalty.
The Minister also said that he has summoned the entire Ex Co of SLC to his Ministry auditorium this morning in order to have a dialogue with its officials relating to recent issues which had engulfed the Maitland Place headquarters.
