da dobrowin： Notwithstanding some pyrotechnics from Virender Shewag and thepossibility of an epic clash between India and Sri Lanka in the finalof the Coca-Cola Cup on Sunday, this triangular series will notremembered for the cricket, which has been
Charlie Austin04-Aug-2001Notwithstanding some pyrotechnics from Virender Shewag and thepossibility of an epic clash between India and Sri Lanka in the finalof the Coca-Cola Cup on Sunday, this triangular series will notremembered for the cricket, which has been overshadowed by events offthe field.It did not make an auspicious start two weeks ago when oppositionsupporters decided to stage anti-government rally in Colombo toprotest at the President Chandika Kumaratunga’s decision to suspendparliament.Practices were interrupted and the New Zealand team saw the tensionfirst hand when their bus mistakenly turned down a road full ofprotesters, who were being beaten back by tear gas.The Indian and Kiwi captains played down the affair. Sourav Gangulydeclared that they "were used to it in Sri Lanka" and StephenFleming diplomatically said they felt "perfectly safe."Meanwhile a row over the non-payment of the construction company thatbuilt the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium eventually led topolitical authorities canceling the three matches in Dambulla becauseof the risk of `sabotage’ in spite of repeated assurances from theconstructors that they had no intention of interrupting the games.The decision dealt a cruel blow to the series by forcing the poorPremadasa curator to re-use already dusty pitches to cater for theextra games. The resulting pitches produced dour cricket and lowtotals.The Kiwis opted for a spot of fresh air in the hills and headed offfor a four-day break in Kandy. Unfortunately they returned clutchingtheir stomachs, as a bout of food poisoning ran through the team,including their captain.When LTTE cadres attacked the international airport and Air Forcebase, the whole tournament was thrown into doubt, as CNN picturesflashed around the world to concerned wives and families. Again, themanagers and captains pledged their support after assurances from theSri Lankan board, but they really had little option anyway, as theairport was closed.In such a climate it was perhaps unsurprising that attendances at thegames were shockingly low. One can understand small crowds in the NewZealand-India games, but not in the Sri Lankan day night matches whichare usually packed to the rafters.Sri Lankans, it seems, have other things on their minds and livecricket, normally a tonic for such societal slumps, took a back seat.Colombo residents are short of cash at the moment and with the airportbombings threatening to send the already bruised economy into anosedive, they may have preferred to save their rupees for moreessential expenditure.With evening power cuts apparently increasing the incidence ofburglaries and an air of instability hanging heavy in the air, cricketfans clearly opted for the safety of their homes, where they could bewhisked away into a wonder world, as Navjot Sidhu’s recommended oneused a `long spoon when eating with the devil’ or sagely pointed outthat a `cow produces more than butter.’Generally Sidhu’s colourful commentary has been contrasted by somedour cricket, though, thankfully, there have been some moments tocherish: two pugnacious hundreds by Nathan Astle, a match winningperformance by rookie allrounder Suresh Perera, a belligerent inningsby Yuvraj Singh against Sri Lanka, and an astonishing 69-ball hundredfrom Virender Sehwag.Let’s hope then that the tournament ends on a high and that thecricket finally takes centre stage. In such troubled times, the valueof cricket is clearly put into perspective, but tomorrow’s final atleast offers Sri Lankans an opportunity to temporarily forget theirproblems.