Unruly Players And Overzealous Supporters

The impartiality of the match referee and the umpires at the annual big match between Richmond College and Mahinda College at the Galle Esplanade on March 22 and 23 has raised concern amongst cricket lovers.

Match Referee Basil Perera and the two umpires Thilak Fernando and Ruchira Palliyaguru – an international cricket umpire – are alleged to have been biased at the 109th annual Lovers’ Quarrel in Galle as Richmond College was awarded the win after the match was stopped when spectators swamped the ground.

Meanwhile, discipline in school cricket appears to be deteriorating fast as evident at this big match. Allegations have been leveled and video clips clearly show how few Richmond players removed stumps and attacked the spectators that came running to the ground during the last few mandatory overs.

Eyewitnesses confirmed to The Sunday Leader the indecent behaviour of Richmond College Vice Captain/Wicket Keeper Sithara Gimhana, who played for the Sri Lanka Under 19 team, going to the extent of pulling down his trousers and showing his back to the Mahinda College players in an act of insult to the game in front of the Mahinda College dressing room when the awards presentation was taking place a few feet away.

A standing ovation

According to spectators, more than the indecent behaviour of the Richmond vice-captain, it was most disheartening to witness the way the Richmond College supporters gave a standing ovation to their Vice Captain for his ‘heroic act’.

“This is very unfortunate. Let the school take action against this player for his indecent behaviour, but, as elders, we should not encourage this. The more you encourage, the more our children become indecent as they assume that such acts are accepted. I was in the pavilion when this happened and I had to tell my two sons how ugly it was for one of their players to behave that way in front of thousands of school children and spectators,” Ian Perera said.

Richmond College deserved a win after 45 years as they have performed extremely well and is the number one in school cricket ranking; Mahinda College has outplayed them on three occasions during the past 45 years. Be that as it may, questions have now been raised as to the grounds on which the match referee decided to award the win when there was ample time and good day light to re-start the match.

Mahinda College Principal’s letter to the Match Refree

According to Match Referee Basil Perera, the win was awarded to Richmond College because of the ‘trend’ – the way wickets were falling regularly.

When asked as to how he could assume that Mahinda would have lost the match had they continued the play, Perera agreed that cricket is an uncertain game where there were many instances the last pair has saved matches but added that there were more chances for Richmond College to win the game.

In their defense

Although video clips show clearly as to how Richmond College players removed the stumps and assaulted some spectators that swamped the ground, Master-in–charge of Richmond College cricket Damith Prasanna sees no wrong in his players for assaulting the spectators.

“I don’t see any wrong in this. They did this for their safety. We have not taken any disciplinary action against these players nor will we question them over this,” said the Master-in charge.

When reminded of the World Cup Semifinals in 1996 in India between Sri Lanka and India where the match had to be called off because of the Indian interruption where bottles and other objects were thrown towards the Sri Lankan players who were at the field, the Master-in charge said that the two incidents cannot be compared as Richmond College players are still small children.

“The Sri Lankan players are much older and our players are still teenagers. Don’t try to compare these two teams. Consider their age groups. Small children cannot behave the way adults behave,” he said.

Surprisingly, Richmond College Principal E M S Ekanayake agreed with his Master-in-charge and queried as to who will wait without assaulting when somebody attacks.

“Will you wait silent if someone assaults you? I don’t see any wrong in this,” he claimed.

When told that the video clips do not show spectators assaulting but only Richmond College players attacking them with stumps, Principal Ekanayake said that he was told that spectators has assaulted his players but none of his players got injured.

“We have not received any complaints against our players. Why should we take disciplinary action against them? I was told that our Vice-Captain was involved in an indecent matter but I haven’t received a complaint,” said the Principal.

Code of conduct

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) said that, if an official complaint is received, they would hold an inquiry to see whether the match officials have failed to abide by cricket rules and regulations.

General Secretary SLSCA and Executive Member SLC Dilshan de Silva, when contacted, said, at an impartial inquiry, both SLC and SLSCA could take stern action not only against the match officials but also against the school players if they have breached the rules and code of conduct.

“I came to know about this indecent behaviour in Galle but we are yet to get an official complaint. We also received a copy of the letter the Mahinda College Principal has sent to the Match Referee asking him for a copy of the match report. Based on this letter, how can we take any action? Let them come officially to us and we will do the needful,” De Silva added.

De Silva further said that, although SLC and SLSCA has nothing to do with big matches which are called friendly matches, if complaints are received, action could be taken after an inquiry against those who are found guilty.

“I saw this video clip in question which focuses only on the pitch. It shows that there was no discipline in the middle of the pitch. The players have no right to remove stumps during the match and to use them to assault any person. There are four players in the Richmond College team that have represented Sri Lanka Under 17 and 19 teams. If they are found guilty at an official inquiry they can be suspended from representing the country. This applies for the match officials as well,” said De Silva.

When asked whether there is a necessity for the match referee to send the match report to the schools after the match and how soon this has to be done, De Silva said the report has to be sent within a couple of days for the schools to rectify if there were any shortcomings.

“If these types of incidents are ignored and we let the gentleman’s game be ruined, what would happen to our cricket? It has to be dealt severely with whoever who is at fault. In this instant, only some spectators invaded the ground and the match referee and the umpires could have got the police intervention to calm the crowd and re-start the match as there was time for further play and the day light was good. If the interruption followed several times then these officials could have taken a decision,” he added.

