Glory Days Predicted For SLC

“Sri Lanka Cricket Will Achieve Greater Glory” – Upali Dharmadasa

Upali Dharmadasa, the newly elected President of Sri Lanka Cricket, says that he has no doubt that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will achieve greater glories. Denying claims that he is guided by political interference, in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Leader’s Faraz Shauketaly, Dharmadasa told us that they have been elected to get on with doing a job and he fully intended to do well.

Excerpts:

Q: How much of debt does Sri Lanka Cricket have as we speak to-day?
A: Initially, I want to say that Sri Lanka Cricket is in no way a place which has difficulties. The investments made during the World Cup 2011 has been an asset for Sri Lanka Cricket. At the time I was appointed I said that we have a short, medium and long term plan for SLC. On the financial side we have had talks with our bankers and have rescheduled various credit lines we have. SLC has always serviced its commitments and with sound planning we will achieve our goals. Presently on the whole we have an overall debt figure of approximately Rs 5 Billion.

Q: How much of planned revenue does Sri Lanka Cricket expect between now and 2019 from Future Tours?
A: In this period you refer, we have a forecasted figure of approximately USD 139 Million – that’s almost Rs 16 Billion. This is revenue out of which we have our commitments and expenses to pay.

Q: How much of recurrent expenditure do you have at SLC?
A: Approximately Rs 30 Million per month.

Q: How do the finances of Sri Lanka Cricket look in the short term?
A: My colleagues K Mathivanan, Nishantha Ranatunga,  Asanga Seneviratne and I went to India on our own accord and we managed to secure an Indian Tour for this year, comprising five 1-day games  and one T20. The Indian Board led by Srinivasan  the BCCI President, were extremely amenable and supportive and readily agreed for India to tour Sri Lanka. In fact the BCCI have always been very helpful towards Sri Lanka and we must state our thanks to them for their strong support.
Sri Lanka begins touring Australia in a couple of days. England, Pakistan and India are also coming this year as well as the England A team. On top of that the World Cup T20 is also being hosted in Sri Lanka. The finances are therefore very encouraging.
As mentioned earlier, over an eight year period our revenue forecast if USD 139 Million – and with the TV rights coming in for renewal next year this figure will only increase. Over the medium to long term Sri Lanka Cricket will also pay amounts due on the investments made in stadia.

Q: Will you ask the Minister of Sport to seek funding in the form of a ‘hand out’  from the Government and how much will you seek?
A: I would not ask the Minister to ask for a ‘one time handout’ as you put it. However, if some money does come in, it will be thankfully accepted. However , like in any organisation we must see how best we can manage to come out of the woods. The government has promised us that they will take over the cost of approximately Rs 3.1 Billion spent on the stadiums.  Of course the government spent this money on the most popular game in this country and in the interests of the youth too.  We are expecting that this Rs 3.1 Billion will be in the form of a grant. SLC will then prepare a rescheduled payment plan and we will make those payments.

Q: When SLC fixed players contracts, club contracts, coaches contracts, umpires contracts, did they envisage a cash crunch after a successful world cup where Sri Lanka became runners-up?
A:Well, I am sure that Administration did expect some form of a cashflow shortage, but due to price escalations that expectation has increased more than what was perhaps planned. It has gone up by say 15 to 20 percent. It had been planned over about two years and with the prices of steel and cement going up there has been inevitably cost over runs. As a contractor I could say that this amount is within the norms.

Q: What is the programme that will be in place for Coaching, Training and so on to ensure that SLC will return to “high performance”.
A: We will not be hindering the programmes on Coaching, Training, Player Contracts and general development of the game, even from the schools levels. We are restarting the Segment A & B tournament, found the funding to do that all in the interest of development.

Q: Unlike in the 1950s through to the 80s, currently the Minister of Sports and even The Sri Lankan President have their own views on how cricket should be administered.  How do you see this? How much of “freedom” will you be given to “get on with your work”?
A: Well I think that “freedom” has already been given. There have been a lot of reports of interference but that really is a misconception. Neither the Honourable Minister nor the President of Sri Lanka interferes by stating that they wish for this or that to be done. There is no pressure at all. It is like your company. You have a Chairman and you have your Editor. Your Chairman must be giving overall policy and your Editor carries that out. The Chairman though does have the ultimate say as in any company.  He may even take an article out completely that is his prerogative. It is the same at SLC – we do have a Minister but SLC is administered by the elected officials. Allegations that I was the nominee of the President of Sri Lanka is baseless: as a citizen of this country I had a right to contest which I did.
Q: If there is no intereference why have there been claims from the Sumathipala camp about these elections and why are there so many politicians heading the districts and provinces?
A: The losing side must have an answer!  Sumathipala as head of the Colombo District Cricket Association and a Member of Parliament did not even present himself to vote. From the beginning we were aware that  he would not actually contest – withdrawing at the lost moment. It leaves a bad taste perhaps he was aware that he would lose if he came forward. Stating that so many Ministers or MP’s were present was incorrect. All those present were there by right: to cast their vote as per the rules. As for why there are so many politicians involved perhaps that answer may be best asked from Sumathipala. Many came into existence  via  Sumathipala for his benefit to get votes.

