Thisara Perera, the Sri Lanka all-rounder, has said that he had considered moving to New Zealand and playing for them. In fact, Perera was even approached by New Zealand so that he could represent them at the highest level.
Reports were rife that Perera was considering moving from Sri Lanka as he was not happy with the treatment meted out to him by the country’s cricketing authorities.
Asian Mirror quoted Perera saying, “I was under stress. It is true that I was approached by New Zealand. They offered me citizenship and said I would be able to play for their national cricket team. I was also willing to accept the invitation. But later I realized I should give priority to my own country Sri Lanka.”
Perera further said that Sri Lanka President Mahindra Rajapakse persuaded him to stay on. “The president told me not to make hasty decisions. He asked me to remain patient. Finally I managed to get back into the national team,” Perera said.
It was reported that Perera was unhappy at not being given permission to play in overseas and at the same time, he was kept out of the Sri Lankan team. This seems to be a bizarre development and must be a first instance where a country approached a player to move.
