In false spirit of the game!!

The one-day international match between India and Srilanka at Dambulla on 16th August 2010 revealed that amongst true gentlemen of the game, there are, and there ever will be 'uneducated' players. I use the word 'uneducated' deliberately and carefully because, the men involved in the foul-play are hard-core literates, captian Kumara Sangakkara being a law student and Suraj Randiv is a student of Rahula college, Matara but they have failed to exhibit what they have learnt as cricketers and human beings.

With the scores level, Sehwag on 99 and India needing one to win, Randiv deliberately overshot the crease by more than a foot and Sehwag managed to hit the ball for a six. Unfortunately, it did not count as the no-ball’s contribution of one meant India had won the match.

Despite hitting a six, Sehwag was stranded not out at 99.

The conspiracy hatched by Sangakkara and Randiv is very clear. The stump microphone is said to have recorded Kumar Sangakkara advising Randiv, “Remember, if he scores he gets a 100!”

Mission accomplished.

What is worse is, Sangakkara certified in the press conference that Randiv didn't bowl a no-ball deliberately. That's double standards.

Srilankans had done the same to Saurav Ganguly when Malinga bowled a wide to give four runs leaving Ganguly stranded at 98. It has happened to Sachin Tendulkar too in a match. Courtesy, Malinga again.

Still worse; Prasad Kariyawasam, the Srilankan High Commissioner in a interview aired on CNN-IBN made all efforts to shield the act of Randiv and eventually failed in doing so.

Now that both Randiv and the Srilankan Cricket Board have apologized, the problem seems to have been resolved. But, the scar left by the wound on the finest fabric of Cricket would never fade away.