World Cup winning former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has questioned the scheduling of the five match ODI series against India next month. Sri Lanka agreed to fill the void created by West Indies pulling out of Indian tour and Ranatunga fears the series could burn out the players.
With the India series scheduled out of the blues, Sri Lanka will now play 19 ODIs ahead of the World Cup, which is four months away.
“The timing of the series is disappointing. The players will be jaded by the time the World Cup comes. Obviously, we have a good chance in this World Cup and the coaching staff had been working to a plan, but the short sighted policies of SLC is ruining things. Our board only wants to please India,” Ranatunga told The Island yesterday.
“There were questions raised about the team’s fielding standards and fitness levels a couple of months back and the coaching staff headed by Marvan Atapattu have been working specifically on these two areas and the abrupt scheduling has put an end to those preparations. Now the team will forget about fitness and fielding and they will start working on game situations and this is not something that is required at this time.”
“We have enough matches ahead of the World Cup and what was necessary was to work on the targeted disciplines and be prepared and remain fresh for the World Cup. Instead, the abruptly scheduled series has brought all preparation back to square one. If the key players burn out and get injured, SLC needs to take full responsibility for they have pushed the players for something they weren’t ready for.”
“M.S. Dhoni, the Indian captain is not playing the first few games, but we have named a full strength squad. We should have rested some of our key players and kept them fresh and hungry. But our board doesn’t want to do it because India wants to see a full strength Sri Lankan side for the sake of their sponsors,” Ranatunga added.
Star batsman Kumar Sangakkara’s tweet soon after the series was announced said players’ fitness regime was abruptly brought to an end now the focus was one skill work. “Our 6 weeks of pure fitness work ends abruptly. Have a week to do a month’s requirement of skill work before India. Planning ahead anyone?” Sangakkara tweeted.
“Sanga should have called a spade a spade and addressed the issue directly,” Ranatunga said. “Mind you he has criticized SLC actions before, but here he wants to play it safe because he is involved in the lucrative tournaments run by BCCI and wants to remain in their good books.”
“I find it strange that the BCCI wants to take action against the West Indies Cricket Board, but on the other hand has said that West Indies players aren’t being in the danger of being sidelined from the IPL. This is nothing but a slap on the face of the West Indies board. They were one of the pioneers in agreeing to give BCCI full control of the ICC. Very soon SLC also will get the same kind of treatment from BCCI and it will be interesting to find out what those who endorsed power being given to the Big Three have to say then.
“I find it very strange that people are talking that India helped us when we had troubles with regard to security by agreeing to send some of their players to play a friendly match here. Well, then, why isn’t SLC being sympathetic towards Pakistan who are in a crisis and who have always helped us. This is nothing but hypocrisy.”
