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Given the defeats in recent tournaments at the hands of lesser forces, the elimination of the Sri Lankan team from the World Cup 1999 does not come as a total surprise. All lovers of Sri Lankan cricket hoped for an improvement and see the team make some impact in the first round. But to the disappointment of many, that did not happen.

The World Cup continues but many have already begun their post-mortems on the ex-champs and some of the findings will not be pleasant reading. During the initial round matches of the 1999 World Cup, I had the opportunity of meeting some Sri Lankan expatriates in a few major cities in Europe and their feelings and comments about the status of Sri Lankan cricket touched a common cord. Disappointment, disillusionment, anger, lost pride were some of the expressions that manifested their emotions.

It is true that the telling factor for the team's failures, even before the World Cup, has been their batting. Game after game, the top batsmen failed to produce the runs and perform to their potential. Let's not forget, this is the team, just 3 years and 2 months ago, who changed the whole spectrum of the one-day game. Their batting, fielding and their motivation left new bench marks and changed their stature from minnows to champs within 4 years and what an achievement it was!

It is nothing but correct in our analysis that we share our constructive criticism and form a positive base to lift our cricketers to perform again to their best potential. They, and they along, put our little nation in the sporting map. No other event in the history of the nation has achieved that and we all basked in the limelight and walked with our heads held high. To this, our cricketers deserve our immense gratitude.

In fairness to the players, looking only at their performances now and avoiding the significant hand played by the ``external'' factors would be very one-sided. In 1996, when the Sri Lankan team won the World Cup, they - the players and The Management - had a goal. They wanted Sri Lanka to be the top one-day and Test team by the year 2000. Naturally motivation was high. Everyone played for each other they performed as a single unit. One of these goals - the one-day World Cup - has been achieved.

In the months that followed the winning momentum was maintained and they played like champions. But then, like every good thing coming to an end, things began to fall apart.

During these heady days, the number of ``cricket lovers'' grew overnight in Sri Lanka. Cricket became big time in the country. Sponsors - both local and international, the media and all those who dreamt of quick money wanted to be part of the hugely marketable gravy train. Hard commerce

Make no mistake, this was nothing to do with genuine patriotism but all about hard commerce. Of course a fair percentage were new cricket fans. Every name in Sri Lanka's Who's Who coveted to be connected to cricket and the limelight. For reasons still not very clear, we had a change in The Management and coach soon after the World Cup. Could this have happened in any other country following such a huge accomplishment?

Corruption allegations and in-house fighting for prestigious positions in cricket management became a natural next step and as ample proof of self-destruction, the Sri Lankan cricket management of today is in bits and pieces. It was on this sad platform that the Sri Lankan cricketers had to launch their bid to retain the World Cup trophy. After the early exit of the team in the World Cup, one wonders if the interest to be part of The Management is as high as before.

Lessons have been learnt and it needs courage to implement necessary changes. As a first step to the new dawn, and with all due respect to Roy Dias, we should look again at a foreign coach like Dave Whatmore, we need someone who can motivate the team to great heights. As history tell us Whatmore turned the Sri Lankan team into World Champions in a matter of few months.

Our cricketers do have the potential and someone will be needed to harness them into a winning team again. Until a few months before the 1999 World Cup, our fielding had fallen from top class to less than ordinary. We did the right thing by engaging Trevor Chappel to rejuvenate the players back to a competitive level. If we are to move forward, we need to engage an excellent motivator as a coach and the solution will have to come from beyond our shores.

As for the present players, each and every member has to prove his worthiness to represent the country in the future. It is not a matter of experience or participation in the cup winning team that should be the criteria... but consistent performance and form.

As for the politicking in cricket management, one can only hope that sanity will prevail and the new management will avoid making the players and country's cricket followers from all over the world a laughing stock. The Management should strive to break away from the negative image of the past and do everything within their powers to recoup the pride and respect back to the administration.

An environment of trust and respect has to be created and that example has to come from the very top. Is this too much to expect??? No, it should not be - unless corruption and selfish motivations have taken deep root to undermine the future of the game. Let's hope it is not the case and then... we may see the light at the end of the tunnel.