Attempt to replace head selector Ashantha de Mel with Guy de Alwis backfires as minister hits back
By Bipin Dani
Mumbai: Arjuna Ranatunga has long been a control freak; it could be his political roots and upbringing where he wants to be the boss. He seems to be on a revenge hobby horse to get rid of as many of the old Interim Committee members as possible; but he knows he cannot push out certain people within a few weeks of taking over.
According to the sources, Arjuna Ranatunga wanted the present chief selector Ashantha de Mel be replaced with former wicketkeeper Guy de Alwis. However, this has been ruled out by the sports minister Gamini Lokuge.
"Let Guy Alwis resign first as an Interim Committee Member. He cannot hold the selector's post when being an IC member", he said from Colombo by telephone.
The new Interim Committee, with its expanded committee may have already run into certain administrative problem areas.
The Interim Committee members who were under Jayantha Dharmadasa are no longer being consulted regarding certain issues of policy. This is causing certain confusion and administrative uncertainty over policy issues and a gag seems to have been applied to some officials who in the past acted as board spokesmen.
Although with other national boards this role rests with the chief executive, Sri Lanka Cricket seems to override this role and have handed it to a succession of IC appointed secretaries.
As in the case of South Africa, the CEO Gerald Majola found the new CSA president Norman Arendse playing a more hands on role. Is this the position in Sri Lanka, where former captain Duleep Mendis, the CEO, makes few announcements?
These were handled by the secretary of the Interim Committee. Now it seems that the Sri Lanka Cricket president, Arjuna Ranatunga has to an extent used a line by Arendse, but at least there is consultation and clarification of policy.
This doesn't seem to be the case in Sri Lanka and may even be affecting certain aspects of playing policy creating uncertainty in the team and could be clouding important issues.
By Bipin Dani
Mumbai: Arjuna Ranatunga has long been a control freak; it could be his political roots and upbringing where he wants to be the boss. He seems to be on a revenge hobby horse to get rid of as many of the old Interim Committee members as possible; but he knows he cannot push out certain people within a few weeks of taking over.
According to the sources, Arjuna Ranatunga wanted the present chief selector Ashantha de Mel be replaced with former wicketkeeper Guy de Alwis. However, this has been ruled out by the sports minister Gamini Lokuge.
"Let Guy Alwis resign first as an Interim Committee Member. He cannot hold the selector's post when being an IC member", he said from Colombo by telephone.
The new Interim Committee, with its expanded committee may have already run into certain administrative problem areas.
The Interim Committee members who were under Jayantha Dharmadasa are no longer being consulted regarding certain issues of policy. This is causing certain confusion and administrative uncertainty over policy issues and a gag seems to have been applied to some officials who in the past acted as board spokesmen.
Although with other national boards this role rests with the chief executive, Sri Lanka Cricket seems to override this role and have handed it to a succession of IC appointed secretaries.
As in the case of South Africa, the CEO Gerald Majola found the new CSA president Norman Arendse playing a more hands on role. Is this the position in Sri Lanka, where former captain Duleep Mendis, the CEO, makes few announcements?
These were handled by the secretary of the Interim Committee. Now it seems that the Sri Lanka Cricket president, Arjuna Ranatunga has to an extent used a line by Arendse, but at least there is consultation and clarification of policy.
This doesn't seem to be the case in Sri Lanka and may even be affecting certain aspects of playing policy creating uncertainty in the team and could be clouding important issues.
