Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) made some surprising revelations after the disappointing performance of the national team in the recent ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
The SLC confirmed that they had included Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera in the preliminary squad for the ODI World Cup 2023, despite both players still being in the recovery phase from their respective injuries.
But the sports ministry barred SLC from including Hasaranga and Chameera in the squad for the 2023 World Cup. In an official statement, the board explained that the National Sports Selection Committee demanded their medical clearance for their inclusion in the team.
Notably, Hasaranga, the talented leg-spinner, underwent surgery for a hamstring injury, while the right-arm speedster Chameera grappled with a pectoral injury, ruling them out of the initial squad. Well, Chameera managed to play in four matches towards the end of the tournament, but Hasaranga couldn’t make it to the team.
The SLC said in a statement: “Following the selection meeting, on the same day, Sri Lanka Cricket sent the squad seeking approval of the National Sports Selection Committee, which comes under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.”
The statement further reads: “In response, the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs sent a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket on September 26, 2023, seeking medical clearance to approve the inclusion of Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, and Dilshan Madushanka.”
The SLC wanted to send the two players to India “with the plan to play them at some point in the tournament after the duo recover from injuries” but the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs did not approve them without medical clearance.
The board accused the sports ministry for misleading both the public and the Sri Lanka Cricket board by presenting unclear information regarding the utilization of the Rs. 289 million from the National Sports Fund. There were differences between the documents obtained of sports ministry by the board and the media release by the ministry itself.
The SLC said in a release, “In the media release issued by the Ministry of Sports on November 13, 2023, it provided details of 47 items on how the SLC’ grant of Rs. 289 million has been spent. However, a document obtained by the SLC on November 23 under the Right to Information Act shows the ministry has spent money on 67 activities instead of 47 mentioned in the media release.”
(With SLC Inputs)
