Ravin Wickramaratne, the most controversial and notorious Official in Sri Lanka Cricket History, has been lobbying hard to get the Sri Lanka Team Manager Post, Cricket Age reliably learns. In the latest development, he has even agreed to resign as the Assistant Secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), but has put a condition that he need two years assurance for the manager post.
According to sources, in the last ExCo Meeting, Ravin name for the manager post was tabled.
“As Ravin Reputation has completely been destroyed after match fixing scandal, he desperately wants to be the Sri Lanka team Manager. In the ExCo, he also agreed to give up his assistant secretary post. However, he put a certain condition that he needs the assurance that he would be remained in the post for at least two years” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
However, there was a hurdle too! Fortunately for Sri Lanka Cricket, K. Mathivanan, the vice president, completely opposed Ravin’s name and said that An Accused of Domestic match fixing should not be the manager of the National team.
According to sources, if ExCo won’t approve Ravin name after Mathivanan took objection, Former Sri Lanka wicket keeper batsman Brendon Kuruppu Will be appointed as the Manager.
A controversial Administrator, Ravin’s name became notorious after a domestic match came under the scanner last year. Sri Lanka Sports Ministry has declared Ravin as the main culprit of the fixing. However, SLC is reluctant to take action against Ravin, as the board election are looming over.
It has been accused that A Premier League match between Panadura SC and Kalutara PCC played in January 2017, was Fixed. Ravin was the President of Panadura SC and Messrs. 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.
