• Woes for some at the expense of India

other nations to unwanted travel hassles ahead of the start of the Men’s T-20 World Cup.

SLC Secretary Krishantha Kapuwatta said that Wanidu Hasaranga’s team along with South Africa and Ireland had been stuck at an airport for several hours sans a connecting flight from Florida to New York, exacerbating their travel woes.

He was of the view that Sri Lanka and a few other teams have been forced to undergo shabby treatment at the hands of the tournament organisers and the game’s world governing body and for no fault of theirs.

And he alleged that this was taking place at the same time while preferential treatment was being meted out to India in particular by the two aforesaid groups.

“This is highly uncalled for,” the SLC Secretary told The Daily Morning Sports. “If it is a World Cup, which it is, then it is incumbent upon the tournament organisers and the ICC to provide equal facilities sans any hassles to all competing teams. I honestly doubt whether that is the case with regard to this T20 World Cup.”

He said the unwarranted travel issues had compelled Sri Lanka to forgo an important practice session ahead of their tournament opener against South Africa today (3), commencing at 8 p.m. Sri Lankan time. 

Kapuwatta said the unwelcome turn of events had even forced the Lankans to put up with accommodation at a hotel nearly a 15 hour drive away from the match venue.

According to SLC sources, teams like India, have been put up in hotels near the stadium while having the luxury of playing most of their games at a single venue, thereby avoiding extensive travel hassles.

Critics say it is a clear example of undue preference accorded to the sport’s financial powerhouse at the expense of other teams.

SLC sources added that Sri Lanka has filed a complaint and conveyed their vehement discontent to the ICC regarding the subpar organisation and ad-hoc logistical planning of USA Cricket.

But, they wonder whether anything tangible could come their way, as terms have already been dictated to the sport’s world controlling body and the event organisers by the financial superpower in the game.  

Meanwhile, sources close to the national team said that the tension among players had been palpable as they had been forced to grapple with the added burden of non-stop travel between different match venues.

Furthermore the Lankan squad is set to head for Dallas no sooner they conclude their match against the Proteas in New York leaving them with precious little recovery period and thereby further hindering their schedules.

(JK)