Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has, on Thursday (September 16), denied the allegations that the national team “players deliberately underperformed or did not fully commit themselves” in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against South Africa at home.

A certain media report claimed that some of the Sri Lankan players “did not fully commit themselves or deliberately underperformed” on the field in the recent T20I series against South Africa in which the hosts were whitewashed 3-0 earlier this week.

However, the SLC has officially denied the reports and called them completely false, and urged the news organizations not to post such baseless news as it only affect the Sri Lanka team’s preparations for the T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in the UAE later this year.

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SLC said in an official statement: “Sri Lanka Cricket has not received such a complaint from the 'Team Management' against any player of the National squad. Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to inform you that it was the same group of players who played in the ODI series which Sri Lanka won against South Africa.”

The statement added, “It is understood and acknowledged by the fans that the Sri Lanka National Team, since the recent past is, progressing forward by winning important contests and heading in the right direction. Therefore, SLC wishes to request from the respective news organizations, which published the false and fabricated news item to follow ethical journalism practices, as such, false reporting will destabilize and scuttle the National Team's preparations ahead of the crucial ICC Men's T20 World Cup.”

It concluded, “Such false reporting will also mentally affect the players, who are showing commitment and desire to count their presence in the team, as witnessed in the recent competitions, Sri Lanka played.”

(With ANI Inputs)