VIDEO: Disciplinary action against Sanga, Mahela: Sumathipala slams ‘brainless’ move

Launching a scathing attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket officials over a possible move to conduct a disciplinary inquiry on the country’s most senior cricketers, a former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief today said it is a “foolish” decision taken by “brainless” officials.  

It was reported yesterday that former Sri Lanka captains Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara could face disciplinary action over remarks they had made on arriving in Colombo after winning the ICC World T20 title. 

Sri Lanka Cricket had decided, at yesterday’s executive committee meeting, to refer the matter to the SLC’s disciplinary committee, an ex-co source was quoted as saying by media report. 

The entire world must be laughing at us for the decision to take disciplinary action against Sri Lanka’s star players, who led the country to victory in the Asia Cup and World Twenty20, former SLC president, MP Thilanga Sumathipala, said.

“The move will tarnish the good image of cricket in Sri Lanka in the face of the international community.  The entire world must be laughing at the fact that disciplinary action is being taken against Mahela and Sangakkara, the best players of the Sri Lanka team which won the World Cup.”

“Aren’t they ashamed?” he questioned, adding that it is a “stupid” thing to do.

He stated that the biggest questions are as to why two world-class players such as Mahela and Kumar had made accusations against the cricket administration, why are they doing it in public and why is the administration behaving in this manner.  

“When the ICC decided to expel Arjuna Ranatunga over the Muralitharan issue we saved the sport from the players’ side. But today when the players have brought fame to the country by bringing home a World Cup, the administration is chasing after the players as if they have done something wrong,” he told Ada Derana. 

He stated that the best way to resolve such issues is to invite cricketers for discussions behind closed doors as conducting disciplinary inquiries on them will only worsen the already disastrous situation.

If you take a stance that ‘I am the Chairman’ or ‘I am the Secretary’ the players are below us and they have personally slung mud at us, then it will only prolong this battle, he said.

Sumathipala stated that personal issues have to be put aside and the reputation of the country, sport and player should be given priority when resolving such matters of importance.  

Terming the decision to take disciplinary action against Mahela and Sanga as an “unintelligent” move, he said the cricket administration would face a grave problem if they follow through with it. “It will only worsen the SLC’s already tarnished reputation and widen the gap between players and the administration.”

He said it is regrettable that attempts are being made to probe such world-renowned sportsmen. 

He said the country will not easily get two gentlemen like Jayawardena and Sangakkara in this era and that if they had made any mistake there is a process to resolve it.