Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva had outlasted three Executive Presidents – Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe – and looked set to see off the new ball from Anura Kumara Dissanayake as well. For a while, it seemed like he had the measure of every spell thrown at him. But this time, the batter has edged one and walked.
The new government, elected on a platform of transparency and good governance, had been accused of shadow batting when it came to cleaning up cricket. There were murmurs in the stands, and not without reason. Eyebrows were raised when political heavyweights like Wasantha Samarasinghe – who wouldn’t know a short leg from a fine leg – were regulars at SLC gatherings. It gave the impression that the field placements hadn’t changed.
But in the end, President Dissanayake played it late and played it well. Timing, as they say in cricket, is everything and this was a shot straight out of the middle.
The Island learns that the government had been itching to make a move earlier, but were wary of playing a false stroke. With Shammi’s close links to ICC chair Jay Shah, there was a genuine fear of another suspension – a scenario Sri Lanka had already endured two years ago when Shammi was removed. Rather than charge down the track, the government chose to bide its time, build its case and wait for the right delivery.
When the moment arrived, they didn’t swing wildly. Instead, they tossed the ball back into Shammi’s court and invited him to take the honourable route. He did and like a collapsing batting order, the rest of the committee followed him back to the pavilion.
Crucially, Sri Lanka Cricket avoids the follow-on of an ICC suspension. This was a resignation, not a dismissal, a technicality that could prove decisive. Shammi, who had just one year left in his term, was reportedly exploring ways to extend his stay at the crease. With some of the country’s top legal minds at his disposal, tweaking the playing conditions was child’s play for him.
Now the spotlight shifts to the government. They must make a watertight case to justify extending the three-month window for fresh elections. Others have trodden this path before, South Africa managed it successfully and Bangladesh are currently following suit with ICC backing.
If handled well, it could buy Sri Lanka the time needed to bring long-pending reforms into play notably the recommendations of the Justice Chithrasiri report, which has been gathering dust.
Attention is already turning to the next innings. Former cricketer and ex-parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne has emerged as the frontrunner to head the interim committee, especially after former NOC boss Suresh Subramaniam opted out due to health concerns.
Another name doing the rounds is Kushil Gunasekara, a respected figure in international cricketing circles. A former Ananda College cricketer, Gunasekara played a key role as head of the organising committee for the 2000 Under-19 World Cup and he is no stranger at ICC. His off-field work, particularly in his native Seenigama, has earned widespread admiration, including honorary life membership at Marylebone Cricket Club.
For now, though, the headline belongs to AKD. After a long watch and a patient build-up, he has finally broken through, a wicket that had been a long time coming. This is a big fish indeed.
by Rex Clementine