Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga has slammed the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board for agreeing to host a “second-string Indian cricket team” for a limited-overs series this month, saying it is an “insult” to the islanders.
As India's major stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah are in England for an upcoming five-match Test series and a recent WTC 2021 Final, the BCCI sent a young team with half a dozen uncapped players led by Shikhar Dhawan and coached by Rahul Dravid for a white-ball series in Sri Lanka.
India and Sri Lanka are set to play three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals starting on July 13. The tourists have just completed their compulsory quarantine in Sri Lanka.
Ranatunga, who was the head of an interim committee politically appointed in 2007-08, blamed the SLC to agree to play against a weaker Indian cricket team due to television marketing needs.
As reported by PTI, Ranatunga told reporters at his residence: “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.”
He further added, “India sent their best team to England and sent a weaker side to play here. I blame our board for that.”
The former Sri Lankan skipper also spoke about the current poor run of the national team in the international arena. Sri Lanka was whitewashed by England in a white-ball series last month.
On three Sri Lankan players breaching bio-bubble protocols in England, Ranatunga blamed the administration for the lack of discipline within the team, while recalling his stint when he did not allow any misconduct.
He signed off by calling for the overhauling of the local administration and advocated the appointment of an interim committee to manage the SLC.
(With PTI Inputs)
