The controversy surrounding the fate of talented wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Perera has taken Sri Lankan cricket by storm. The southpaw was sent home from the tour of New Zealand after testing positive for a banned substance. Soon there were quotes of individuals, who openly supported Perera and said that the banned substance was a part of a “medical treatment” Perera was going under and not any performance enhancing drug.
First, it was Sri Lankan head coach Jerome Jayaratne who in his own words cleared Perera of any wrong doing. After Jayaratne, it is now time for the Sri Lankan Sports Minister to back the youngster. The Sri Lankan Sports Minister made his views crystal clear when he said, “We are doing all we can to defend him.”
The Minister went on to allege that this was a conspiracy to keep the opener out of the T20 World Cup next year in India. Perera has been a key member in Sri Lanka’s T20I side and was a part of the victorious team of the 2014 T20 World Cup. “We are wondering if this allegation is a conspiracy to keep him out of next year’s T20 World Cup,” the Sports Minister said. With some highly influential individuals supporting Perera, this will be a massive respite for the southpaw.