An ugly incident has rocked Sri Lanka's cricket community just hours before the start of the first Test match between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan cricket coach Sumith Fernando, a renowned figure in Sri Lankan school and club cricket, has died after he was allegedly attacked by a teenage cricketer during a row which apparently began over drinking water during a match in Colombo.
The incident took place on August 8 when two young cricketers had an argument over drinking water during a game, said police officials. What initially appeared to be a minor dispute quickly erupted into a heated argument between the players. As the situation got more and more heated and threatened to turn violent, 62-year-old coach Sumith Fernando intervened and separated the individuals involved.
But it all spiralled out of control, authorities say. One of the players was a 17-year-old school cricketer who attacked Fernando as he tried to defuse the situation, the police said. It was an attack that left the veteran coach seriously wounded. He was immediately flown to a hospital for medical treatment, where doctors worked to stabilise his condition.
Fernando was treated properly but subsequently died of his injuries, sending shockwaves through Sri Lanka’s cricket fraternity. His death has caused a lot of grief among former players, coaches, and sports administrators who knew him as a mentor and an active part of developing young cricketers.
The police then launched an investigation and arrested the 17-year-old player allegedly involved in the assault. He was taken to court in Colombo and was ordered held in juvenile custody until August 17 while the investigation continues.
Sri Lankan cricket is left with a void today after the death of Sumith Fernando. He was very popular in school and club cricket and helped develop many young cricketers throughout the years. One of Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis was among the cricketers he trained.
Fernando served at Prince of Wales College, one of Sri Lanka's top schools for cricket education. He mentored many young players, and many of them rose to the top of the game. Kusal Mendis, who is now in Sri Lanka's cricket team and has also captained the national team in the white-ball format, has been one of those who benefited from Fernando's tutelage in the formative years.
Fernando was also associated with Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club, one of Sri Lanka's historic cricket clubs. He was a coach and also a curator, contributing to the development and maintenance of cricketing facilities.
What happened has brought home the importance of discipline, sportsmanship, and conflict management to youth athletes, as well as coaches and administrators, emphasising that young athletes must be supported to deal with such disputes and competition.
As the investigation continues, tributes have poured in from Sri Lanka’s cricketing community for a man who has spent most of his life working to mould the young. Fernando was a mentor, a knowledgeable coach, and a passionate supporter of grassroots cricket.
Truly, a great figure has died. The cricket fraternity is mourning the loss of one who has been involved in the careers of many players and has made Sri Lanka’s cricketing ecosystem stronger for so many years.
