Sri Lanka cricket in 'crisis': Aluthgamage

10 January 2012 05:51 am - 48 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka's sports minister on Monday blasted the national cricket team's recent performances, saying the side was riven by politics and in "crisis".
Mahindananda Aluthgamage vowed to deliver a stern lecture to the players when they return later this month from their tour of South Africa, where they last week lost the Test series 2-1.

"The Sri Lanka cricket team is in a crisis situation. It is very unfortunate," Aluthgamage told reporters in Colombo. "The team is not clicking together off-field and it has shown in the results on the field."

"Once the team returns, I plan to meet them," Aluthgamage said. "I feel there is a lot of internal politics within the team that is spilling over to the cricket pitch."

Since the retirement of bowling star Muttiah Muralitharan in July 2010, Sri Lanka have won only one Test match, though they did reach the final of the one-day World Cup last year.

Sri Lanka will now play five one-day internationals in South Africa starting on Wednesday, before heading to a tri-series tournament in Australia which also includes India.

The government has often been accused of meddling in the sport and recent uncontested elections for the cricket board were mired in allegations of interference.

Aluthgamage's comments came after Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan blamed his side's inconsistent results on the island's weak domestic scene.

"It is very difficult to find good cricketers. We have to correct our domestic structure. Coming from our club cricket to international cricket is a huge difference," he said after losing the Test series.

Some players have complained about months of unpaid wages as the Sri Lanka board struggles with debts of US$69 million after building two new venues and revamping a third ground for the World Cup. (Source: AFP)

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Comments - 48

achtung Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:03 AM

is this man suitable to lecture even grade 3 students?

noel Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:12 AM

Why did not take action against previous administrators who robbed the sri lanka cricket ? Mind you this is a game , not a election meeting.

Wisden Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:08 AM

They achieved something great just for some political clown to give them a lecture. True cricket fans should show their disgust

kondebendapucheena Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:26 AM

He got a Big mouth,that s it

hassa Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:29 AM

He can hire Dr.Dutugamunu who now in crisis to deliver "a stern lecture" to our Boys once they return.

Mark Waugh Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:44 AM

Mahela Jayawardena as captain but Anjelo Mathews or Dinesh Chandimal as vice captain.

Mark Waugh Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:50 AM

Mahela Jayawardena as captain but as vice captain it shuld be either Anjelo Mthews or Dinesh Chandimal.

Mandai Kannan Tuesday, 10 January 2012 09:51 AM

For God sake please do not blame the players. Mahela, Sangara and Dilshan are best players. As long as politics don't enter into administration of SLCB there will be no problem. Our politicians are good at destroying. please leave cricket alone.

Dammika Tuesday, 10 January 2012 09:51 AM

Don't blame the players now. It is you politicians created this situation. Who are you to give a lecture to them. Try to give a lecture to all the politicians. Did you check why Sanga & Mahela resigned from their respective positions after world cup ... they have had the gut at least to resign .... but truth cannot be revealed .... because it can be a threat to their life's

achtung Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:00 AM

thats exactly what we are doing here. this is the only way to show disgust or is it? Just when things started to improve this fool shoots off his mouth.

achtung Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:02 AM

asoka, let me tell you if we played young guys in SA instead of sanga n also samaraweera, the test matches would have ended in 2 days , like inter school games.

Kulpritz Tuesday, 10 January 2012 09:55 AM

U r the biggest Issue in the Sl Cricket team.....

Wisden Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:07 AM

This current team played in a World Cup final & much more international matches. Do you think they'll listen to you? ICC must look in to this matter and stop politics in cricket.

SENAKA Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:00 AM

Dear mr minster,what do you know about cricket.first you should go whith your friend dilshan.then sl cricket will be in goodhands with sanga and mahela.more you stay as sports minster sl criccket will suffer.all so pl ask sanath not to interfer with sl cricket.

Senna Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:46 AM

That is is the way forward.

Kolomba Kaka Tuesday, 10 January 2012 12:46 PM

CAPTAIN - CHANDIMAL, VC - ANGELO, SANGA, THISARA, & THILAN MUST BE RETAINED. SACK ALL OTHERS AND REPLACE WITH OUTSTANDING SCHOOL-BOYS.

lk Tuesday, 10 January 2012 01:13 PM

so the minister is not responsible?

kulendra de vass gun Tuesday, 10 January 2012 01:15 PM

Get rid of Mahela. Every match he played, he failed. His body language shows he is not cooperating with others.

dilshan Tuesday, 10 January 2012 01:24 PM

Its typical case of Throwing Stones at Glass Houses....

