The secretary Interim Committee Sri Lanka Cricket Nishantha Ranatunga says that Sri Lanka could have played the two games scheduled against the West Indies at the Khettarama Stadium, but, pulled them out mainly due to the concerns of Chief Curator Anuruddha Polonnowita.
Speaking to the Sunday Times on the issue Ranatunga said: “We could have persuaded the ICC to give us permission to play at Hambantota and Khettarama, but the Chief Curator Anuruddha Polonnowita was concerned.
“We have to play ten matches including the practice games during the next one and half months on the four strips that has been prepared for the World Cup and the curator was concerned about the heavy work load and adding two more internationals to it would have been too much. “At the same time even the ICC advised us on the same lines”.
However it is learned that the some of the senior Lankan players were very unhappy about the matches being shifted elsewhere as they were planning to make their final assessment of the wicket and draw up their game plan for the vital engagements, especially against Pakistan and Australia after playing the West Indies on the Premadasa World Cup tracks where a quarter-final and a semi-final match each (Which may see Sri Lanka playing). |
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