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Chief selector Kaluperuma disappointed
Lankan cricket at crossroads
By Marlon Fernandopulle
The inevitable has finally happened and reality has dawned. Sri Lanka Cricket is at the crossroads and in deep crisis. A situation which was pointed out by a few past cricketers and administrators years ago, but was never taken as a serious issue by the successive administrators either due to a lack of foresight or due to a fear of losing their own positions.

Development of Cricket was only confined to press releases and Board room talk. Often plans were drawn and glossy presentations were made in front of the media, but little or nothing of it was ever implemented. Talk of revamping the Premier Cricket tournament, reducing the teams and making it more competitive, preparing fast pitches, changing the school cricket structure are some of the more important aspects of the development of cricket that time and again surfaced but never went beyond that stage. Hence today Sri Lanka Cricket is going through one of its darkest periods which is clearly reflected by the current team’s performance. After losing nine out of their last 10 outings the immediate future looks no better as they take on World Champions Australia and a fighting South African team next week in eight more encounters. Will Sri Lanka go down tamely as they have been doing right now or will there be a silver lining for Marvan Atapattu’s team is the big question that begs an answer.

Speaking to the Sunday Times the Chairman of Selectors Lalith Kaluperuma expressed his disappointment at the team’s performances lately. “Obliviously I am very disappointed in the way they are playing today. We are all aware that they are capable of playing much better than what they are playing at present”. When asked as to outline any reason for the current downward trend the former Sri Lankan off spinner said, “I feel that the batsmen are always throwing their wickets when they are on top. They are always leaving it to someone else to finish the job. What they do not realize is every time a new batsman comes, he takes time to settle down which results in the run rate creeping up which eventually puts more pressure on you”.

Kaluperuma is of the opinion that one way of getting over such situation is to speak to the batsmen individually and drive the importance of these facts to them.” As a selector I have been in touch with the captain Marvan (Atapattu), Coach Tom (Moody) and Manager Michael (Tissera). In such situations I think it is very important for these people to speak to the players and pump them up mentally”.

Grooming youngsters
Kaluperuma and his co-selectors will now have some consolation after youngsters Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak finally have come good. “We are happy that Tharanga and Mubarak two players who were persisted with have been among the runs.” The selector’s policy of grooming youngsters for the future was demonstrated once again with the inclusion of Michael Vandort and Chamara Kapugedera. Although a fraction late the inclusion of Van Dort is commendable and hopes that the tall left hander will grab the opportunity with both hands.

SLC should have an inquiry
With the Manager Michael Tissera confirming in his Indian tour report that vice captain Chaminda Vaas has complained to him that senior players on tour were not speaking to him it is upto SLC to seriously look into the matter and conduct an investigation. The Sunday Times exclusively reported the matter on the eve of the third test against India much to the surprise of the cricket fans and officials here. Thus it is evident today that the players are not together (or were not together) and team spirit is at a low ebb. Is this reflecting on the teams current performance?

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