Problems on the field for Sri Lanka, after their toothless display and three-day loss to Australia in the first Test, have been compounded by controversies off it.
On Wednesday, January 30, Sri Lanka Cricket stated they had curtailed the role of Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach, in team selection on tour.
Sri Lanka’s playing XI will here on be decided by the captain and team manager, after consulting the national selection committee.
Sri Lanka will begin their two-Test series against Australia on Thursday as massive underdogs.
Nevertheless, using @CricViz data, @benjonescricket believes that there might be a way for the visitors to cause a massive upset.https://t.co/x66C0OGhkc
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 21, 2019
“SLC wishes to announce that the team selection, while the team is on tour, shall be made by a committee comprising of team manager and captain in consultation with the National Selection Committee,” the board stated in a release.
In excerpts from the letter, published by ESPNCricinfo, Perera described the team was “a laughing stock to the whole country” due to these exchanges on social media, and has said it put the team’s preparations for the World Cup 2019 in jeopardy.
“When these kinds of accusations are made by the incumbent captain’s wife on social media, it is hard to prevent the general public from believing and further slandering me in various ways,” he wrote.
“There has been a general sense of unease in the dressing room ever since (the Facebook post) and to be honest the environment was rather unpleasant for the youngsters especially when two senior players were not on the same page.
“We are at the verge of the World Cup. Our focus and attention should be on performing well at it instead of bickering over social media on pointless issues. This team is in dire need of steady leadership and guidance.”
