Ranatunga said it was an insult that SLC was hosting weaker, second string Indian team.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has refuted claims of Arjuna Ranatunga who had criticized them for hosting a second-string India team, calling it an insult to Sri Lanka cricket, while the main India team is touring England for five Tests under Virat Kohli’s captaincy.
Shikhar Dhawan is captaining this Indian team with a 20-member squad that features six uncapped players and is coached by Rahul Dravid. The team will play 3 ODIs and 3 T20I matches against Sri Lanka from July 13-25 and all six matches will be hosted by the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that despite claims by various parties as reported in the Media, the National White-Ball team of India currently touring Sri Lanka is a strong squad. Out of the 20-member India squad, 14 players have represented India across all formats or in some form. (Test, ODI, or T20I), and not a 'second-string team,' as claimed," SLC said in an official statement.
"It also should be mentioned that this tour is taking place, whilst the National Test Team of India is touring England to play a 05 match Test series, versus England. This is the latest norm in the cricketing world, especially the full ICC Member countries, as they maintain specialist squads and players for each format of the game," it added.
Further, in its statement, SLC said: "The aim of such arrangements is to be competitive in each format of the game by maintaining specialist players and squads. Apart from it, maintaining separate squads enable cricketing boards to fulfill their international commitments unhindered, such as the ICC Future Tours Program."
Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga had slammed SLC for hosting, as he called it a second-string India team.
He had said, “This is a second-string Indian team and their coming here is an insult on our cricket. I blame the current administration for agreeing to play with them due to television marketing needs. India sent their best team to England and sent a weaker side to play here. I blame our board for that.”
The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka will be played on July 13. The Indian side was in hard quarantine for three days upon arriving in Colombo and the side has now finally started training.
(ANI inputs)