In a communiqué issued today Sri Lanka Cricket emphasized the procedure undertaken prior to confirming the upcoming tour to India by the Sri Lankan National team which comprises of 5 ODI’s.
SLC states that prior to making the decision to confirm the tour with the BCCI, through it’s Secretary Mr. Nishantha Ranatunga discussions were held with the National selection committee headed by Hon. Sanath Jayasuriya, the Coaching Staff and the Management of the National Team and it was after receiving the concurrence of all concerned that this important decision was made.
The communiqué stated that the President of SLC Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa and the Office Bearers of SLC were at all times briefed on the developments and gave their blessings and consent to the Secretary Mr. Nishantha Ranatunga to confirm the tour since it was a matter of urgency.
An emergency ExCo meeting has been held to discuss the invitation but since time was critical it had been decided by the President and the office bearers to keep the ExCo members informed and confirm the tour without delay. An email has been sent to all ExCo members of SLC highlighting all of the above and requesting their views on the matter and no objections had been received pertaining to the above decision taken by the office bearers. Therefore SLC reiterates that this decision was a collective decision of the Exco and was taken in the best interest of the game
SLC believes that this tour will be a good opportunity for the fringe players to show their talent to be in the reckoning for the upcoming World Cup.
Initially the Invitation to tour India was from the last week of October 2014. However, due to the required preparation undertaken by the national team, It was agreed by both BCCI & SLC to begin the tour from 1st of November 2014.
SLC also stated that Sri Lankan cricket fans should remember how India & Pakistan toured Sri Lanka to show their solidarity when Australia & West indies refused to play in Sri Lanka in the 1996 Wills World Cup.
