• Eran says neither the Minister nor his committee can influence selectors Strap - Committee willing to probe conflict of interest claims 

Ex-Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara says that the controversial selection of wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella for the recently concluded two-Test series against India, was a decision made independently by the Kapila Wijegunawardene-led selection committee.

“’The selection committee is entirely an independent body,” Sangakkara, 48 told reporters, following his maiden interaction with the local press corps, since becoming a member of the Transformation Committee, at its monthly media briefing held at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Monday (31 August).

“However, anyone has the right to question the selections made by the selection committee. We too as administrators can form our own personal opinion on selections. It is the same with both the media and the spectators.”

He reiterated the position that the selectors have been entrusted to engage in their task independently, and asserted that all of the aforementioned segments cannot intervene unduly in the job performed by selectors.

Sangakkara who brought the curtain down on his celebrated cricketing career 11 years ago, stated that the selectors are expected to sustain a sound rapport with the respective coaches and captains, hence enabling them to perform their duty in an efficient manner.

“Selectors have been instructed as a matter of policy, to constantly engage with national team head coach Gary Kirsten as well as with the captains and head coaches of all teams coming under their purview,” the legendary left-handed wicket-keeper batter explained.

He noted that such deliberations could ensure selectors, coaches, and captains have a grasp of the vision and plans for each team.

The former captain was also pressed for his take on why the new selection committee, formed last May, were still to face the domestic press corps, despite a few recent selections having led to wide public debate on social media.

He remarked that the selectors would shortly go before the media upon naming Sri Lanka’s national squads ahead of their white-ball cricket tour to England later this month.

He also added that providing selectors with an opportunity to interact with the media ahead of tours is the way to go about their job, which he described as a scope allowing them to thrash out issues linked to selections, although he insisted that such briefings may not be feasible always.

Transformation Committee Chair former MP Eran Wickramaratne also sided with the standpoint of Sangakkara, and firmly affirmed that neither the subject Minister nor any member of his committee, should have any say linked to selections.

He recalled a past incident when a team selected for an overseas tour had been at the BIA Katunayake, when a Minister had intervened to prevent a certain player from boarding the plane.

The ex-Parliamentarian also revealed that he had recently received telephone calls related to certain selection decisions, but candidly told the media that he had conveyed to the callers that such matters were not for him to influence.

“This is such a country where such things have taken place, and I must emphasise that all selections will now be totally independent.”

The Transformation Committee head opined that the public were entitled to have their own views about selections, but maintained that the difference between critiquing and intervening in selections, has to be understood by the parties concerned.

Meanwhile, both Sangakkara and Wickramaratne were also asked on conflicts of interest involving the current selection committee with a few having alleged links to private coaching academies.

Sangakkara said that if certain concerns are brought to their notice, the Committee should be able to delve at length to such incidents and added that the onus was on selectors themselves to reveal their hand and take ownership over the same.

The duo further insisted that they will always be open to concerns raised in this connection by the media, and would probe issues brought to their attention without any hesitation.