HINDI SONG ISSUE AT ICC CHAMPIONSTROPHY OPENING

The song that dishonoured SL...at opening of Champions Trophy

     The Championship Trophy which has begun by now in England at the opening ceremony held last Thursday was the topic spoken about in cricketing circles the world over and is an incident where SL was insulted. The reason for this is that when the SL team was carrying the Sri Lankan flag around, an unwanted Hindi song 'There bina' was being relayed. Though songs that portrayed the identity of other countries that participated in the championship were broadcast, only SL was subjected to such injustice when the Sri Lankan team were carrying around their flag where an irrelevant Indian song was played.

    It was the International Cricket Council who was responsible for selecting and presenting it. After this incident, the SL Cricket Control Board expressed their amazement and protest in connection with the song and had sent a letter to the ICC. It was informed that an inquiry would be conducted in this respect, and reasons for this was expected by Sunday.

   The ICC would be giving their reasons which caused this decision. The Sri Lanka Board of Control for Cricket has requested for a written explanation from the ICC as to why an unsuitable song was presented when the SL flag was being taken around at the opening ceremony last Thursday. The Cricket Association says that it may be possible for them to announce the response today to the public to the media.

    Whatever it is, Minister Wimal Weerawansa said at a function yesterday that the reaction shown by the Sri Lankan players in this connection was not sufficient.

    Former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga expressed in this connection that a similar situation had taken place at the final match at the World Cup heldin the year 1966 and that immediate steps were taken to remedy it. The SLCB has not acted properly on this occasion and dishonour has been brought upon SL at this championship which has won the attention of the whole world and therefore they are totally responsible, says Arjuna Ranatunga further. What Mr.Ashley de Silva, Managing Director of the Sri Lankan Cricket Association says is that the Cricket Board was unaware of a song irrelevant to the country was being broadcast. He said that it was later revealed that that song had been selected by the officials who were in charge of the championship and that the real situation could be ascertained when the expected investigation report is received.

    The video showing the song being played is seen here.