Colombo: In a dramatic turn of events, nine Sri Lankan players were stopped from travelling to India for participating in the limited overs’ series, which begins from December 10.
According to reports, Sri Lankan sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara hasn’t yet approved the squad and also said that it was impossible for him to do so at such a short notice.
“Most players reached the airport around 9pm on Monday. Left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana had even boarded the flight, but they were told to go back home as the team didn’t have the approval of the minister of sports,” said an official in an interaction with Cricbuzz.
He also added, “We expect to resolve the matter by Tuesday evening and players should be in India by Wednesday morning.”
A 1973 law in the island nation gives it’s sports minister the authority to make changes to a team before they compete. This automatically means that the sports ministry has the final say in team selection.
Reports suggest that Jayasekara was annoyed at the fact that the players were given the nod to leave for India without his approval. As many nine players, which include newly appointed skipper Thisara Perera along with Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chathuranga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep were stopped from travelling to India.