SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS (DECEMBER 2023) Compiled by Victor Melder
Members of the national selection panel are set to be the first casualties post World Cup in which the national cricket team had a disastrous campaign. Despite Sri Lanka finishing ninth in the ten-team event and failing to qualify for the Champions Trophy, none holding key positions within the national cricket team had stepped down. Although previous Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and other bodies attached to the Sports Ministry were keen to change the selection panel headed by former fast bowler Pramodya Wickremasinghe, there was tough resistance from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). However, with Harin Fernando taking charge as Sports Minister following the dismissal of Ranasinghe, Fernando had discussed changes moving forward with fresh thinking coming in. Accordingly, SLC will advertise for selectors and in due time will pick a competent team.Under Pramodya, Sri Lanka ended up playing three qualifying round tournaments to go through for ICC events, a trend that had never happened previously. The selectors decision to bench half a dozen seniors from the white ball sides also didn’t go down too well and eventually they had to bite the bullet and fall back on the likes of Angelo Mathews. However, one of the finest all-rounders Sri Lanka had Thisara Perera had quit international cricket by then. Former captain Marvan Atapattu had been approached to take over as new Chief Selector, but The Island learns that he had declined the role and wasn’t keen to be involved in cricket in any capacity at the moment. Former fast bowler Ashantha de Mel is a possible candidate to become the Chief Selector again. De Mel has had several stints with the last being from 2019 to 2021 and the highlight during his tenure was Sri Lanka becoming the first Asian nation to win a Test series in South Africa. It remains to be seen which other former cricketers will apply for the post of selectors. SLC is also likely to not renew the contracts of several individuals within the coaching set up of the national cricket team. However, former captain and Consultant Coach Mahela Jayawardene is likely to get an extension despite an embarrassing World Cup campaign, Sri Lanka’s worst since 1999. Sri Lanka’s next campaign will be the bilateral white ball series against Zimbabwe at home in January. All key slots are expected to be filled by that series. – Rex Clementine (Daily Island, 1.12.2023)
The Customs Department is currently conducting an investigation into the under-invoicing of values of three LED screens imported by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) at three international cricket stadiums in Sri Lanka, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament today. State Minister Semasinghe said this when Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa revealed that the invoiced value of the three screens bought for Premadasa, Dambulla and Pallakele stadiums have been valued at Rs 6.5 million though the real value has been Rs. 360,000. (Daily Mirror, 1.12.2023)
Minister of Sports Harin Fernando on Tuesday (Dec.12) signed a new gazette notification to revoke the decision appointing an Interim Committee for Sri Lanka Cricket in efforts to lift the ICC suspension Taking to X (formerly Twitter),he stated that “Today, I signed a gazette to revoke the decision appointing an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket, aiming to lift our ICC suspension. I’ve also written to the ICC, seeking their observations on the Auditor General’s report on SLC, and to the AG Dept for future actions.” (Daily News, 13.12.2023)
The newly appointed Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will commence its official duties by selecting the national squad for the 2024 Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Cricket said. Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Harin Fernando, has appointed a ‘Cricket Selection Committee’ for a two-year term to oversee the selection of national teams. The newly appointed committee, effective immediately, comprises Upul Tharanga as Chairman, Ajantha Mendis, Indika De Saram, Tharanga Paranavitana and Dilruwan Perera as members. SLC said that the Sports Minister made these appointments based on the nominations received from Sri Lanka Cricket. (Daily Mirror, 13.12.2023)
Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as Cricket Consultant to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Accordingly, the cricketing legend will oversee all teams that attend SLC’s High Performance Centre. The appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya marks a strategic initiative by Sri Lanka Cricket to harness the expertise and experience of one of the country’s cricketing legends in fostering the growth and development of the sport. Jayasuriya, who has previously served as the Chairman of Selectors, brings a wealth of cricketing knowledge and insight to his new role as Cricket Consultant. (Daily Mirror, 14.12.2023)
Sports Minister Harin Fernando said in Parliament yesterday (13) that construction work of Polonnaruwa Hingurakgoda International Test Cricket Stadium is to be started next year and an amount of 1.5 billion rupees has been allocated for the development of small pitches in rural areas. The Minister said that under the leadership of the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and with the participation of Sidath Wettamuni and with the participation of Aravinda de Silva, small pitches will be developed and in addition, the support of the army will be taken for the development of small pitches. The Minister also stated that the construction of the Hingurakgoda International Airport will be done next year and at the same time an international test cricket stadium can be built to improve sports tourism. The Minister said that a programme is being implemented to promote cricket and other sports by contacting organizations like Dialog and Telecom and the relevant organizations have been requested to provide a free pass to the children of the province.The Minister also said that due to the political appointments made in the Ministry of Sports, the activities of the Ministry have been hampered and steps will be taken to provide solutions to the related problems within a month. The Minister said that a pavilion was created without a field in Bingiriya and that a special committee should be set up to find out how such destruction happened. (Daily News, 15.12.2023)
Sri Lanka Cricket announced its final squads for both the ODI and T20I for the upcoming ODI and T20 series against Zimbabwe. Angelo Mathews, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Binura Fernando have been selected for the Sri Lanka preliminary squad for the upcoming 3-match T20 series against Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean team is set to tour Sri Lanka in early January for an ODI and T20I series. The 22-member Sri Lankan squad for the T20 tournament has been finalized and has received approval from Sports Minister Harin Fernando. Wanindu Hasaranga will lead the T20 squad, with Charith Asalanka as the vice-captain. Angelo Mathews makes a return to the Sri Lankan T20 squad after last featuring in 2021. Additionally, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Binura Fernando, and Akila Dhananjaya have also been included in the T20 squad. Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis will lead the ODI squad, with Charith Asalanka as the vice-captain. Sri Lanka squad for the T20 series against Zimbabwe:
- Wanindu Hasaranga – Captain
2. Charith Asalanka – Vice Captain
3. Pathum Nissanaka
4. Kusal Mendis
5. Sadeera Samarawickrama
6. Dasun Shanaka
7. Angelo Mathews
8. Dhananjaya de Silva
9. Maheesh Theekshana
10. Kusal Janith Perera
11. Bhanuka Rajapaksa
12. Kamindu Mendis
13. Dunith Wellalage
14. Akila Dananjaya
15. Jeffrey Vandersay
16. Chamika Karunaratne
17. Dushmantha Chameera
18. Dilshan Madushanka
19. Binura Fernando
20. Nuwan Thushara
21. Pramod Madushan
22. Matheesha Pathirana
Sri Lanka squad for the ODI series against Zimbabwe:
- Kusal Mendis – Captain
2. Charith Asalanka – Vice Captain
3. Pathum Nissanka
4. Avishka Fernando
5. Sadeera Samarawickrama
6. Sahan Arachchige
7. Nuwanidu Fernando
8. Dasun Shanaka
9. Kamindu Mendis
10. Chamika Karunaratne
11. Janith Liyanage
12. Wanindu Hasaranga
13. Maheesh Theekshana
14. Dilshan Madushanka
15. Dushmantha Chameera
16. Dunith Wellalage
17. Pramod Madushan
18. Asitha Fernando
19. Akila Dananjaya
20. Jeffrey Vandersay
21. Chamika Gunasekera
(Daily Mirror, 31.12.2023)
