Learn to play the game in right spirit: Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene could not hide his disappointment when the topic of the recent spot-fixing scandal was raised at the post match press conference here on Sunday. The Delhi Daredevils skipper said the individuals have to take responsibility to keep the game clean.
“The events in the last few days have been disheartening. I am disappointed and angry about it. Cricket deserves more from its players. I can see the disappointment in fans, administrators and volunteers,” said Jayawardene after their last league game against Pune Warriors.
“I don’t know how we can control this. At the end of the day individuals have to take responsibility for it. We have to play the game with the right spirit and fight it out to make sure next generation doesn’t do it,” he added.
Elaborating on the role of senior players like him to curb the menace he said they have been doing their job well. “Rahul (Dravid) would have motivated his (Rajasthan Royals) players to win and play fair and still you have these guys not taking the responsibility. From the beginning you have information and lectures on it and still you do that. Everyone is rallying together and making strong statements. We just need to advise them (young players). We need to make sure we teach them,” he said.
Jayawardene said that IPL or Twenty20 cricket can’t be blamed alone for fixing. “You can’t point finger at T20 cricket as it has happened in other formats as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan took the responsibility for poor show of his team this season. “Last season was fantastic for Daredevils except for playoffs. We didn’t perform to ability and take responsibility for dismal show this year. Failure from batsmen was the main reason. Bowlers tried but couldn’t do it. We had close games but never finished them,” he said.
Pune Warriors batsman Luke Wright hoped that the menace is dealt in the right way. “I desperately want to come back next season. Hopefully it (the recent spot fixing scandal) will be dealt in the right way to keep the game clean,” he said.
Wright credited Warriors fans for keeping faith in them. “We came so close in few games and were unfortunate in key moments. But credit to guys to win last two games. Seeing the crowd today was unbelievable. It meant so much to win tonight for them,” Wright said.
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