Hashan Tillekeratne’s Accusations In True Perspective As Dangerous and Self Incriminating.
Posted on April 29th, 2011
Top Spin By Suni
April 29th 2011
There are some who carrry their post performance days in International sportsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in dignity, decorum and grace and then there are others with pent up frustrations and politically motivated malice who turn up in their true colours casting aside every bit of class and decorum they acquired as part of their involvement at the highest level of their particular discipline, to denigrate everything that should be sacred yet apathetically cast aside the basic principles related thereto.
One such seems to be former Sri Lankan cricketer and onetime skipper, Mr Hashan Tillekeratne whose so called pending disclosures on ‘Match Fixing in Sri Lanka’ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ linked toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the accusations he has made against Sri Lankan CricketƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and certain playersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not only a danger to his credibilities but also a disgrace to his Nation asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a former representative at the highest level of the game if proven wrong which could well be the case.
Sri Lanka has an impeccable track record of integrity despite some accusations by malicious mischiefmakers to the contrary and the entire cricketing world as well as the ICC must surely be aware of this so what is Tillekeratne bickering about one wonders?
These accusations for which he says he has ‘ credible proof ‘ and will in due course be disclosed to the world, has probably stirred up a hornet’s nest from which he could very likely beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ stungƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as it seems highley likelyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is a personal opinionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without a shred of real evidence beyond speculation from someone who carries bitterness against the Sri Lankan Cricket Board ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and if this be the case the man deserves incarceration where even hypothetically such accusations can be highly damaging and probably needing very careful cross examinationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and a stringent response so that they won’ t be picked up by copycats with similar grievances.
It also seems perplexing that Mr.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tillekeratne waited this long for this disclosure which alone questions the related credibilities and the fact that he is inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the politicalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ opposition of the present administrationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as well as someone with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bitterness about how he was removed from his cricketing status and never re-instated which probably has something to do with it as the Sports Minster Mr Mahindananda Aluthgamage too seems to be in agreement that none of the accusations by Tillekeratne bear even a semblance of truth and merely have a political motivation behind his so called disclosure about match fixing andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ baseless.
Quoting the Sports Minister in a statement to the Times Newspaper who hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ said that, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-It seems that all these claims are his personal views. We don’t have anything to prove the same. If he believed that suchƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a thing existed then he should haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ come out with proof and given it to me in writing. I don’t think any player will be involved in fixing. They all play for the country” the Hon. MinisterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seems confident that Tillekeratne has nothing to substantiate these dangerous accusations ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and has vehemently trashed them!
Tillakaratne who led Sri Lanka in 10 Tests between 2003 and 2004 has had the affront to even suggest that he could “vouch with responsibility” that match fixing has been a problem in Sri Lanka’s cricket since 1992 without realising that he has probably included himself inadvertently in these accusations!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ also promised that he would come out with the names of the responsible persons in the near future, had better have a very legally binding case towards the accusations whileƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ safeguarding the transparencies about his motivations which seem quite apparent. Mr Tillekerane should also bear in mind that these are very serious allegationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ involvinfg an issue which is constantly monitored by the ICC, carefully scrutinisedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hardly likely to have been missed with respect to Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Cricket if true.
Relative to his surmissions about the eventualities which led to Sri Lanka’s loss in the World Cup Final, they are not without reason as far as team selection, decisions on the field and the general approach of the team towards pursuance of victory was concerned whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ proved to be all too negative in the end ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ albeit with no provable link to any match fixing by his own admission also.
April 29th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Sunil,
You have all the rights to include a line, “Hashan Tilakaratne is first cousin of Dinuna Tilakaratne ( a wanted criminal)” – a sports minister in waiting”.
I hope voters will not forget the betrayals of Arjuna,Hashan, Ponseka , when the time comes. Ontherwise we are doomed.
April 30th, 2011 at 4:10 am
This is outrageous. Hashan was made the Test captain by the UNP government in 2002 purely for political reasons. Jayasuriya was doing a very good job in both formats of the game as captain. Hashan was one of the worst Test captains we had. Now he is trying to discredit the very same sport that gave him a life. Without cricket Hashan would be nobody.
His timing is also well calculated. When others discredit Sri Lanka with rubbish allegations, Hashan (Danuna’s first cousin) does whatever he can to do his bit to help the anti-Sri Lankan elements.
This loser’s school motto reads: Country before Self. He is very much attached to his school and its founder. Looks like he interprets it as Self before Country. A disgrace to this good school.
Having said that, if he can prove with credible evidence instances of match fixing, those instances should be looked at. No doubt it will discredit Sri Lankan cricket, but fixing those problems (if any) is far better than pushing them under the carpet. If his allegations are false and amount to defamation, he should be punished. From his conduct it seems to me that he and Arjuna are up to something political. When Arjuna was the top of SLC a few years ago, he appointed Hashan as the Manager! Now its the repayment time. They may target Jayasuriya, Gurusinghe, De Silva, Atapattu, Mahanama, Mahela, Warnaweera for petty political and personal gains.
Coaching, commentating, politics, writing books, cricket administration are some retirement jobs for cricketers. Blackmailing is the latest addition but only Hashan may do it.
May 3rd, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Hasha was a great “Thattuwa” who gets out mostlt before reaching his goal. This will be the same. Stupid Fonseka Camp is worth nothing. Betraying is their business. Arjuna has joind the chorus. I am sure all these buggers will be getting ready to give evidence in “War Crime Tribunal” to help a Yankee Junta to take over Sri lanka.