Pledge To Long-Term National Commitment Before Selection

A new criterion is to be introduced for Davis Cup selection: a pledge from selectable players to a long-term commitment to national duty.

“We’ve seen too many of our young Davis Cup representatives leave to the US on tennis scholarships and once there, lose interest in representing the country. These are players we’ve invested in,” says Maxwell de Silva, the new SLTA president. “Our new selectors, I am sure, will take bold stands that will ensure our better players will be available at our calling wherever they might reside, here or abroad.”

Maxwell de Silva and Suresh Subramanium

New Chairman

The appointment of Suresh Subramaniam as the new chairman of selectors inspires hope. He is known to take the view that US-based players are morally obliged to make available their services for the country.  As well, he, during his five-year term as SLTA president, was averse to offering concessions to players residing overseas. For instance, he rejected suggestions to fly down US-based Sri Lankan players for Davis Cup duty, at SLTA expense. His stand: let them fly to Colombo at their own expense, play in the selection trials and if  selected, the SLTA refunds their air ticket cost.

The inclusion of Rohan de Silva, a contender for a place in 2010 Davis Cup squad who has instead opted out to serve as selector, should bring fresh ideas to the table, especially views of the players. De Silva, national champion in 1990 and ’93, was Davis Cup representative, 1989 to 2005 and non-playing Captain, 2007 and ’08 – credentials that make him as good as a player-selector, which will, no doubt, enhance the quality of in-put at selection meetings.

De Silva thinks that getting prospective players to commit themselves to long-term availability for national duty is necessary. “It’s not as if we are barring them from accepting tennis scholarships in the US (if they want to play Davis Cup), but they have to be made aware of their responsibilities to country,’’ says de Silva, “and it is not as if representing Sri Lanka while residing abroad is a major problem. After all, I managed it while I was in the US, 1990-93– and so did Renouk Wijemanne, Rajiv Rajapakse, Umesh Waloopillai, Arjun Fernando. The proposed criterion for national selections comes in the wake of the departure of a host of young Davis Cup candidates to the US and their unavailability for national duty thereafter. Prominent of these absentees are Franklin Emmanuel, the youngest ever to National Singles champion, Amrit Rupasinghe, an under 18 ITF champion and Oshada Wijemanne, Davis Cup player in 2002 and 2005.

Absent Trio

At the turn of the century, this absent trio, together with 22-year-old Harshana Godamanna, currently our no.1. Davis Cup singles player, were the prime products of SLTA’s Junior Development. “If Frankie, Amrit and Oshada had been available and had shown the dedication of Harshana, then, I think our Davis Cup tennis would’ve been on firmer ground,’’ said President de Silva. “Having said that, you can only applaud seniors like Rajiv and Rohan who have filled the breach so very well.’’

So well that Sri Lanka earned promotion to Group 2 this year after nine years in Group 4 and three. “Obviously, there’s has to be changes in our thinking if we are to stay in Group 2 long enough to hopefully climb to Group 1 – that has to be our ambition,’’ says President de Silva, “and a change of selectors is a step in that direction.’’

Six names are before the Sport Minister for approval: Suresh Subramaniam (chairman), Iqbal bin Ishak, Rohan de Silva, Ayendra Bandaranaike, Dinali de Silva and Rajiv Casiechetty. The minister is expected to pick five of the six.