India tour: Arjuna slams Cricket officials

14 November 2014 08:55 am - 40 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Refusing to blame the players for the ODI debacle in India, former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga said the country's administrators are responsible for the fiasco which has disturbed the team's World Cup preparations as well.

Sri Lanka are down 0-4 in the five-match series, which was hurriedly arranged after West Indies cricketers pulled out of India due to a pay dispute with their Board.

Ranatunga said he holds Sri Lanka Cricket, the Sports Ministry, his former teammates Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu and skipper Angelo Mathews responsible for the side's poor show so far.

His comments came after Sri Lanka lost the fourth ODI at the Eden Gardens following Rohit Sharma's record-breaking 264-run knock.

"In trying to please India they have taken Sri Lanka Cricket into a depressing situation. Jayasuriya (Chairman of selectors) Atapattu (the national coach) made us believe that the Indian tour would come in good stead for our World Cup preparations," Ranatunga said.

"This has been proved false now. We were aware that the Sri Lanka team was attending a fitness programme when the decision was made to go on the Indian tour. These are the results of poor planning," Ranatunga said.

Ironically it was Ranatunga's younger brother, Nishantha, the SLC Secretary, who was accused of arbitrarily agreeing for the tour after the pullout of the West Indians.

Nishantha Ranatunga defended his decision saying the SLC's executive committee had backed him in the decision. (The Indian Express)

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Comments - 40

Ovil De Fransz Saturday, 15 November 2014 10:53 AM

I think this is a blessing in disguise because India might think we are easy meat to beat. But come the world cup our boys will be ready to take India to the cleaners. Common boys you can do it.

Nevil Wanni Saturday, 15 November 2014 01:35 AM

mentally not prepared for the tour of hindustan..only for money they went.vs england sure srilanka will come strongly via DM Android App

Suq Madique Saturday, 15 November 2014 06:03 AM

Knowing how small minded and vindictive the SLC is the players understandably opted to do as told rather than refuse and be victimized forever. Money seems to be the only objective of the SLC NOT cricket which has only become a means to earning money.

asif pathan Saturday, 15 November 2014 07:03 AM

The poor performance is the only reason for the Lankans defeat. Imagine what have been the view of Arjuna if SL would have won this series?

npathirana Saturday, 15 November 2014 07:54 AM

Yes. But People have to safeguard Policies, Not families. They may have Unity but when it comes to Policy they differ. Arjuna have been a strict Policy man Throughout his Life where as Nishantha only a Business at any Cost Type. Prasanna in the mIddle like. Still They sit at the Dinner table together I hope. Whereas Rajapaksas Play to the Gallery

CricFanVLP Saturday, 15 November 2014 08:44 AM

Well, going by the past records this might be the start of the world cup winning path. Before the 2007 and 2011 World Cups Sri Lanka were beaten in a Bilateral tournament held in India by a huge margin. Both times Sri Lanka bounced back and came to the finals. So I think we will draw inspiration from this and we will come to Finals this time also. With the Help of Trevor Penny and Jeremy Snape we might win it this time as well

mack Saturday, 15 November 2014 09:24 AM

simple greedy for cash via DM Android App

mnsmart Saturday, 15 November 2014 10:12 AM

Your Malli baba is the culprit, why leave him alone?

calee Saturday, 15 November 2014 10:30 AM

Cricketing chinthanaya

Santha Saturday, 15 November 2014 10:52 AM

How come the decision to make the tour was taken not even one hour after the West Indies announced that their tour comes to an end with India. Are the SLC board members ready all the time for meetings just like this. Mr. Sports Minister, it is time that you get some better people to run the one and only game that we are popular in the world. If not very soon we will be like Zimbabwe or Bangladesh. This year we have had it so good and due to this unwanted tour we have really made a mess of the year 2014.

KAMILQATAR Saturday, 15 November 2014 01:36 AM

lets forget the past.our cricketers will rise up

Nims Saturday, 15 November 2014 10:58 AM

Arjuna, please do NOT forget how Pakistan and India stood by us 1996 when Australia and Windies refused to visit Sri Lanka. I can still remember how you thanked Azar and Wasim after the tour. Very often things happen due to unavoidable circumstances. So please do not point finger at anyone

Indu Jayawickrama Saturday, 15 November 2014 11:21 AM

I watched the match at Hyderabad ground. There I saw our players did not have unity when fielding.

Nishan Saturday, 15 November 2014 11:47 AM

It might have been a bad idea; but still does not excuse the very poor showing of the team in India; their disciplines on the field including their strategies have been poor. The Indians are most vulnerable around their off stump yet we persisted with bowling into their pads. You would hope an international cricketer would be able to execute his skills so much better no matter how rusty he is. Think this would be a good wake up call to the team.

wasantha Saturday, 15 November 2014 01:44 PM

Not only Cricket all sports gone down in sir-lanka due to bad management. there is something wrong in somewhere.

KESHANN Saturday, 15 November 2014 02:08 PM

all because of your donkey brother !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jan Saturday, 15 November 2014 02:18 PM

Mmmmmm like the Bandaranayakes

lal Saturday, 15 November 2014 07:57 PM

Cricket board responsible this failure.This is orginsed to earn money for then cricket board not for players.They are helpless ,if they refused they will victimized. Nissantha does what he want.

Waco Saturday, 15 November 2014 09:31 PM

Do not try to control the players . That is micro management, Facilitate and empower them.

anamda Sunday, 16 November 2014 06:02 AM

Mr. Kunusoop even the best team in the world could loose if you are mentally depressed as you know the political system here always Sucks.

