At the time of his arrival, Sri Lanka Cricket fraternity hoped that he would be a game changer. Instead, Faizer Mustapha turned out a perfect ‘substitute‘ of Sumathipala.
Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister is an attorney-at-low. And, also legal advisor of country’s President. In any part of the World, the solid defense is an unique feature of a lawyer. So, as soon as Faizer Mustapha replaced Dayasiri Jayasekara as country’s Sports Minister, his first statement was that he doesn’t know anything about Cricket!
Mind you, only that particular statement of Mustapha gave a fresh air of hope to Cricket fraternity, who were waiting for a Sports Minister something similar to Mustapha.
There is a gentleman in Sri Lanka Cricket : Thilanga Sumathipala. He thinks, and believes too, that he is the one and only person suitable to run the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) forever! To fulfill this dream, he has done everything : he has convinced country’s top political brass to unconditionally supports him, and convinced domestic clubs to back him! In Sri Lanka Cricket circuit, people says that even country’s President and Prime Minister can’t defeat Sumathipala in a SLC election. He even modified SLC constitution completely to outclassed his possible competitors!
However, Sri Lanka Cricket never benefited with his so called vision. Instead, his presence completely killed the momentum of the game in the country! Under him, Sri Lanka never achieved something significant in world Cricket! When others in helm, Sri Lanka won two World Cup’s.
So, due to some technical faults, when Sumathipala Led administration had to leave the SLC on May 31st, entire Sri Lanka Cricket fraternity hoped that this would be a new beginning! Everyone had high hopes with Mustapha. Every single former player and administrator (who cares for Sri Lanka Cricket) ran towards Sports Minister, with a belief that he would do something extraordinary. Only former players like Hashan Tillakaratne and Graeme Labrooy didn’t support for a change, as they sensed this is the best time to suck the SLC!
Mustapha too acted like a Messiah! Whoever met him, he assured that he is committed to change the Sri Lanka Cricket. And there is one of the simplest way to bring Sri Lanka Cricket back on track : Change the SLC constitution.
Now, after two months exercise, everyone has realized that nothing is going to happen. The bubble has punctured! Everyone has realized that Mustapha has emerged only a ‘substitute’ of Sumathipala!
And there are reasons if entire Sri Lanka Cricket is thinking on this way! Mustapha could have brought an interim committee, but he didn’t. Mustapha could have appointed an executive committee to oversee the SLC and make the changes, but he didn’t do it as well.
Instead, he took SLC under his wings. So, the Minister, who admitted in the beginning itself that he doesn’t know anything about Cricket, is overseeing the SLC!
He has also appointed a Competent Authority Kamal Padmasiri to run the SLC! That Padmasiri is watching matches with full interest, with Sumathipala! He is going everywhere (Dubai, Ireland) with SLC CEO Ashley De Silva, who is loyal only to Sumathipala!
There are other reasons to believe that Mustapha is only a ‘substitute’ of Sumathipala. He launched an inquiry against SLC then assistant secretary Ravin Wickramaratne over match fixing. No one knows the outcome! There was a pitch fixing controversy that shook the World Cricket! No one knows the outcome. Recently, there was a ball tempering incident and Sri Lanka’s national captain Chandimal, coach Hathurasingha and manager Gurusinha are the main culprit. No action has been taken against them.
If Mustapha or his competent authority would have taken action in any of this matter, it would have been a setback to Sumathipala’s dominance, because everything is connected with him! Ravin Wickramaratne is his deputy. His administration mysteriously appointed those culprits of Galle pitch fixing controversy. He brought back Gurusinha and Hathurusingha from Australia! So, Mustapha or his competent authority ate not taking any action against anyone.
Precisely, Mustapha is just doing, what he has to do as a substitute. In cricket language, just like a ‘night watchman’, he is just passing the difficult time on behalf of the Sumathipala and is making sure : when there will be election at SLC, Sumathipala Camp comes again and rule the cricket again! Indeed, he a great ‘substitute’!
