Tough to go after Ranatunga,but it was for the players

As a fast bowler,he had a zigzag approach to the crease,but as secretary of the Sri Lankan Players Cricket Association...

As a fast bowler,he had a zigzag approach to the crease,but as secretary of the Sri Lankan Players Cricket Association,Graeme Labrooy likes coming straight to the point. In the recent period of disarray in Sri Lankan cricket,he was involved in the crisis between the players and former chairman of the board,Arjuna Ranatunga,over their participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The impasse eventually ended when the countrys sports minister sacked Ranatunga from the post.

Labrooy called that state of flux the biggest challenge faced by the local players association because it was difficult to go against Ranatunga,a former skipper and one of the most celebrated names enrolled with the association.

Arjuna is a member of our association. It seemed unusual for us to go against one of our own but,as a representative,I saw only Ranatunga the administrator, Labrooy told The Indian Express. We know what his idea was,and we know his thought process too. We only expected more dialogue but sadly it didnt happen. It was a bit shocking because we always knew Ranatunga used to fight for the players rights.

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Labrooy himself played his last few international matches under Ranatungas captaincy.

We wouldnt have wanted things to end like this for him. As an afterthought,even if there was any other man in his place,he wouldve perhaps done the same, said Labrooy. Playing England was a indeed good option to make some money for the board,but it came in the way of the players interests.

The England and Wales Cricket Board had requested Sri Lanka to tour England for two Tests after refusing to host Zimbabwe. The Lankan players agreed to three ODIs because of the IPL,but England wanted a Test series.

The players association had started eight years ago when Labrooy and Ravi Ratnayake were told about similar plans in India. Though it has 528 members,including first-class players,it is still awaiting official recognition from the board. The board works in tandem with us,but only unofficially. Hopefully the accreditation will come very soon, Labrooy said.