April 26 : World champions Sri Lanka have already arrifved in England to defend the World Cup, the most prestigous crown in cricket, and one which transformed Lankan cricket and gave them so much pride. And hopefully they would have left all their recent worries back home and will concentrate on the job at hand.Despite the crisis in administration, the team left with a smile on its face. Speaking on the eve of the departure, manager Duleep Mendis sounded confident despite this temporary setback in the administration of the game. The cricketers, for their part, were cheerful and confident. "We did our best to let the boys do what they do best. That is, to play cricket," said Mendis.Board CEO Dhammika Ranatunga, who had earlier expressed concern at the developments, however should be congratulated for not only handling the crisis well but also for running the board single-handedly at a time it mattered most. When the cricket board, as it is known, were deep in trouble due to a matter concerning only administrators and administration it was a known fact that many financial as well as other matters pertaining to giving finishing touches to the World Cup preparations were still unresolved. However, the quiet effeciency of the CEO was quite apparent in the manner he moved to diffuse the crisis thus possibly saving Sri Lanka from cricketing embarrassment.The last thing Sri Lankan cricket required before the World Cup was a controversy. Now the cricketing world will eargerly await the manner in which they guard their title. The cricket-crazy nation is optimistic despite crisis-ridden tour Down Under, and the recent poor showing in the Asian one-day triangular. In the light of all this, Lankan cricket could ill-afford another problem.It is difficult to imagine the thoughts of the common man on the street where all talk centres around cricket. In a country where work comes to a virtual standstill when a match is being played, where thousands crowd around TV sets in shopping malls, and where lottery sellers prefer to stop their propaganda and tune in to the radio for the ball-by-ball commentary, it could spell disaster.Now that Lankans know what it is to be world champions, the whole nation does not want to lose at any cost for this has become a matter of national pride.It is unthinkable of what might be if the Lankans lose. There is no doubt the whole nation would go into a state of unofficial mourning. This why administrators should be careful about the ground they tread on. It would not be a suprise that in the event the Cup is lost, the administrators will be considered adminis-traitors.In view of the above situation, the sports minister has been compelled to appoint an ad-hoc committee to run affairs of the Board of Control for cricket until such time the restraining order on the management is resolved in court. The Colombo District Judge A.M.A.Salam extended the restraining order last week on the newly elected board of President Thilanga Sumathipala following a petition by defeated candidate Clifford Ratwatte.Without doubt no citizen of this beautiful island country wants to see cricket or cricketers being exploited. For they realise that it was cricket that put Sri Lanka on the world map. I am sure they wouldn't want a bad image of their country. l Ranjith Fernando, former Sri Lankan Test player was till recently the manager of the team. He is also a well-known commentator Top
