Chief Selector optimistic despite censure
Despite Sri Lanka being forced to play a qualifying tournament to earn one of the two remaining spots for this year’s World Cup, Chief Cricket Selector Pramodya Wickeramsinghe sees light at the end of the tunnel.
Once the pace-setters in the one day format, Sri Lanka, with seven wins, 14 losses and three no results, stands at number 10 in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League points table where top eight teams earn a direct entry while remaining teams will have to play in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier along with five Associate teams.
“Two years ago, when we took over, we were in a similar situation. We had to qualify for the T20 World Cup and, with a young team, we did that. Yes, it’s a challenge but I know, we will qualify,” said Wickremasinghe, adding that the coaching staff, along with Consultant Coach Mahela Jayawardena, are hatching plans for a successful campaign during the qualifiers.
“I know the players feel the heat much more than anyone else. They feel embarrassed that they could not qualify automatically and I am sure this will pump them up to give their best. I have no doubt they will play well, like they did at the Asia Cup last year”.
Under the current selection committee, Sri Lanka has a decent record across all formats in 2022. However, this took a huge beating this year after they lost 12 of the 14 games played prior to the current series. Adding insult to injury, they only managed once to bat through the full quota of overs in five 50-over games played in 2023 and were bowled out under 100 runs (73 and 76) twice.
“It’s easier said than done. Sri Lanka has historically struggled in India and New Zealand and people who are criticising, have forgotten that we lost even a home series to Zimbabwe back in 2017 and we were eliminated from the first round of the Asia Cup in 2018. In addition there were allegation of match fixing.”
“It’s a long road to recovery and one needs to have faith in the process and let it shape the future of the game rather than trying to influence. We need to understand this slide started back in 2016 and the rut continued for so long. So it takes lot of time and effort to turn the tide. It’s easy for people to criticise without knowing what goes on behind,” he explained.
Since Sri Lanka’s maiden tour to India in 1982, they have traveled 11 times to India and not once managed to win a series, losing 33 of the 44 matches and winning eight–a clear indication of their struggle on Indian soil. Across formats, out of the 240 matches Sri Lanka have competed, they only managed 73 wins, losing 137. (See table). Against New Zealand, Sri Lanka’s record is a little better but not dominating, with a win/loss ratio of 0.707. (See table)
“It’s no excuse, but it’s only now that we have a professional domestic structure. Results will come but it needs time. Had these issues been addressed several years back, we wouldn’t be in this situation today but it’s at least better late than never. If anyone wants to get rid of us (selectors), do so but make sure the process continues because that’s the only way forward,” he said.
Since the T20 World Cup exit last year, some former players have rounded up the selectors, blaming them all for the ‘poor’ results and even attempted to bring in new selectors. Arjuna Ranatunga, who now heads the National Sports Council, has openly said that the selection committee should be reshaped while National Sports Selection Committee which includes Sanath Jayasuriya, refused to reappoint the same committee when their names were sent for consideration for reappointment. Instead they asked for more names.
“Since last November, they were trying to get rid of us. I can remember when Minister Roshan Ranasinghe took over he told me he was happy with the work in progress and to continue the same. But few months later he wanted us out. He is being misguided by his advisers.”
“We gave our short, mid and long-term plans to the former Minister Namal Rajapaksa and we have not deviated from that. In the short term, our plan was to earn direct qualification to T20 World Cup and we did that. In Test cricket, we are No.5 in WTC standings. Had we managed to win the home series against Australia and Pakistan last year, we would have even qualified for the finals. In one dayers, we had three series wins in a row and if one is going to judge the team on the back of two tough tours, it’s not right. It’s work in progress,” Wickremesinghe explained.
“We had the best cricketing brains forming the Technical Committee then and we all worked towards a goal. The tough fitness regime introduced was criticised by some of those former cricketers then. There’s a concerted effort to cripple the progress,” he alleged.
He requested the country’s highest authority to look into the matter and get his Minister in-charge of sports to make informed decisions rather than listening to people with vested interests.
“I hope His Excellency, the President will look into this immediately and see the damage being done. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing waiting for a piece of meat and they need to be identified and exposed,” he insisted.
After being forced to play the qualifier, there is a school of thought that some of the seniors should be brought back into the ODI side. Having being overlooked for nearly two years, Angelo Mathews was recalled for the New Zealand series but he has had very little impact on the team. Wickremasinghe says they are in the process of finalising the team for the qualifiers, and there are chances for two senior batters to come in.
“This could be, Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Janith or even Dinesh Chandimal. It’s a call we have to take in consultation with the coach, captain and the consultant coach. Whoever in the XI is, they should play with responsibility. They have the talent and the skills but lack application. This is what the coaches and everyone involved in the coaching department is working on,” he added.
Asked why Pathum Nissanka was overlooked for the ongoing Test series against Ireland, Wickremasinghe said it was to manage his workload. When Nissanka was kept out of the two-match Test series against Ireland, there was a public outcry, understandably, as there was no clarity over his exclusion. This led to presumptions and stones were thrown at the selectors for excluding one of team’s most consistent players for two Test match series in a row.
Pathum did not play the Tests in New Zealand but, after a sound comeback in the limited over leg, expectations were high among fans for his inclusion to the Test side for the home series against Ireland–to no avail.
“He has a back issue and we cannot risk him this year. Our priority is to keep him fit for the World Cup. After the New Zealand series, we had advice from SLC’s Rehabilitation Manager to rest him. So we did that, and given his back problem, we also need to have a backup opener in Test. This is why we got Nishan Madushaka,” Wickremesinghe elaborated, adding that Matheesha Pathirana had COVID during the New Zealand series (the reason for not playing the three-match series).
