Sri Lanka Cricket

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board is having a tough time trying to sort out various issues including the one regarding its diplomatic relations with the BCCI.

Earlier this month the SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) had issued NOC (No Objection Certificate) to about 9 Sri Lankan players for playing in the IPL. However with the cold treatment offered to the Sri Lankan ministers during the ICC CWC finals by the their Indian counterparts, the Sri Lankan Government decided that the players should return by the 5^th of May to play train for their tour of England for which the team leavers on the 10^th of May.

The BCCI with all its big brother tactics tried to convince SLC officials as well as the Sri Lankan Government to allow the Sri Lankan players to play at least till the 15^th of May. That shouldn’t have really been a technical problem as Sri Lanka plays a practice match starting from the 14^th of May while they play their 1^st Test Match in Cardiff from the 26^th of May.

Yet the Sri Lankan Board has rightfully kept its country ahead of the diplomacy with the BCCI. Thus the SLC has decided to ignore the latest request from BCCI for the delay in departure of Sri Lankan players from Indian soil. Sri Lankan Sports Minister Mahindanada Aluthgamage has said that they would be sending a polite reply to BCCI’s request explaining the reasons behind remaining unmoved on their decision.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka have also announced their 16 man squad for the tour of England. It is as follows Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Tharanga Paranavithana, Lahiru Thirimanna, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Prasanna Jayawardena (wk), Thisara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welagedara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep.

Thus about eight out of the above players who are playing in the IPL would have to report back by the 5^th of May to their homeland.

The newly appointed captain Dilshan said that although he is not particularly happy going back early, yet it was his priority to play for the country first and then for IPL.

SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said, “We did sign a no-objection agreement with the players to play in the IPL. But there was no date to return. I am sure the BCCI will understand country must come first before IPL.”

Former Cricketer Duleep Mendis was in support of the decision made by the SLC as he points out that Sri Lanka have been playing ODI and T20’s for the past few months, while the England tour has its first half filled with three test matches and so “They have to mentally prepare and switch to play the longer version of the game.”

Tags: BCCI, Cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, IPL 2011, IPL 4, NOC, SLC, Sri Lanka Cricket