Priyantha Gunaratna Tuesday, 10 January 2012 02:22 PM

Mahela was a total failure in last 3 overseas test series. He was a very good batsman and an excellent captain. But his failures have cost us dearly. As it is he has no claim for the captaincy as he will not be able to lead by example. It is unfortunate that Thilan got such shabby treatment for few failures. He is statistically world's best batsman since 2007. He should be made captain and Dishan and Mahela should compete for their places purely on merit.

grumpy Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:16 PM

Whom are you trying to impress? Sri Lankan fans understand cricket more than you do. Keep you comments and lectures in the parliament and let the professionals run the game.

HIRAMANE Tuesday, 10 January 2012 09:36 PM

LETS OCCUPY THE MAITLAND PLACE

senna Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:00 PM

only way is to have excellent spinners

Nagaragiri Kiththil Wednesday, 11 January 2012 08:13 AM

Jump in the lake buddy.This topic is too advance for you.

Ismaaeel Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:49 AM

Mr. Minister- meaning what Sanga said sometimes back was 100% correct.

tha Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:03 AM

What this man knows about cricket........

moonesinghe Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:12 AM

LECTURE????
JUST KEEP YOUR POLITICS OUT OF CRICKET.

IT'S YOUR POLITICS THAT RUNS OUR CRICKET.
YOU POLITICANS INTERFERE TOO MUCH FROM CRICKET BOARD ELECTIONS TO TEAM SELECTIONS. HOW CAN THE TEAM PERFORM WELL WHEN NO ONE'S HAPPY.

lal Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:06 AM

We don't mine cricket board bankrupt.we also bankrupt.

PREM Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:21 AM

First How can Dilshan blame other things,he should perform from the front. Then minister should only involved in politics not in cricket

Jinna Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:23 AM

Hey man you pay them first, with out having paid them they play cricket - Hat off to you SL cricketers !

willows Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:36 AM

what an idiotic lecture is he going to deliver to cricketers?

Guru Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:44 AM

Not only cricket, the whole country is in Crisis.

malind Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:42 AM

Yes keep out Sanga and mahela.. also they should have kept samaraweera also out as they did in the pakistan tour.. that way it would have been all young players getting thrashed for 3-0. You may not have any interest in cricket but we love our cricket and we know who are the players who can take cricket forward..

Nodrog Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:44 AM

just because you politicians played a cricket match recently doesn't mean you know all about cricket. Its the political meddling thats killing our team and our cricket. Gentlemen like Ana Punchihewa built up our cricket and all others after him ate it up.

Ajith Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:45 AM

Pay them on time.....

Nodrog Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:55 AM

yes, you are qualified to talk about the crisis because you are also part of the problem.

Asoka Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:10 AM

They should get rid of sangakara and mahela j. and bring some young guys. These two are rocking the boat. Kee Dilshan as captain

scrap_metal Tuesday, 10 January 2012 06:58 AM

he should go and first check with his friends in the parliament

Aristotle Tuesday, 10 January 2012 07:08 AM

Give a lecture on "Elle".

CDRock Tuesday, 10 January 2012 07:08 AM

Dilshan is the cuase of the internal conflict. He dosent have any personality as a captain. When one person gets out you see the guy shouting out from the pavilion. Thats not the behavior of a captain. And also dont forget Sanga and Mahela did a lot for Sri Lankan cricket, two captains who took the team to the WC finals and had the modesty to step down when they failed. There are the two best batsman in the team. Two people who can bat under pressure. Two people who spoke against the corruption that's going with Sri Lanka Cricket. So have some gratitude towards that at least, without blaming them.

Coconut Donkey Tuesday, 10 January 2012 07:23 AM

You are like mahadena Mutta who suggested cutting the goat's neck stuck in a clay pot.. to save the pot...

K-Man Tuesday, 10 January 2012 07:16 AM

Change of plans.. Amuthgamage will be the next captain. :D

nilame Tuesday, 10 January 2012 07:21 AM

Who is this guy ?

Hash Tuesday, 10 January 2012 07:49 AM

First pay the salary, then they will perform ..

Arecanut Monkey Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:02 AM

Well said.

Coconut Donkey Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:03 AM

Very well said.

Rishan Tuesday, 10 January 2012 07:56 AM

Bring back Mahela as captain of SL cricket and Kumar as his deputy.

upul Tuesday, 10 January 2012 08:06 AM

is it with all these crisis that they are trying to foll ICC to beleive that a proper Criket Adminstration was formed??

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Sri Lanka cricket in 'crisis': Aluthgamage

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