SLC plan to rebuild around Mathews and Chandimal

• SLC official alleges Malinga misled selectors about fitness to keep Dilhara out of the sideCaptaincy 
• merry-go-round has led to discord within the teamMathews and Chandimal to be back irrespective of form
• SLC calls for autonomy in the long-term, reduction in ministerial oversight

by Madushka Balasuriya

A deterioration in dressing room culture and the emergence of factions within the team have been highlighted as leading causes behind Sri Lanka’s recent failings on the global cricketing stage. 

A high level SLC official has alleged that internal team politics had played a role in Lasith Malinga’s inclusion in the Asia Cup squad, with the slinging quick not wanting his position taken up by a resurgent Dilhara Fernando.

“The cricketers have camps, favourites. Dilhara is bowling very well, fast. And we needed a replacement for Malinga, who was not fit. But when Dilhara’s name was suggested before the Asia Cup squad was selected, Malinga said he was 80% fit and would be able to play a part in the Asia Cup.

“Two days after we had sent the list to the Asian Cricket Council, Malinga then says he’s not fit enough to play and captain. So he wanted us to let him go just as a player and ‘overlook the talent’ in the squad. In the end, preventing Dilhara from being selected.”

On Tuesday Chief Selector of Sri Lanka Cricket Aravinda De Silva caused a stir when he intimated that Malinga may have not been entirely truthful with regard to his injury. “His fitness will be proved soon when he plays in the IPL,” de Silva had said when questioned on Malinga’s withdrawal from Sri Lanka’s World T20 squad. 

SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala meanwhile noted separately that having multiple captains has proved unhelpful for team unity, with each captain having their own favourites when it comes to certain match situations, such as death bowling. He added that as a result SLC aims to build the team for the 2019 World Cup under the leadership of Angelo Mathews with Dinesh Chandimal his deputy, going as far to say that even if “they get five ducks in a row their spot in the team will not be threatened.” 

Citing Darren Sammy’s poor form for the 2016 World T20 Champions West Indies as an example, Sumathipala explained that leaders in the team needed to be given complete backing regardless of the numbers they post, as that is how team unity is built.

Sumathipala also lamented Sri Lanka’s fall from grace in world cricket’s hierarchy, pointing out that Sri Lanka had remained still since his last stint in charge in 2004.

“When I was on the board back then, Sri Lanka were the leaders in Asia. The treatment we received from Australia and England was of the highest order,” reminisced Sumathipala. “But this time around, going back, it was clear we had been left behind. Bangladesh’s Cricket Board was like a five-star hotel! We’ve stood still like a frog in a well.”

Sumathipala added that he has a plan to put Sri Lanka back on top of the sport but warned that he and the board needed to proceed carefully so as to ensure that further missteps don’t occur. Questioned as to what had gone wrong over the last decade, he cited the prevalence of interim committees as a destabilising factor. Sumathipala said that in the long run Sri Lanka Cricket would be better served if political influence in its affairs was minimised. He noted that cricket boards in other countries are independent and do not come under a ministerial thumb.