The Greg Chappell- Sourav Ganguly saga still remain a stuff of fiction and the drama is still to be matched. But the latest episode of the Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene’s resignation has stirred up a storm in the tea cup as well.

Mahela apparently 'gave up' captaincy to allow a young blood to take over and groom the Sri Lankan team, one that will not only take the island nation into the future but reclaim the lost glory. However despite the best of intensions, Sri Lanka will, in all likelihood have a skipper in Kumara Sangakkara who is just a year younger to Mahela. Ironically, all the sugar-coated press releases have not been taken on face value because there remains a story within a story.

While Mahela Jayawardene's agent went to town dismissing the news of his dismissal by the board, the truth still is that in the sub continent no one gives up the hot seat unless compelled to. And in this case the compulsions were unique.

The breaking down of relations between the Board and the Lankan skipper began last year. It started with him leading the pack in their demand for an IPL window. The Lankan players apparently refused to play a series in England because the schedule clashed with the super rich Indian Premier League. They played hardball with the board and in the end got a verdict in their favour. That apparently also led to a massive decline in public support for the skipper.

And that just was the beginning of the end. Shortly afterwards Arjuna Ranatunga was dethroned because he was seen as a man with a mind of his own and was willing to run the set up professionally. By that time 'Conflict' had become the name of the game and not only the North Eastern part of the country but cricket administration too was fast becoming a victim.

Despite a stupendous captaincy record over the last three years the selectors were fast running out of patience with the Mahela. So an option to step down after the Pakistan series was offered. And gentleman Mahela picked it up. Though words like 'sacking' and phrases like 'given marching orders' were widely used but one would like to believe that Mahela was shown more respect than some of the other sub continental captains.

So this will be the last outing under the sub-continental sun for Mahela as skipper as Sri Lanka takes on Pakistan in the two test series. No doubt it will be an intriguing battle with one skipper, Younus Khan being reinstated after months of negotiation and the other seeking a glorious exit.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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