Somasundaram Skandakumar to Cricketing Friends, speaking from the Heights of Uva, 15 June 2025
Dear All, An amazing final indeed and I too watched all of it.
A Country once banned by the ICC for its extreme apartheid policies and readmitted in July 1991, stands tall today on the world stag…….. having annexed two prestigious sports championships led by the very people it discriminated against for decades.
hat a great lesson from the Rainbow Nation on equality and mutual respect reflected in its phenomenal progress and achievement
I was privileged to be at Lords as Hony Secy along with President P.I Pieris when SA was readmitted. A cause we strongly supported in a unanimous decision
Hope you are keeping well
Blessings from Haputale……
Skanda
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A Response from ERROL FERNANDO, writing from the Depths of Melbourne, 15 June 2025
I ALWAYS enjoy your letters, dear Skanda, because they are full of wisdom. How right you are about the unique composition of the South African team. You describe it as a great lesson from the Rainbow Nation on equality and mutual respect. People of all the colours of the rainbow – black, white, green, blue, red and orange – combining equally and respectfully to win the hallowed trophy. Australia has a tiny hint of it when they include Boland and Khawaja. England too has Archer.
Yes, indeed, it was a great victory which delighted the entire cricket world. I think that there was worldwide dancing in the streets. Captain Pat Cummins is a particularly thoughtful, intelligent and decent human being and I was absolutely certain that he would reveal these qualities in his Captain’s speech. Sure enough, he was even better than I expected. He showed us how to make a gracious LOSING captain’s speech, and we can all be proud of him.
Thanks again, Skanda, and next time there is a rainbow let me have a more careful look at the colours!
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I had the privilege of witnessing the epic World Rugby World Cup in 1995 when Madhiba (Nelson Mandela) wore the No. 6 jersey and took the field with the team to receive the trophy.
Then I got involved in coaching cricket in a black township near Pretoria. Organized the teams and played the school cricket league. We get thrashed by all the white schools but we had some promising kids who could bowl fast. Getting their parents interest was one of the biggest problems while white kids parents came in droves to support their kids. Would like to go back to that ground one day.