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Hidden agenda behind ‘resting’ Dushmantha Chameera?

14 Mar 2022

  • Has the IPL instructed him to rest?  
By Revatha S. Silva  Sri Lanka Cricket is continuing its journey into international doldrums, uninterrupted. It has been almost a seven to eight-year wait for the unfortunate Sri Lankan fans who want to witness a turnaround, which, sadly, has not taken place yet.  The latest is the ongoing Indian drubbing. Despite a long history of world-class spinners, the Sri Lankans are falling like ninepins now in Bengaluru in a turning pitch whilst staring at another horrible Test defeat. The pains are mostly self-inflicted, one can argue. Why is Sri Lanka’s foremost fast-bowler Dushmantha Chameera not playing in the India Test series? Sources say he has been advised by a leading local authority, who is under instructions from Chameera’s Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, to rest. Sri Lankan fast bowler Chameera has been sold for Indian Rs. 20 million to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the ongoing IPL Auction. It is equivalent to Sri Lankan Rs. 66.3 million. Chameera will be part of the LSG when the 15th IPL 2022 takes place, which is to be held from 26 March to 29 May in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune. “Sri Lanka is a hugely talented side. But the unfortunate situation is that they lose not because they lack either talent or capability, but due to a disastrous power struggle among Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Mahela Jayawardene, and the Technical Advisory Committee. They are playing pandu (playing balls) with the national team causing mayhem,” a former player, who is in the know of the current situation of the national game, speaking to The Morning Sports, opined. “When Chameera is resting, Vishwa Fernando is playing. That is ludicrous. What’s the logic? If he is to be rested, why was Chameera included in the tour party anyway? Why was he allowed to bowl seven, eight overs in practice sessions in India?,” he queried. “If he is injured, how has he passed the fitness test for the series?” he questioned. “There is no coherence at all in our national cricket. Each side pulls it in their own direction. The selector on tour, Romesh Kaluwitharana, wants to go for experience and play Dinesh Chandimal in the Tests, yet his counterparts in Sri Lanka oppose the idea and continue with Charith Asalanka. “Jayawardene goes one way, the Technical Committee goes the other way; the selectors too are divided, the cricket board looks to be going some other way. After all that, the skipper – either Dasun Shanaka or Dimuth Karunaratne – talks to us about the so-called positives after every defeat. The fans have been waiting for almost a decade now until they start winning consistently,” he continued on condition of anonymity.  “It looks as if everybody has their own agenda, for their own benefit. No one is worried about the collective success of the country. Only the fans are genuinely worried, but they can’t help it. All those who are responsible seem to be trying to reap the harvest while the sun shines! I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel in the near future,” he opined.


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