Sylvia Haik Friday, 14 November 2014 06:59 PM

We rue the day the government put their oars in to Sri Lankan cricket. Their objective was to share the glory after the 1996 World Cup but with that achieved, they should have stepped back instead of poking their fingers into player selections, games and tactics, which they know nothing about.

CHANDRASOMA Friday, 14 November 2014 03:01 PM

When things go wrong finding fault is natural. It does not mean India can do this all the time. Now complacency of every body is eradicated. Fine! When back home do hard practice, identify the picture and get Psychology rite. We can recover.

George Friday, 14 November 2014 03:11 PM

Discontent among players is a major cause for decline in performance. There are mumblings from senior players lately. putting all this behind let us accept we were soundly beaten by a better team.

Chandra Friday, 14 November 2014 03:16 PM

Seems Ranathunga family is not as Rajapaksha family (no unity!!!!!)

Nihal Amarasekera Friday, 14 November 2014 03:38 PM

What if?

Ranil Friday, 14 November 2014 04:18 PM

You should be the common candidate

usoof Friday, 14 November 2014 04:20 PM

Undoubtedly you have to give credit to Indian team We are professional cricketers do not make lame excuses

Chandrasoma Friday, 14 November 2014 05:57 PM

Then Banki Moon will have to interfere

Upali Friday, 14 November 2014 06:02 PM

Agreed with Mr. Arjuna Ranatunga. Players were not ready for crash programs of the SLC.

kalu Friday, 14 November 2014 06:20 PM

we have lost due to poor cricket. and poor skills specially in bowling.Lets get together and put these right and above all lets continue to support our boys.My message to the cricketers is "" develope a killer instinct"" anddevelop your skills and brute strenghth to implement it.Good Luck Angelo,Briton did not give up after Dunkirk.you have to become "bulldog"Churchhill of Sri Lanka cricket

kad Friday, 14 November 2014 03:01 PM

All cricketers who was selected for this tour would have been straight forward and would have come for a decesion not to agree and not to go for this tour. Now the damage has already caused. It has even cost a world record Vs us. The moral we had by winning all the series all this months has been lost due to this tour. Anyhow, wish our cricketers all the best to perform very very well in the coming up series and to bring the wrld cup 2015 home.

Ravi Pankaj Friday, 14 November 2014 07:20 PM

I agreed with Arjun Ranatunga... but some time team comes strong after a Past lost out series and I think SL will come much more stronger by home work... this had happened with India too... after loosing some initial jerks..

M Perera Friday, 14 November 2014 07:20 PM

Poor planning, agree. But we surely can’t be this SH** even without prior preparation. Yesterday’s game, Poor short pitch balling, sitting drop catches. This is simply unacceptable cricket whether prepared or not as these are professional cricketers. Here Mr, Arjuna is trying to take the every opportunity to slam SLC and ministers but in certain instances you need to think from your brain not the Kidney……

tony Friday, 14 November 2014 07:36 PM

THERE ARE MANY LESSONS TO BE LEANED OUT OF THIS DEBACLE. OUR BOWLERS DID NOT CHANGE LINE AND LENGTH ACCORDING TO THE WEAKNESS OF THE OPPOSING BATSMAN. THEY KEPT ON BOWLING THE USUAL WAY INSTEAD. OUR BATTERS WERE NOT PREPARED TO JAB AND TAKE SINGLES WHEN THE BOWLING WAS TOUGH THEY WANTED TO HIT SIXES EVERY BALL. OUR FIELDING WAS BELOW INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. ONLY A FEW CRICKETERS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THE SITUATION

Dr.Raghav Sharma Friday, 14 November 2014 07:56 PM

In true sense , Sri Lankan team is far better than India .The big bully India has forced Sri Lanka to come for a hurried match series.Even in previous occasions right from 1985 , the Sri Lanka made many mistakes for the sake of money. Unfortunately Sri Lanka has paid heavy price for West Indies.Sri Lankans should show some self respect.Indians can go to any extend to win the matches through short cuts.

Indian Friday, 14 November 2014 08:06 PM

Hahaha lol ROFL @ Srilanka Cricket. One of the comediest team for India. If we get bored without any cricket we will call srilanka to play, to practice, to test our young players and mainly for making records. Lol this team is without MS Dhoni. Imagine the game if Dhoni played.

chandran Friday, 14 November 2014 10:29 PM

I never agree anyone comments. Professional players had enough match practice foreign and domestic. You cannot forget killer instinct, techniques and play as a team. I think team was discontent and played substandard cricket purposely. In front of a larger crowd we were heroes on the same ground 18 years ago. We missed catches, poor fielding resulted the loss not that Sharma played a good inning, three missed catches from same player was the reason for the loss.

Watchful Eye Friday, 14 November 2014 10:35 PM

Is Nishantha Ranathunge a brand ambassador for india ? He has been the Secretary for SLC from time immemorial, it is high time the proper authority take action against his dictatorial terms and re-assess his suitability for the position... The whole of the Cricket Loving Public in Sri Lanka have been betrayed !!!

Freebird Friday, 14 November 2014 10:53 PM

Only we can win world cup again if politician not interfear in maters relating to the game via DM Android App

terry Saturday, 15 November 2014 12:05 AM

If you u want to make us proud show us your courage in world cup beat I India and bring the cup home. Forget the lost in India. Matthew we count on you....... good luck jaya veva .....

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India tour: Arjuna slams Cricket officials

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