BeyondHeadlines Sports Desk
It is almost sure that Sri Lankan players would leave their respective franchises in IPL4 and return back to join the national camp for the England tour by May 5. The Sri Lankan government and its board have decided to stick to their decision of recalling their national players back as early as possible from the ongoing IPL tournament.
Earlier the players were given a no objection certificate to play in the IPL and were asked to join the camp directly in England by May 20. However, things are now going on a different track with many ifs and buts coming in lime-light, since Sri Lanka lost to India in the finals of ICC World Cup 2011.
Kumar Sangakkara quit his captaincy a day after the loss, followed by Mahela Jayawardene, who relinquished the vice-captaincy post the very next day. The four member selection committee led by former batsman Arvinda De Silva also followed the suit and submitted their resignations to the sports ministery
Accordingly eleven Sri Lankans including the star players Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena and the newly appointed Sri Lankan captain Tilakaratne Dilshan would have to abide by the Sri Lankan decision. Former Sri Lankan spin wizard, Muttiah Muralitharan, who resigned from all the three formats of the cricket after the World Cup expressed dissatisfaction on the act.
“The players were told to come on May 5. It is the fault of SLC because they signed the NOC till May 20 so if they change it to May 5 it is something wrong,” Muralitharan said. He is currently playing in the Kochi Tuskers Team along with Mahela Jayewardene.
However, Sri lanka sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage denied such allegations. He insisted
That the recall decision was a unanimous board decision. He also denied that it was taken in haste following the WC defeat or the shabby treatment of Lankan politicians at the WC final in Mumbai.
“The recall and the final treatment are two separate issues with no links to each other,” said Aluthgamage.
BCCI’s formal request to let Lankans play till May 15 in the cash rich league was rejected by the SLC board. “The BCCI has asked us to allow the players to stay until May 22. But we have to take decisions, which are in our interests,” stressed Aluthgamage.
Kumar Sangakkara, the outgoing skipper, who is currently leading Deccan Chargers showed faith in his SLC board decision but even expressed a hope that the two boards would sort it out soon.
BCCI is yet to reply to the harsh statements made by the Sri Lankan Sports minister and its board. Will this sudden change strain the relation between the two neighbouring cricket boards? Only time will tell!
