Poor team spirit blamed for Sri Lanka loss

COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan minister slammed the country’s cricket team on Thursday, blaming poor team spirit for its humiliating 258-run thrashing by South Africa, the island’s worst one-day international defeat.

Government spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said he was “horrified” when Sri Lanka were dismissed for 43 runs at Boland Park in Paarl on Wednesday, their lowest one-day score.

“You can understand a defeat, but not something like this,” Rambukwella told reporters in Colombo. “We are appalled. Something has to be done immediately. It looks like there is no team spirit among players.”

Rambukwella said the loss was humiliating to cricket-crazy Sri Lankans who won the 1996 World Cup and emerged runners up at the 2011 World Cup.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had blasted the national team even before Wednesday’s defeat, saying the side was in “crisis” due to divisive politics among the players.

Sri Lanka has already lost the Test series to South Africa 2-1. After a five-match ODI series with South Africa, Sri Lanka heads for a tri-series tournament in Australia which also includes India.

Since the retirement of bowling star Muttiah Muralitharan in July 2010, Sri Lanka has won only one Test match.

Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan has blamed his side’s inconsistent results on the island’s weak domestic scene.

“It is very difficult to find good cricketers. We have to correct our domestic structure. Coming from our club cricket to international cricket is a huge difference,” he said after losing the Test series.

Some players have complained about months of unpaid wages as the Sri Lanka Cricket board struggles with debts of $69 million after building two new venues and revamping a third ground for the World Cup.

Lowest one-day international totals

Jan 11 (Reuters) - The 10 lowest one-day international

totals after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 43 against South

Africa in Paarl on Wednesday

Team Score Opponents Venue Year Zimbabwe 35 Sri Lanka Harare 2004

Canada 36 Sri Lanka Paar 2003

Zimbabwe 38 Sri Lanka Colombo 2001

Pakistan 43 West Indies Cape Town 1993 Sri Lanka 43 South Africa Paarl 2012 Zimbabwe 44 Bangladesh Chittagong 2009 Canada 45 England Manchester 1979 Namibia 45 Australia Potchefstroom 2003 India 54 Sri Lanka Sharjah 2000 West Indies 54 South Africa Cape Town 2004