Can the new selectors change Sri Lanka’s fortunes?
After weeks of dilemma, with the revocation of the gazette notification issued to appoint an Interim Committee to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the focus now shifts to the new appointments made by the newly appointed Minister of Sports, Harin Fernando. The first in line to take on the blame for the recent dismal performances of the Men’s team, the Selection Committee, headed by Pramodya Wickramasinghe, is now non-existent.
The new minister has placed his trust on a much younger Selection Committee, which will be headed by former opener and One Day International skipper Upul Tharanga, who is yet to retire from domestic cricket. Completing the five-member panel are Indika de Saram, Ajantha Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, and Tharanga Paranavitana.
Almost all of these selectors have played cricket with the present breed of cricketers at domestic or international level, and what lies ahead is a challenging task for them. The first among many tasks is to pick a white-ball skipper and a fitting team for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour to Sri Lanka, where both sides are set to play three ODIs and three T20Is starting early January.
Following immediately afterwards is Afghanistan’s tour to Sri Lanka, which includes a one-off Test and three ODIs and three T20Is, as well as an away series in Bangladesh, where Sri Lanka is set to play two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is.
With Sri Lanka’s last outing at the concluded ICC Men’s World Cup in India ending in disappointment with a record of two wins out of nine games, the coming three months will be crucial to regain confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup in mid-2024. This is where the role of the selectors comes into play.
Sri Lanka has enjoyed mixed fortunes during the last two years under the previous selection committee. The islanders emerged as T20 Asia Cup winners in 2022 and runners-up in 2023, losing the final embarrassingly to India, who bowled Sri Lanka out for 50 runs. In the midst, Sri Lanka managed to record home series wins against Australia, South Africa, and India, but at the world stage, their showings were totally the opposite.
It’s now part of history, and what’s next is the beginning of a new era, where action should speak louder than words. In this regard, much will depend on the newly appointed selectors, as well as the newly appointed ‘full-time cricket consultant,’ Sanath Jayasuriya. He has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing players and coaches at SLC’s High Performance Centre located at the R. Premadasa Stadium. His tasks include engaging in individual skill development strategies for players and monitoring the coaching staff.
Ultimately, the decisions made by the Tharanga-led panel will be crucial. Despite their achievements as players at the highest levels, the five selectors – including de Saram, Mendis, Perera, and Paranavitana – have limited or no experience in their newly appointed roles.
Out of the five, only de Saram, 50, has a clear coaching record. He has previously coached numerous first-class sides and captained the Panadura Sports Club in the recently concluded Major League Tournament. Similarly, he played a dual role with the Burgher Recreation Club (BRC) during the season they were promoted to premier status.
Despite accumulating 12874 first-class runs, de Saram played only four Tests, 15 ODIs, and a T20 for Sri Lanka. However, given his experience as a veteran player and a successful coach, de Saram could play a crucial role in the new panel.
The chief selector, Tharanga, 38, is a well-known batter and opener for Sri Lanka. With experience in 31 Tests, 235 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, Tharanga was last seen in action on December 3 for the Superstars in the Legends League. His credentials as a player are exceptional, as is his attitude and conduct. However, his potential contribution, especially without previous experience in the new role, is a point to consider.
Mendis, now 38, made a strong impression on the cricketing world by dominating a star-studded Indian side in his debut Test series, claiming 26 wickets and breaking Sir Alec Bedser’s record for a three-match debut series. He represented Sri Lanka in 19 Tests, 87 ODIs, and 39 T20Is, until batters from other teams began to decipher his enigmatic carrom ball. Despite this, he continued to play in legends leagues, with his last appearance on September 25, 2022. While he has shifted his focus to coaching, he is yet to establish himself in this new role.
In the 43 Test matches Dilruwan Perera played for Sri Lanka, he proved to be a formidable force, securing eight five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls in a game. He also participated in 13 ODIs and three T20Is. After retiring in 2021, Perera, 41, continued to inspire young spinners while playing domestically. His last game was on November 17, for BRC.
Paranavitana, a Test specialist with 32 matches under his belt, has amassed an impressive first-class tally of 14940 runs. Despite last playing domestic cricket in 2020, he recently expressed his desire to pursue umpiring with the goal of reaching the international panel. However, at 41, Paranavitana has been out of the spotlight in recent years.
The current group of selectors lack experience at the national level, raising concerns that their decisions may face criticism if they fail to impress or justify their selection policies. The previous selection panel, led by Wickremasinghe and including Romesh Kaluwitharana and Hemantha Wickramaratne, all possessed years of experience in similar capacities. They implemented a youth-based policy that drew criticism from former players, despite unearthing several future champions.
Following their appointment as selectors after the 2019 World Cup, many senior players were sidelined. Dimuth Karunaratne was removed as ODI skipper, with Kusal Perera and later Dasun Shanaka taking over before Kusal Mendis assumed leadership during the 2023 World Cup.
The upcoming appointments for leadership roles in the white-ball teams will be intriguing. Kusal Mendis, who led the team during the World Cup following injury regular skipper Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga are both potential candidates to take over from Shanaka.
The approach of the new selection committee will be closely watched, especially considering the previous committee’s youth-based policy and other controversial decisions, such as the implementation of new fitness guidelines.
There have been speculations about the new selection committee considering inviting former players who retired prematurely from international cricket, although it remains unclear if this is part of their strategy to blend youth and experience, an area overlooked by the previous selectors. The integration of returning players into the system remains a question.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to play 10 Test matches as part of the Test Championship cycle, along with 10 bilateral series and the T20 World Cup in 2024. With Dimuth Karunaratne announcing his intention to step down as skipper, the new selectors will need to finalise his replacement as they strive to improve Sri Lanka’s global ranking from seventh.
In 2024, Sri Lanka is set to play 21 ODIs and an equal number of T20Is against various teams. As a short-term strategy, the new selectors, led by Tharanga, could consider the potential return of retired players as a mean to gradually strengthen the team.
The new selectors, who have experienced the domestic structure as players and understand its standards, will face a tougher challenge than their predecessors. Their ability to implement policies that foster the team’s growth and secure a spot in the 2027 World Cup will be closely monitored.