Thilanga Sumathipala, the President of Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) Interim Committee, has been Mulling Over To appoint Controversial Assistant Secretary Ravin Wickramaratne as the new Team Manager Of National Team before the Home Series against South Africa in July, Cricket Age reliably learns.
Due to the Controversial Background Of Ravin, SLC don’t want to take the risk to appoint him Team Manager for the West Indies Tour, as it will kick off soon after the Board Election. However, the planning is to bring him for the Home Series against South Africa, when the things could be bit easier. The post is vacant, as Asanka Gurusinha has been relegated to Brain Centre as high performance manager.
However, Even though SLC is willing to appoint Ravin to the high profile post, his direct involvement in the Domestic Match fixing scandal raises serious questions.
The Sports Ministry of Sri Lanka has itself declared Ravin as the main accused of the fixing, taken place during a match between Panadura and Kalutara in 2017.
“At First Place, Ravin Wickramaratne must have not been at the SLC at all, if Sumathipala talks about the corruption free Cricket Board” a former SLC President told Cricket Age.
A controversial Administrator, Ravin’s name became notorious after a domestic match came under the scanner last year.
“As the SLC election is scheduled for May 31, Ravin Wickramaratne is planning to contest, as he wants to regain his credibility, which has been completely destroyed after his involvement in the match fixing. However, his long term goal has always been to become the manager of the Sri Lanka Team” An top official of SLC Told.
However, If it happens, it will be the end of Sri Lanka national team. A person, who has been accused of match fixing in domestic cricket, can’t be the manager of an international team.
It has been accused that A Premier League match between Panadura SC and Kalutara PCC played in January 2017, was Fixed and Ravin was the President of Panadura SC and Messrs at that time. Aruna De Silva and Anura Weerasinghe, both Kalutara PCC officials, were also committee members of SLC. All three are strong supporters of SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala.
More embarrassingly, No action has been taken against these key officials till date, although the domestic inquiry held by SLC imposed fines on the clubs and banned certain players. After much delay and total inaction on the part of SLC, the Minister of Sports appointed a Commission of Inquiry headed by Mr. Palitha Kumarasinghe PC to inquire and report on this ugly episode. The Commission of Inquiry found the Officials culpable of complicity in match fixing including Ravin, in the said match, but up to date there has not been any action taken against these corrupt officials.
If such shameless acts of match fixing is tolerated in domestic matches, it is mind boggling to think of what would take place in international games.
After being declared guilty by Sports ministry, even though Ravin has been completely sidelined by Sumathipala, it has learnt that he still hold a strong command within SLC. Thus, instead of fulfilling his responsibility as the Assistant Secretary of the board, he always prefers (and manage) to go for overseas tours and gets hefty allowances.
Scorecard of the match between Panadura and Kalutara :
Panadura CC vs Kalutara PCC
1ST Day- Kalutara PCC 362 /8
2ND Day –Kalutara PCC 390 all out (103 oves )
2nd Day- Panadura CC 180/2
3rd Day Panadura CC 243 + 180 = 423 . Panadura lead 33 Runs
3rd Day Kalutara 2nd Innings 197 all out 25.5 overs
3rd Day Panadura need 197 to win the match
3rd Day with in 13.4 overs Panadura scored 197 and won the game.
