• A conversation begins

Following is a conversation that takes place in a suburban Sri Lankan city days before the national cricket team departs for a limited-over cricket series in India.

Here is the discussion between Perera, Prabath, and Sheshavi:

Perera: All the very best for the Sri Lankan team this time in India! India is the biggest stage in world cricket at the moment, isn’t that so, son?

Prabath: My generation has no more interest in cricket, uncle. It’s a business now. We are the pre-1996 generation. We don’t waste our time getting involved in this business!

Perera: But we should follow our cricket team because it is the Sri Lankan cricket team, nothing can match that.

Prabath: Uncle, after the ’90s, cricket’s overall superiority transferred from England and Australia to India. That was the start of a whole new era and perhaps many problems too.

Perera: Mmm. Please go on!

Prabath: That was the climactic moment of the gradual commercialisation of the game. Cricket is now, directly or indirectly, a mere puppet in the hands of a political, business, and perhaps an underground nexus.

Perera: What’s this underground?

Prabath: It’s an underlying economic and social network. Illegal gambling, regional underworld, drug and crime interrelated regional cinema and arts; they could be running the show. Here, the underground and the foreground are connected in a very subtle manner.

Sheshavi: Who cares? I don’t. When I watch a match, I want to enjoy it. That’s it. I care about nothing else, whatever you say.

Prabath: You are our next generation, Sheshavi! See, there is a clear-cut difference. Cricket has become part of your enjoyment. A match, a series, a tournament is just like drinking a Coke and throwing the can away. Anyway, what you’re saying is quite true.

Perera: There is a great truth in what Prabath is saying. In our days, cricket was a very serious affair. We gave it our heart and soul. When Satha or CI whacked the tourists at P. Sara, we were so jubilant that we felt that there was nothing else.

Prabath: See, there was a real national spirit brewing during your days, uncle. We actually won our battles when we gained Test status and then became world champions in 1996. What followed gradually is a whole new era. The T20s, the franchise leagues, the IPL, and then the game falling prey to a certain indecent economic force, losing all its spirit.

Sheshavi: Then why are you still talking about cricket? 

Prabath: We don’t have the same faith in the present Lankan team that we used to have in our teams, the teams of our time. Isn’t that right, uncle?

Perera: I agree, son.

Sheshavi: You mean to say that what we are now watching is a mere drama, an eyewash?

Prabath: Not exactly. In this new era too, we are duty bound to save at least the major essence of the game. This should not die. If it happens, that would be a sin.

Sheshavi: What is this essence?

Prabath: Now you come to the point. Do you agree, uncle? Sheshavi, the actual essence is that we need to fulfil at least some of our greater meanings in life through cricket. Our great nationalistic interests, our unity, our dignity, displaying our unmatched talent to the world, our own determination – essentially the Sri Lankan spirit. Isn’t that the need of the moment? Not only that; our kindness, smile, culture, and arts – isn’t all that our cricket and it’s only cricket that can do that?

Sheshavi: Okay, okay!

Perera: Okay. Let’s continue this discussion next time!