Star batsman Kumar Sangakkara has opened out saying that a ‘powerful’ cricket official has been victimising him. The former captain had several run ins with this ‘powerful’ official during his tenure as national captain and after that, and yesterday alleged that the individual had a personal agenda against him.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) issuing a media release yesterday said that the Board had freed Lasith Malinga to play for IPL franchise Mumbai Indians during the 2014 Champions League instead of the local team. However, around the same time last year, Sangakkara had to choose the local team instead of his Hyderabad IPL franchise after he was given a torrid time.
At that time it appeared that when players were eligible to play for the IPL franchise and the local team during Champions League, SLC would want their players to represent the local team as they could be more competitive. But this year, SLC freed Malinga without much noise.
When ‘The Island’ contacted Sangakkara for a comment, he said, “My situation was different. The Chairman of Cricket Selectors, the President of SLC and the entire SLC were extremely supportive of me. It was a case of one individual carrying out his personal agenda and vendetta against me. It’s painfully obvious this was the case as he has been amazingly quiet in the public arena on this issue this time,” Sangakkara said.
Speaking on Malinga’s decision to represent Mumbai Indians instead of the Sri Lankan domestic team, Sangakkara said, “Lasith has made the right decision. It must have been quite tough for him, but he has done it in a prudent and practical manner. All players in other countries chose the IPL franchise. The decision is also important as without Lasith playing it opens up a slot for another player to face the pressure cooker level on the international arena. That’s an important factor looking beyond the next World Cup. Sometimes that’s more important than winning a game here or there. Considering all that I support Lasith’s decision.”
