1996
Asanka Gurusinha, a top order batsman, who fulfilled the responsibility to held the innings together at number three, whenever Sri Lanka marvick opening pair Sanath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Kaluwitharana failed in their mission to dismental opposition bowlers, throughout their most memorable triumph in the history of the game, as they stunned the World cricket by becoming world champion. That win changed Sri Lanka cricket forever!
2017
That man Asanka Gurusinha, returned to Sri Lanka cricket after the self imposed break of almost twenty years, again given the responsibility by SLC to held the national team together, if there are any kind of crisis. But, this time around, things are radially different. So much so, that as soon as he took charge at SLC, Sri Lanka cricket is fast deteriorating.
Maybe it’s not a fault of Gurusinha. Maybe he is just doing his part, are implementing the orders, he is getting from Thilanga sumathipala, the undisputed president of SLC. after all, it is the Sumathipala, who created an “out of the universe” post of a “cricket manager” for the Gurusinha.
India is the richest cricket board in the world. They have hundreds of administrators, office bearers in their armry. But even they does not have a “cricket manager”. Australia and England are most professional and organized cricket playing nations. They do the things, which other countries follows after a decade or so. But, frankly, even they does not have a “cricket manager”.
So, why Mr. Thilanga sumathipala needs a cricket manager? to fulfill his agendas? To take full control of the SLC? To intervene into selection of the team?
We still assumes, maybe Gurusinha doesn’t know these hidden agendas!
But, the reality is that Sri Lanka cricket has been suffering big time, since his arrival. Arvinda De’silva disappeared, Sanath Jayasuriya took backseat and Graham Ford departed after the arrival of Gurusinha.
Now, there are only two persons at SLC- Gurusinha himself and ever-existent Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala!
True Sri Lanka fans have stopped to blamed mr. Sumathipala for the sorry status of their beloved team, as they knows there is no logic to blame a person, who doesn’t know even, what is the accountability!
So, they are blaming Gurusinha for every debacle, their team has been suffering. Some feels, having been in Australia since last twenty years and away from the cricket, Gurusinha may not know sufficiently about the modern day cricket. In last two decades cricket has evolved so much, and there are doubts whether Gurusinha fits as a manager- who ultimately has the authority to intervene into everything- of a modern day cricket team!
Still, we still assumes, Gurusinha is not responsible for the decline of Sri Lanka cricket! But, the million dollar question is does Gurusinha deserves this kind of treatment? Does Gurusinha deserves as ordinary a post as “cricket manager”?
