More cans of worms are likely to be opened when Sri Lanka Cricket and government authorities begin to probe the off-field scandals of the T20 World Cup fiasco in Australia with no less a person than former champion captain Arjuna Ranatunga already witnessing the difference between then and now.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced its probe investigation after the media was awash with reports and visuals of sex escapades, casino brawls, soliciting female company and night frolics at parties that probably ruined the team’s chances of making it even to the semi finals of the T20 World Cup.
At the centre of the probe will be the team’s manager Mahinda Halangoda, a potential fall guy who could see himself on the other side or bars as he stands accused of turning a blind eye to the shady conduct of players or was too lenient to enforce the players’ code of conduct.
Halangoda will also have to answer to claims he too partied and lost hold of the players.
“During my time (as captain) there was discipline and this would never have happened. Without discipline in the administration you cannot have discipline in the team,” said Ranatunga who is still the most sought after influence in the country’s cricket affairs more than 20 years after he retired from playing.
The former South Paw is now the chairman of the powerful and influential policy-making National Sports Council having lifted the foremost World Cup in 1996 and to this day remains the most iconic sports personality in the country.
He made no secret of the fact that he too has been jolted and disheartened to learn that present day sophisticated cricketers have developed a passion for partying and a kind of status usually associated with corporate magnates.
“I am astonished to hear that players have been up to business activities on tour. Some of them were involved in opening stores and selling properties while patronizing casinos. It is not only the conduct of players but also the administration that has to be probed,” said Ranatunga who noted that the off-field frolics of the players also happened at a time the hierarchy of SLC was in Australia for the T20 World Cup.
For a team that retuned like over-the-moon heroes and given a public reception usually reserved for Popes and Pop stars after winning the Asia Cup two months ago, the scenario has been turned upside down with many lay followers, Parliament and Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe calling for drastic changes and probes.
Ranatunga was in no mood to conceal his emotions over an episode that changed almost overnight.
“I knew we were going to mess up (at the T20 World Cup). I have also played a little bit of cricket so I know this. Of course people in the board (SLC) have played more cricket than I have. So they know more and that’s why we are in this situation,” said Ranatunga in a tongue-in-cheek remark to journalists.
He slammed the logic over player selections to the team and the credibility of fitness tests that proved a total disaster.
“Injuries to players were not due to collisions or the ball hitting the players. It was due to poor fitness levels of players,” said Ranatunga echoing what the media reported on questionable fitness tests of players.