SL cricket selection committee resigns

29 August 2017 04:38 pm - 40 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Sanath Jayasuriya-led National Cricket Selection Committee quit today after handing over their letter of resignation to the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, calling the ugly incident that took place towards the end of Sunday’s third ODI against India in Pallekele as ‘the last straw’.

The committee comprising, Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ranjith Madurusinghe, Eric Upashantha and Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha were two months into a six-month extension which was to end in December.

In the letter, written on behalf of the committee, Jayasuriya said it was painful to see the fans reacting the way they did – throwing plastic bottles onto the field – with Sri Lanka heading towards another defeat.

“As a player who has represented the country at all levels and as a former Captain and currently Chairman of Selectors, last Sunday's incident at the ground was the last straw,” the Chairman of Selectors wrote.

“Cricket has been and will always be my life so it was particularly painful to see our own fans attack our own players.”

The Selection Committee’s policies had come under severe criticism for the team’s performances over the last year, having suffered embarrassing defeats in South Africa, and at home to Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and India.

“I acknowledge that it has been a very disappointing year,” Jayasuriya said, adding, “However, just one year ago we beat Australia at home 3-0. This was an unforgettable moment. We have some very talented boys and I am sure in time they will take cricket to the heights that it once was.”

He also called on fans to support the team during this difficult period.

“We go with our eyes full of tears but with our heads held high. To all the fans we say please have faith in the boys they will deliver to the boys we say believe in your ability and believe in the fans they will be with you ultimately,” Jayasuriya also wrote.

Meanwhile, Lasith Malinga was handed over the captaincy for the fourth ODI in Colombo on Thursday, after stand-in Skipper Chamara Kapugedera was ruled out with an injury.

"Malinga will captain the team and since Dinesh Chandimal and Danushka Gunathilaka are both out, we have called up Dilshan Munaweera to the squad,” Jayasuriya told the Daily Mirror. (Shehan Daniel)

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Comments - 40

Citizen Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:44 PM

Thank Heavens!

Premalal Tuesday, 29 August 2017 07:56 PM

Don't count your chickens, they will be back. Just wait until the boys start winning.

Perumal Wednesday, 30 August 2017 07:19 AM

You cannot attend to the selector's job with a political mindset

Criceter Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:26 AM

Let the cricketers vote for selecting the team. after all, they play cricket and not the selectors and it will be very much cheaper!!!

Be Fair Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:44 PM

Thank god this was not referred to the 3rd Umpire for Video evidence

jaya Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:53 PM

Why was the resignation of the Selection Committee members handed to the Minister and not the Cricket Board. Is the Minister now going to appoint a new Selection Committee, or will it be the Board. It is time to look at the entire structure of cricket administration. We cannot afford to have politicians run our country's cricket.

IRS Tuesday, 29 August 2017 04:57 PM

Inaction culminated with right action. Thank you and wish you'll good luck for all your future endeavors.

Upul Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:07 PM

Hopefully a new era will bring good luck to SL cricket..!!!

Appuhamy Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:12 PM

Very good. What about the rest of the administration ?

Wije Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:15 PM

Jayasooria selected 7 captains and 43 players during his time as the chief selector, A man who does not know the meaning of selector should have resigned long ago. For the sake of cricket and the country just get lost man.

raj Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:21 PM

Now it is the turn of SLCB members to resign en masse

Samitha Tuesday, 29 August 2017 05:22 PM

Why only selectors? How about the others ?

mnsmart Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:02 PM

Better late than never

Huna Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:02 PM

This is not the first time a selection committee headed by SJ were forced to resign after messing things up . Hope they have learned their lesson now at least

GMJ Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:25 PM

Now if we can only get rid of the soodu karayas.....

Rnajith Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:38 PM

No respectable selector will accept this post as long as this administration is on duty. Don't expect any good soon.

ANTON Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:40 PM

DEFINITELY WE WILL WIN FORTH AND FIFTH ODIS

Hemaka Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:41 PM

Let's all hope for a better committee.

baby Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:45 PM

zimbabwe made angelo to resign , now india made the selection committee resign.. SL cricket wots next ????no good news for the fans since late.

Sambo Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:47 PM

I think this is a very good start and in the same way many others including the president of SLC should resign and give way for new blood. All the different coachers too should call it a day.

TONY Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:54 PM

WHY RESIGN. LOOK AT OUR MP'S THEY DONT RESIGN UNLESS THEY GET KICKED OUT

TONY Tuesday, 29 August 2017 06:59 PM

ASK GURA TO RESIGN OR PRUNE HIS DUTIES AND EVERYTHING WILL BE BACK ON TRACK

Dee Tuesday, 29 August 2017 07:08 PM

Oh. The pillow is being changed. Will it cure a headache?

Wise Donkey Tuesday, 29 August 2017 07:17 PM

Is there any other alternative? Definitely no!

Huna Tuesday, 29 August 2017 10:41 PM

You just answered your own question , multiple personality disorder ?

Ranjit Tuesday, 29 August 2017 07:22 PM

'Good riddance of bad rubbish'

Raj Tuesday, 29 August 2017 07:46 PM

Why did the selectors wait so long to resign. Where is that injury story now?. They pick players who has "brain fade" to captain, then we lose and the selectors resign. Rest of the administration please resign before you are thrown out by the fans

ceylon Tuesday, 29 August 2017 07:59 PM

may be our crickers might afraid when see the animal on the flag. via DM Android App

Stunned Citizen Wednesday, 30 August 2017 12:18 AM

Time to kick all the Jockeys and Lackeys out of the board and make it professional accountable body.

ET Wednesday, 30 August 2017 12:19 AM

Time for Gura to resign too. And Thilanga to be out of all cricketing matters. He can administrate all other than match strategy, selections, selection of coaches, selection of support staff. Also Upul Tharanga should resign from captaincy as he cannot get the team to bowl 50 overs within time limit. Kapu has to step back from vice captaincy as he had a brain fade and decided to bat when at the team meeting it was decided to bowl first.

Rama Wednesday, 30 August 2017 01:52 AM

time to choose a fourth wife.

Gajang Wednesday, 30 August 2017 05:47 AM

Cricket board should follow! Appoint Roshan Mahanam as the interim President and Aravinda as the selection committee Chairman!!!

AUSLANKA Wednesday, 30 August 2017 06:40 AM

Bring back Kapila Wijegunawardena for selection again.

lanka Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:15 AM

Any wardena coming will not win!! include minority plays

Nihal Amarasekera Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:12 AM

Hopefully; this is the beginning of the beginning.

Lanka Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:12 AM

Don't focus only for majority plays, include the Minority plays to the National team as other countries doing.

nick Wednesday, 30 August 2017 08:32 AM

if Im the president of this country to get the cricket win just the few things i will do... put mahela as the head coach sanga as the president of slc & give Angelow back the captaincy & get rid of all the political link individual out of cricket via DM Android App

Dennis Reeves Wednesday, 30 August 2017 11:06 AM

Now sports minister should listen to Arjuna and re-organize the select committee as Sumathipala don't know anything about cricket.

Manuel Benjamin Wednesday, 30 August 2017 11:07 AM

Mr. Sumathipala, you also should tender your resignation.

Manuel Benjamin Wednesday, 30 August 2017 11:07 AM

Mr. Sumathipala, you also should tender your resignation.

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SL cricket selection committee resigns

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