There is an uncertainty going around Sri Lanka Cricket! The Honorable Court Of Appeal has put a stay order preventing election that resulted Thilanga Sumathipala led administration departure. Instead of Appointing an interim committee, Sports Minister Faizer Mustapha took Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) under his wings. He appointed his secretary to run SLC and he is busy on overseas joyrides with CEO Ashley De Silva. Amidst all this, No one from the either Camps is sure about the Pending election.
This confusing scenario has affected Hashan Tillakaratne badly! Former Sri Lanka Captain Hashan was mysteriously appointed Sri Lanka U19 Coach without a proper procedure by the Sumathipala Led administration during last few hours of their stay at SLC.
He is still confused though! Where to go?
Few days ago, he went behind Sumathipala to get the approval of the funds for the U19 Team upcoming home Series against India. During the meeting, Hashan also asked Sumathipala to look after the selection of the 25 Probable players for the Series.
Probably, the idea behind that meeting was to show Sumathipala that for Tillakaratne’s he still exist at SLC!
However, in last two weeks since then, scenario has changed significantly! After the publicly outrage from former legends like Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara against Sumathipala and Co, now former SLC Presidents have also come forward to Save the game in the Island!
As a result of all these, Now, there is a possibility of an interim committee. Pressure is mounting on Sports Minister to resurrect Sri Lanka Cricket, as he has already promised many times. Former players and administrators are crying for a purposeful interim committee, so they would be able to change the SLC constitution.
This scenario has made Hashan more confused. Now, where to go?
So, few days ago, he decided to go and meet Upali Dharmadasa. Another stalwart of Sri Lanka Cricket, Upali Was the President of SLC in 2013. Furthermore, Now if Interim committee comes, reports are that Upali will be an important part of it. Before media, it seems Hashan got this inside thing! So, he immediately ran behind Upali. Whether Sumathipala knows about this secret meeting or not, only he can clear the things about this. For outsiders, Hashan Tillakaratne, who got the appointment by Sumathipala few days ago, now getting closer to Upali.
Not only Hashan, his wife Apsari Tillakaratne, who hold a high profile post in Sri Lanka Women’s Team, also went to meet Sports Minister Faizer Mustapha!
In Sri Lanka Cricket, All the former players have a particular stand. Muttiah Muralitharan never crossed Maitland place road after Sumathipala took over SLC. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are determined to serve Sri Lanka Cricket in any capacity, but had to distance themselves as They sees no logic to associate with Sumathipala and Co. Roshan Mahanama, another Legend, has openly criticised the policies of Sumathipala administration few days ago. Even Aravinda De Silva, who is very close to Sumathipala, distanced himself from SLC invitation to join as Consultant last month. Nishantha Ranatunga declined Sumathipala invitation to join SLC as secretary, instead chose the courageous way to filed a case against him in order to stop the sliding of the game.
However, Hashan Tillakaratne believes in maintaining good rapport with everyone, and with all the camps.
When Nishantha Ranatunga and Jayantha Dharmadasa were running the show at SLC, he had been appointed as a selector. During the interim Committee period in 2014, he wrote to then chairman Sidath Wettimuny and requested to be made batting coach. When Sumathipala took over, his wife Apsari Tillakaratne also got a high profile post at SLC. After Jayantha Dharmadasa left the SLC in June 2017, Hashan got the unconditional support of then vice president K Mathivanan. Through Mathivanan and Sumathipala, He got the appointment as U19 Team.
Now, as Sumathipala is no more in the power, Hashan Tillakaratne is getting closer with Upali Dharmadasa!
