S.H.MOULANA
RIYADH – We strongly support Arjuna Ranatunga’s stand against SLC’s decision for hosting India’s B team. Everyone knows the amount of respect and regards the World Cup winning captain had from every Sri Lankan for not only winning the Trophy but the service he rendered to our national team until he entered politics. We also saw the same thing happening to another hero worshipped Sanath Jayasuriya. We all know politics is dirty and at that Sri Lankan politics is stinkingly dirty. A sportsman who realized this fact very well is Kumar Sangakkara who carries the gentlemanly respect not only in the country of his birth but internationally. Whoever truly wants to serve the gentlemanly game cricket he should keep away from politics. We still think that had Arjuna had kept away from politics he could have done a world of good to our Sri Lankan cricket with his knowledge of the game and the discipline he maintained in his team when he captained it. He was not just a captain but a performer too. What a useful 47 not out he contributed in the World Cup final in Lahore partnering Aravinda’s magnificent unbeaten century cum his three valuable wickets he took helped him to become the Man of the Match. Sanath was chosen as Man of the Series. Though Sanath was run out in the early part of the final he did a marvelous service to see that Sri Lanka is in the final. Murali too helped by bowling very economically at Lahore.
All these are golden memories in our mind and refreshed from time to time. We Sri Lankans will be always grateful to all those responsible for giving us such a victorious moment quarter of a century ago. We want such greatness for our team again for which we need committed captains and cricketers like Arjuna for cricket to prosper. I still feel sorry for his decision to enter politics with the fame he earned from cricket. It’s time our Sports Minister and our World Cup winning captain had a meeting as to how we can form an invincible team again. I hope that this will happen soon.
