Desert Cubs hijack Lanka Lions

The Lanka Lions Sports Club has been a dominant force over the last three decades in UAE cricket, but has been deprived of fielding a side for the first time in the history of the ongoing Bukhatir League Tournament.

Their entire ‘A’ division side which were runners-up at the Ramadan Cricket Tournament last year, have fled to represent the Desert Cubs Cricket Academy who are taking part in the Bukhatir League for the first time.

The players have been apparently lured by lucrative financial benefits such as coaching contracts and opportunities to complete ICC conducted level 1, 2 and 3 coaching courses.

Desert Cubs Cricket Academy is ironically owned by a former Lanka Lions stalwart Presley Polonnowita, who was the captain when the Lions incidentally won this prestigious tournament last time.

“Polonnowita who was appointed as the cricket coach of the Lanka Lions Sports Club at a gala function by Lanka Lions Sports Club earlier in the year, tendered his resignation midway during the 40-over Al Dhaid Gold Cup cricket tournament and also walked away with the cricketers who were made up mainly of his coaching staff,” said Terrence Rodrigo the official Sports Co-ordinator of the Lanka Lions Sports Club.

Polonnowita had cited “personal” and “business commitments” as the reasons for his resignation.

“We were forced to hand walk overs to our competitors at this tournament as the players complained they would lose their coaching contracts if they continued to play for Lanka Lions,” added Rodrigo.

When ‘Emirates 24|7’ contacted Polonnowita, he said it was up to the Lanka Lions to get their act together and find ways to get their players to play for them.

“It is true that I have created loads of benefits for all of my coaching staff who are Lanka Lions cricketers. It is entirely up to them as individuals to decide whom they wish to represent. The Desert Cubs Cricket Academy will take part in every ‘A’ division tournament in the future, as it is now part of my business policy to groom budding youngsters to gain invaluable experience by playing alongside senior cricketers,” he said.

Polonnowita, a former first class cricketer in Sri Lanka, wields influence not only in the UAE but has also roped in former Sri Lanka stars Sidath Wettimuni and Rumesh Ratnayake for his project.

“I have further expanded my business to Sri Lanka where I have teamed up with Sidath Wettimuni who is the Patron of the Desert Cubs International Cricket Academy which will be run by Lucky Rogers and spearheaded by Rumesh Ratnayake,” he disclosed.

“Over here in the UAE Mazar Khan (Administrator of Emirates Cricket Board) is my Patron of the Academy and the support we also get from the ICC (International Cricket Council) is of immense benefit. Dayle Hadlee, Mudassar Nazzar and Rodney Marsh have frequented our coaching sessions and have given invaluable tips to our budding cricketers,” he said.

“I have personally washed my hands off Lanka Lions cricket and am concentrating solely on my business. However, I will still continue to be a member of the club,” added Polonnowita.

Indika Batuwitaarachchi, a former Lanka Lions player and now coach of Desert Cubs Cricket Academy said that Polonnowita had informed all of his coaching staff that he has no issues if they wished to continue playing for Lanka Lions, but stressed that they have to be present at 3:30pm at the grounds to coach the students.

As a result, the cricketers were left with no choice as they could not both play cricket matches on Fridays and Saturdays and also be present at the time they were asked to report to the grounds for their coaching duties.

It is a blessing in disguise for 15 of Lanka Lions ‘A’ division cricketers, including this year’s officially appointed Lanka Lions captain Malintha Perera, to earn over Dh2,000 a month by simply helping the Desert Cubs Academy as coaching staff.

The academy coaches both boys and girls and has seen many of its students represent the UAE in either junior age groups or in some cases the UAE women’s cricket teams too.

Lanka Lions Sports Club officials were absolutely distraught as this is the first time that a side belonging to them has been hijacked in such a manner.

“Incidentally the club went one step further and even bought individual kit bags and cricket equipment and distributed them to all ‘A’ division cricketers at the start of the season in spite of numerous promises from them confirming that they will pay their respective membership fees which they never eventually did,” said Rodrigo.

“The club did its utmost for the cricketers as usual. The Desert Cubs Cricket Academy seems to have benefitted from this, as all spectators at the recently concluded Bukhatir League match played between Desert Cubs Cricket Academy and Fly Emirates witnessed the academy players proudly strutting into the grounds with the cricket equipment they received from Lanka Lions Sports Club for their game,” he said.

Lanka Lions officials allege the cause for Polonnowita to break ranks was over the club’s refusal to send an SMS to its members promoting a cricket carnival organised by the academy.

“The Executive Committee refused to accept this request as the SMS service paid for by Lanka Lions Sports Club is for its exclusive usage. As a club we cannot entertain individual requests of this nature and it is sad that Presley Polonnowita had to get offended by this simple refusal,” said Rodrigo.

Aaron Vedasinghe, Cricket Manager of Lanka Lions Sports Club observed it was very unfortunate that the club could not field a side in the ongoing Bukhatir League Tournament.

“Last time around I really enjoyed my role as the manager of the side as the team gelled well together and it was a pleasure to see them go all the way to the finals of the Ramadan Cup,” he recalled.

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