Hasitha Rajapaksa Coach of the Mahinda College team said he would have dealt severely with his players had they behaved unruly at any match. “These four players who were involved in the attack have represented the Sri Lanka Under 17 and 19 teams and if they are not reprimanded they will behave in the same manner even at an international match. If so, what would be the situation of Sri Lanka Cricket? They are still young and the school has to make them correct immediately not to repeat this at any match in future. We have to accept victory and the defeat in the same spirit,” Rajapaksa said.

Quoting the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct applied for players and player support personnel, Rajapaksa said that assaulting a spectator by a player is a level 4 offence. “Clause 2.4.2 of the ICC code of conduct says that physical assault on another player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an international match is a level 4 offence which is a suspension for a fixed period ranging minimum one year up to a maximum of a lifetime suspension. Clause 5.4.2 further says that any number of Level 3 and or Level 4 Offences can all be determined by a Judicial Commissioner. This means, such offences are of serious nature and it should be determined by a person who has the judicial power.

These guidelines are given for international players but, in these instances, four of the alleged Richmond College players who removed stumps and assaulted the spectators too have represented the country in international matches,” said Rajapaksa.

“Almost six weeks have passed since this incident took place but surprisingly the match referee has failed to send his report to the two schools although our principal has requested him twice asking the report,” added Rajapaksa.

According to Rajapaksa, it is the Umpires Association that has to take action against the referee and the two umpires for not sending them their report on the match.

“After last year’s big match, the match referee sent his report claiming that it was the best match he had ever seen,” he added.

Old boys taken aback

Suranga Jayaweera, an old boy of Mahinda College and an eye witness to the whole ‘drama’, said he was taken aback when the Richmond College Vice Captain pulled his pants down and showed his back towards the Mahinda College dressing room at the awards presentation.

“We are not against awarding this match to Richmond College as they played well right throughout. That does not mean that we lost the match as there were only few overs to be played and there were chances for Mahinda College to draw the match. The way the entire incident was handled by the Match Referee and the two umpires was not correct,” said Jayaweera.

He further claimed that Richmond College players used abusive language to Mahinda College players reminding their mother when they were taking their time to draw the match in the middle.

“We do not agree with the time wasting tactic used by our own players. These two players told me as to how some Richmond College players scolded them after the umpire reprimanded the pair to go to their creases. Why couldn’t the school take any action against these few players? The umpires were in the middle of the pitch. Why can’t they come out with this in their report?” Jayaweera asked.
Jayaweera said he is ready to face any inquiry and to give evidence.

“The way Richmond College spectators gave rounds of applause when their Vice Caption pulled his pants down was appalling. Is this the way the elders and supporters encourage the youngsters to behave? If these players get an opportunity to represent the national team, what would be the reputation of our team be if they repeat the same?” he asked.

Umpires disheartened

Member of the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires Committee Gajaba Pitigala said he was disheartened to note how the entire incident took place and added that, according to ICC code of conduct, these players could be banned life time.

“There were 11 overs to be played and had 45 minutes when this has happened. The match referees, umpires and scorers come under Sri Lanka Umpires Committee and they are bound to give reports to our committee, Schools Cricket Association and the two schools their reports. But they have failed to do,” said Pitigala.

When asked as to what action they could take against the referee and the two umpires who failed to discharge an impartial duty and send their reports, Pitigala said that his association is not bound to take action against them as they have been hired by the two schools but added that it is up to the SLSCA to take disciplinary action against the three officials.

“A match referee and the umpires have to be impartial. If they are biased we cannot expect a good match. It is alleged that both umpires and the match referee were biased at this match. But this has to be proved. However if our own veteran match referee Ranjan Madugalle was there he would have taken a best ever decision as we know he is very impartial in his work and  cannot be swayed by any one,” said Pitigala.

However he said that failing to submit reports by the three officials have clearly showed that they are not in a position to give an accurate report.

Match referee’s side

Match referee Basil Perera however said that the reason why he failed to reply the Mahinda College Principal on time was that he did not receive the letter till last week.

“Instead of sending it to my personal address, the Principal has addressed this letter to SLC. Since I do not go there very often, when I went to SLC towards the end of April, the security handed over this letter to me. On Tuesday, I wrote to SLC and I will be sending the reply to Mahinda College in due course,” said Perera.

When asked as to why he awarded the win to Richmond when he could have re-started the match after dispersing the crowed that swamped the ground, Perera said that he had to consider the players and umpires safety first as the spectators started making mayhem in the ground. “How could I see the players assaulting the spectators with the stumps when the spectators were causing a ruckus?” he said in his defense. When asked whether the umpires who witnessed the unruly incident made their submission that Richmond College players behaved unruly, the match referee said that he was not informed about such incident. He further said that he had to award the win to Richmond College just because few spectators with Mahinda College flag came running to the ground which obstructed the play, to which Mahinda Principal too agreed and gave his consent.

“It was unfair by the Richmond College team if I did not award the win to them as the spectators came running to the ground when Richmond College win was on the card.

There were only four runs for Mahinda College to score to give Richmond College to bat again.
I had to call off the match considering the safety of the players and the umpires. After this incident, the police had to escort us up to the Galle-Colombo highway to send us home safely,” he added.

Mahinda College Principal Vasantha Siriwardena confirmed that the match referee is yet to send him a copy of the match report.
“I sent two letters to the match referee but he did not respond,” he said.

Source: The Sunday Leader (Sri Lanka)