For countless fans, cricket is life. In this country, cricket is a remedy for many a problem.

We have seen the frustrating rise in the cost of living being forgotten with the start of a cricket tournament involving Sri Lanka and we have witnessed authorities deliberately exploiting the heat of cricket seasons as well to increase the prices of essential items.

Cricket has gone on despite heightening security conditions. Except for a few occasions, when some visiting teams abruptly called off their tours, international cricket tournaments have seen the successful completions here despite bombings and what not.

Meanwhile, school cricket tournaments have never been interrupted due to the security situation in the history. But unfortunately, things changed a week ago when the Education Ministry issued a circular restricting the movement of school children out of schools and thus forcing a cricket blackout with Big Matches just around the corner.

The ban was also enforced on all other inter school tournaments conducted by associations which come under the Education Ministry. Most certainly, the ministry circular was a precautionary measure due to LTTE terror attacks in Colombo and other areas.

The continuation of the blackout means that there won’t be an Inter School Limited overs tournament this year.

The Inter School Limited Overs Tournament is the premier tournament and the only one where the lads gain exposure and experience. The Inter School Cricket First XI age limit will be reverted back to Under-19 in the 2008/09 season. And this is the last year for those who are within the age group of 19-20, and those who are just under-19. Cricketers of these age groups will not be available for the next Inter School Limited Overs tournament as they will be overage when it will be played in the age category of Under-19.

Thus, a good number of school cricketers will miss their opportunity to play in their last school tournament which is the stepping stone to club level.

Diehard school cricketers are not the best academics. Many school cricketers sacrifice their education for cricket. Though it is not the most prudent of moves, to pursue a career in cricket and find a place in a prominent club, schoolboys dedicate more time for cricket. Many who have concentrated fully on cricket will be at a loss this year as they are neither prepared to face exams nor to bid for their place in a club.

The first term is also a crucial period for those who cherish traditions and fight for a place in the history of cricket, playing for their alma maters. Many important Inter School two-day matches are under threat, facing a blackout. Among some long running traditional two-day matches are Royal College Vs Trinity College, Kandy and St. Joseph’s College Vs St. Anthony’s College Kandy, played for Vass-Muralitharan trophy which was to be unveiled this month.

After several years, we have witnessed many teams recording outright victories in the two day matches this season.

Thurstan College, Colombo, the fore runners in the championship title race have recorded six outright victories and many other teams have pressed hard for victories, which is an encouraging sign.

This season also saw some fine performances by school cricketers.

While the continuation of those performances will give them an opportunity to win school cricket titles, some performances have earned them a place in the history of their schools.

The first wicket partnership of 263 runs by the Josephian openers, Ruwantha Fernandopulle and Dimuth Karunaratne, the captain and vice captain, in their match against Trinity College and an unbeaten ninth wicket partnership of 188 runs between the Nalanda duo, Dinuk Jayasinghe (110 n.o) and Chathuranga Wickramasinghe (74 n.o) in their match against Henegama Central, are two of them.

Having seen such enthusiasm generated in the school arena, it was disappointing to see the curtain fall abruptly on the tournament.

The Big Matches are the biggest things at stake.

The Big Match season is just two weeks away and if the ministry circular continues, many will miss their opportunity to play their last Big Match. Captaining one’s school in the Big Match is a unique achievement.

The historic ‘Battle of the Blues’ was played even during World War II. But the moot point is, will it be played this season?

The Education Ministry, as the caretaker of tens of thousands of school children was compelled to issue the circular in the best interest of children whose security is at stake.

But as a country, our leaders and some others have been boasting about our ability to host international sports events peacefully, even when the forces were fighting a fierce battle.

Overseas sportspersons too had confidence in our ability and showed a lot of courage when they braved the security situation and came here for number of international sports events held in the recent past.

Sportsmen from the South Asian region displayed their solidarity when they came here for the South Asian Games (a year ago) and the first ever South Asian Junior Athletic Championship last year. But the news of the stoppage of school matches, due to the security situation, which several internationally read websites carried, will send a negative message to sportspersons.

It is learnt that the Education Ministry is reconsidering the decision, which is a good move.

Seven players of the D. S. Senanayake College Baseball team died not on a sports field, but at a crowded railway station miles away from the sports event. Curtailing only school matches will only hinder the progress of our sports.