As an ardent cricket fan, I feel it is worth pondering on this issue. Also, it is a relevant point to question in the present context.

I know most of the players do not like to hang up their boots even when they are old, especially our Sri Lankan cricketers. They know if they continue to play they would be bloating their bank accounts. So, they would like to carry on as long as possible. They are the least bothered about their country or their own form. If our selectors wait till so called old horses retire, that will do more harm than good to our cricket.

Therefore, the Cricket Board or the Interim Committee has to take some steps to persuade some of the senior cricketers to retire.

When a player is about 35 years of age, he is fairly old as a cricketer. A cricketer needs a lot of strength and energy to perform well. He cannot perform as he did when he was in his 20s.

Then the selectors should take a bold step and inform the player that he has played more than enough for the country. If he continues, young players cannot be included in the side. Then the future of Sri Lanka cricket could be in jeopardy. If you do not include up and coming players in the team they will never get a chance to expose themselves.

If an aged player wants to continue after 35, he should be given targets. If he is a batsman, he should score at least 350 runs in a given number of innings. A bowler should be able to take at least 35 wickets for the side, again within a certain time frame. If their performances are lower than the expected target, there is no point in keeping them in the team. There are some veteran players in the side who score a century or take five wickets once in a blue moon. It is not the criteria to keep them in the National team. No player should remain in the team, because of his past glories. His past glories will never give anything to the present or future of cricket in Sri Lanka.

When a player is about 35 years old he would have played at least 10 years of cricket. By that time he would have earned enough money. Those players can be paid less money than others.

If they refuse to play for lesser amounts, we will know what sort of persons they are; they play cricket because they love money. They do not have any love for the country.

My main concern is not aged players playing in the team but their performance. In every nook and corner, there are very talented young players. So, we need not depend on so called big names all the time. Our veterans should realize that they cannot play the game for ever. They have to leave room for young blood to come in. No one in this world is indispensable. Cricketers may come and cricketers may go, but Sri Lanka cricket will go on forever.

When a player has done his part for his team, he must have the guts to hang up his boots with grace. Some desire to remain till others ask them to leave. It looks very ugly and it is a shame.

I am not against any senior cricketer. I always appreciate the services they have rendered.