THE NEIL PERERA STORY

Neil Perera - 1996 World Cup's unsung hero

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Perera played a key role to get India and Pakistan together and get the 1996 World Cup to the subcontinent.
Perera played a key role to get India and Pakistan together and get the 1996 World Cup to the subcontinent. © Cricbuzz

Neil Perera may be lost to cricket nowadays, but the sub-continent owes a lot to the octogenarian.

At 88, he may not retain the same confident gait that his tall frame, and his high position in the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (as Sri Lanka Cricket was known then) commanded during his earlier days, but Perera still doesn't lack in flavor and spirit. He uses a walking stick to help with his movement, and there is reluctance before taking too many steps at one go. And although his memory fails him from time to time, there is an ebullience when he talks about his most cherished moments. The most cherished of the lot would have to be how he got two sworn rivals to come to terms and host a defining cricket World Cup in 1996.

Not many know that Neil Perera played the most important part in bringing the 1996 World Cup to the sub-continent, and eventually paved way for Sri Lanka to script history. As cricketing countries around the globe harboured hopes of hosting their own World Cup, Sri Lanka stood little chance of getting to host the world event.

Nelson Mandela was on the brink of being elected South African President, and he wanted to bring the country closer together by hosting the 1996 World Cup. England, having not hosted the event since 1983, wanted another shot too. With the votes tied at four each at the ICC meeting, Perera, the BCCSL secretary then, devised his plan to bring the World Cup back to the sub-continent, and in effect, Sri Lanka.

Jagmohan Dalmiya's letter to Perera thanking him for his efforts.
Jagmohan Dalmiya's letter to Perera thanking him for his efforts. ©Cricbuzz

"Nelson Mandela had been released just then from jail. He wasn't yet the president but he was actively into politics. He rang up our president, Premadasa, I think it was 1992 or 93, and wanted us to support South Africa in their bid to host the (1996) World Cup. India and Pakistan were pulling in different directions as usual and so the 1996 World Cup was never in our picture. At the meeting to decide the hosts, I suggested to my Pakistani and Indian counterparts as to why we can't jointly host the tournament. India were receptive to the idea but Pakistan weren't. They wanted to go alone and so we had to abandon the idea of hosting the World Cup.

"We already knew that South Africa wanted to host but at the meeting, England too put their bid forward. There were nine full members in the ICC, which was headed by Lord Colin Cowdrey as its chairman. South Africa and England got four votes each, while Pakistan voted for themselves. The meeting was temporarily adjourned to resolve the stand-off between the delegates and that's when I approached PCB President General (Zahid Akbar) Khan and told him that since Pakistan didn't have much of a hope to host the tournament, he should bid with us and India. He reluctantly agreed and when the members voted again, South Africa pulled out.

"Our joint bid got five votes and England managed four but it wasn't enough as we needed two-third majority. Lord Cowdrey nominated Sir Clyde Walcott to work out a solution to resolve the crisis. A compromise formula was finally struck with England opting to back out on condition that it should get the World Cup in 1999. Similarly, South Africa demanded hosting rights for the 2003 World Cup and thus the matter was resolved. The meeting lasted from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm and it was a great achievement for Asia. I look back at those events with fondest of memories," Perera said.

For someone whose memories fail him regularly, Perera's pin-point recollection is surprising. But the best memories do not leave you that cheaply. Your looks may bid goodbye, your health may betray you and your eyesight may falter, but the memories remain.

That effort from Perera earned him heaps of praise from Jagmohan Dalmiya, the then BCCI secretary. It's another memory Perera has preserved. A letter from Dalmiya thanking Perera for his role at the ICC meeting and in getting the 'cake' to the sub-continent. The 'cake' turned out to be a ludicrously lucrative one. India would soon become a power-house, while Pakistan became a significant force too. For Sri Lanka, Perera's plan had helped them etch their names in history as the winners of the 1996 World Cup, but sadly their fortunes have drooped alarmingly since then.

"Cricket took a different turn after that and it became commercialised. When I was an administrator, I had to do everything on my own. Now when I go to the SLC office, almost all officials have cars. I don't grudge them that but the only thing is we haven't improved our standards.

"I told Sanath (Jayasuriya) that you came into the side after playing Under-23 and in the 'A' teams and that you should devote your time on that. Mendis and Karunaratne are talented but they don't have exposure. They are playing their shots, overdoing the reverse-sweep. They must be mentally tuned. During my time, we had Rudy Webster, sports psychologist, he came over and spoke to the boys. There was a huge difference in the players. We need to give our players self-confidence. Now the board has business chaps, who are vying for positions," Perera added.

After Perera's efforts, Sri Lanka went on to win the World Cup.
After Perera's efforts, Sri Lanka went on to win the World Cup. ©Cricbuzz

Perera stayed in and around Sri Lankan cricket for nearly 20 years, spending time as the BCCSL secretary, its vice-president and even spent time as the team manager on many tours. His final stint came in 1994. But now, Perera is far away from the sport. He stays in a Colombo suburb, with his wife. His elder son lives next door, while his second son is away in Australia. His only connect with cricket is when he receives complimentary tickets to watch cricket matches in the country, but he quickly hands them away to his grandchildren. His only grudge remains that how easily those concerned have easily disregarded him.

"Today, these people who run the game have forgotten me. I have been in the (SLC) committee for 20 years, six years as honorary secretary, one year as vice-president and six times as Sri Lanka team manager but I don't even get to sit at President's Box during matches," he said ruefully.

The authorities, and even cricketers, may have forgotten him, but Neil Perera will remain one of Asia Cricket's most important figures.

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