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When Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996, that particular team may have never even dreamt of seeing the current plight of the national cricket team. The team is now in dire straits as a result of corruption, politicisation and bad choices. It is quite unfortunate that our team couldn’t secure a spot in the qualifying teams despite being the host country. They know the pitches, wind directions and everything on their home turf very well. But they still failed. Cricket is like a religion for Sri Lankans and they have no choice but to be ready to face humiliation from fans. Some fans have travelled long distances to watch the match but they were disappointed when the team lost early. So it’s a given that fans will boo the team out of frustration. The incumbent captain is now seeking assistance from the government to tackle the backlash against the team. Rather than responding to public sentiments, what the team and whoever is handling the team including the Cricket Board should be doing is to invest in some talented players. Sri Lanka attempted to have Lanka Premier League but that too resulted in various shady deals. Sri Lanka Cricket indeed requires a major overhaul, one that would slowly replace poor performing players with fresh energy. It is easy to find many talented players from around the country. But whether it is a priority remains a question.
Hasitha Deshan
Mt. Lavinia