After a string of losses for the Islanders, the President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Thilanga Sumathipala, who’s pretty adamant in approach on Tuesday, has publicly denied relinquishing from the premium post of gentleman’s game, in a country where it is being religiously followed by the die-hard fans.
“There is no need to resign,” Sumathipala was quoted as saying by news wire PTI.
Sumathipala, who has backed his national selection committee and the SLC administration, revealed there is no slip-up following the six consecutive losses as the team has gone downhill which eventually witnessed Lanka team going down the hill owing to the poor show.
“The administration is not at fault for the team’s poor showing,” Sumathipala said today.
The 53-year-old Colombo-born top-brass Sumathipala has further vehemently opposed the criticism from the certain quarters for being at the fault as a manager following the loss of ongoing five-match One-day International series (0-3) with two to go after being drubbed by Virat Kohli-led side by 3-0 in the Seagram’s Royal Stag Test Series.
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It’s pertinent to mention, the SLC boss was grilled by the former World Cup Winning Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga for the haplessness of the Sri Lankan team, as he did not pay any heed to his resignation call up.
Earlier, following the humiliating loss, the former 53-year-old Lankan cricketer Ranatunga voiced for the sacking of Sumathipala to set-up the acting committee – to look after the SLC.
The Petroleum minister Ranatunga also dispatched a letter to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe including the President Maithripala Sirisena, in a bid to set the house in order while overhauling the cricket in a county.
Pertinently, Sumathipala, who revealed it will take at least four years to yield long-term results in cricket, was appointed as the President of the SLC in 2016 and is now working as a deputy speaker in Lankan Parliament.
On the other side, the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has shown a keen interest to plug in the loopholes following the thorough meeting with the members of the Board.
Moreover, the two stalwarts of cricket and former Lankan skippers Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara has urged the body to overhaul the domestic circuit which includes the prime focus on the first-class game.
The Lankan side has also faced outrage of the fans in the third ODI at Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy when bottle throwing interrupted the game.
After slipping in rankings across all three formats, the Sri Lanka is eventually in troubled waters as they are going to play a qualification round to make a cut in the 2019 World Cup which is scheduled to be held in England and Wales if they went on to lose the remainder of the two ODI games.