Q: Was not the sports law designed only for the minister to give approval to the national team because they represent the country? It seems that the Minister of Sports is interfering too much with SLC – does he then involve himself with other sports too like he does with Cricket?
A: No, that is not right. It is the governing Act for all sports in Sri Lanka. It can override all Sports Body constitutions.
As the Chairman of the Interim Committee for about five months, I have not seen any interference at all. Again it is a misconception. The Minister may, of course, have a number of questions. If those are answered properly the Minister is satisfied. That is not interference though many people think it is. The reality is different.

Q: The sports minister wants to show that he is in control of cricket whilst the public perception is that you have the backing of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  Will politics eventually take precedence – especially with a President who has an interest in Sports along with his sons, does he dictate as to who should or should not play?
A: Politics has never taken precedence. The Minister has a right to know what is going on in any sports body. Just because he questions, it does not mean he interfers in any sport. The President is like any other Sri Lankan – he may have his own private views on the performance; he may say things like “oh we should have had more runs on the board” but he has never invoked his Presidential status to interfere with the SLC.

Q: Mahela and Sangakkara seem to have been left out even though they have been the anchors in the team. Why is that and what do you intend doing about this?
A: Who says they have been left out? This question is like your question on the President interfering. Basically one person reporting or spreading stories for their own gain. I – being involved with the game – can say that there is no such thing, they both remain part and parcel of cricket in Sri Lanka and get on with everyone.

Q: In 2009/2010 Sri Lanka had the number 2 spot in Tests and One Day rankings. Today we are number 6 and 7. Why is our team so lackluster in their performance and appear de-motivated. Is their salary issue part of the reason?
A: It is not demotivation. It is like life: it is good to be on top but a difficult task to maintain your position at the top. If you take the last game under the Duckworth Lewis system what did people say then. The team has national pride and do give it their best. Their salary issue I believe has nothing to do with it. The fact that they are representing the National Team is their motivation. Public support is what one needs. They perform at their peak between 18 and 35 years and they do have their own concerns but overall they give it their best and aim for the top all the time. Spreading false stories about dissent and so on does not help. Everyone must give them their support.

Q:What do you intend doing about cutting costs at SLC?
A: We have 30 employees and 237 on contract. An individual analysis of each person’s contribution to SLC is being carried out by a special team starting Saturday next. Already 59 people have been identified where contracts will not be renewed. A HR report has been done and this process will carry on until we obtain an optimum situation.

Q: Does Sanath Jayasuriya have a role to play?
A: Everyone,  has a role to play to uplift our game and to ensure that Sri Lanka produces the best cricketers. Cricket is after all the 5th religion in this country.

Q: When you retire from SLC, will you leave Sri Lanka Cricket in a far stronger position than what you hold at present?
A: Definitely. There is no doubt about that. I came in with a clear mind to do the best for Sri Lanka Cricket as did the rest of the Executive Committee. It is the right thing to do for Sri Lanka, our country and we intend doing just that.

Ashantha De Mel Returns As Chairman, Selection Committee

Ashantha De Mel

The man who bowled the first ever ball for Sri Lanka in Test Cricket, Ashantha De Mel has been recalled to serve as Chairman, Selection Committee. Minister of Sport Mahindananda Aluthgamage extended an invitation to De Mel earlier this week and sent him his appointment letter last Thursday.
De Mel has previously served in the same position and is considered a straight talking Chief Selector whose record points towards success.  A medium paced bowler; De Mel’s cricketing career came to an end due to a knee injury in 1987 and well before  Sri Lanka made the “big time” in 1996. His finest moment as a bowler arguably came at the 1983 World Cup in England and registered two  ODI five-wicket-hauls. De Mel returned Sri Lanka’s best bowling figures in every match. He was the tournament’s second highest wicket taker with 17 wickets, one behind India’s Roger Binny.
He has been involved with cricket in Sri Lanka on a number of occasions and was appointed Chief Selector in 2004. De Mel has also represented Sri Lanka at Bridge and participated in the Commonwealth Games.