By Dhammika Ratnaweera
The ousting of Sri Lanka cricket captain Angelo Mathews from leadership and subsequently from the ODI team created a much public outcry that the Sri Lankan cricket selectors had acted in an unjust manner to sideline the Sri Lanka’s leading ODI run scorer of the last year from the team. In the aftermath, Some national newspapers carried that the Sports Minister Faizer Mustapha had written to the Chief Executive Officer to remove the cricket selectors.
Replying to recent media reports, the sports minister on Thursday dismissed all claims that he had intervened in any of the proceedings at Sri Lanka Cricket as of late. “I have not instructed anyone to change the cricket selectors. As the sports minister, I only supervise if the necessary protocols were followed in selections. It is upto Sri Lanka Cricket to do needfuls” said sports minister.
He further said that he never used his ministerial powers to influence any decision on any sport and his duty is only to approve or disapprove if necessary and the decisions are taken by respective sports bodies. “Sri Lanka Cricket is going through a bad time and there are many experts addressing the issue at the moment and I think I should not interfere in their decisions for the betterment of the sport” explained Mustapha.
Reaching the heights of cricketing crisis, Sri Lanka was eliminated in the first round from the Asia cup after getting beaten by Bangladesh and Afghanistan. “Winning or loosing is part of the sport, we have to accept it, but the plight of Sri Lanka cricket team has to be changed and those responsible are working on it, taking hard decisions that could be unpopular but necessary” added the sports minister.
The minister assured his full support to the cricket officials, administrators and the supporting staff to help country’s cricket get on the right track affirming that this is not the time to change a national cricket selectors, whom he thinks are doing a tough task at the moment.
Meanawhile two former Sri Lankan captains Bandula Warnapura and Roshan Mahanama said exclusively to srilankasports.com that they were surprised to see their names and pictures on newspapers as next cricket selectors. ” There is no truth in it and no one contacted us so far” were the replies of from both former captains.
Mahanama said that even there was an invitation, he would not want to come forward to take part in any role in Sri Lanka Cricket, until the SLC constitution and Sports Law changes for good. In contrary Badula Warnapura said he was sure to do a good job if vested with full authority without any political interferences.
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