NEW DELHI: Chief selector Pramodaya Wickramasinghe raised eyebrows on Friday by suggesting that Sri Lanka's dismal performance in the ongoing ODI World Cup was the result of an external conspiracy. The Sri Lankan cricket team, having suffered a five-wicket loss to New Zealand in their last group stage match in Bengaluru, returned home early Friday morning, marking the end of a disappointing campaign.
Pressed for explanations regarding the team's poor performance, Wickramasinghe, a member of the 1996 World Cup-winning team, made a bold statement: "Give me two days to disclose everything about it. This was the result of a conspiracy from outside. It is very sad, and I am taking responsibility."
Sri Lanka's World Cup journey in 2023 turned out to be their worst performance since 1992, managing to win only two out of nine games. The team faced challenges with injuries, leading to replacements outside the original squad. The situation became even more complicated with a mid-tournament change in captaincy.
The team's particularly disastrous showing against India, where they were bowled out for just 55 runs, triggered significant backlash at home. The sports minister responded by dismissing the governing body, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). However, the decision faced legal challenges and was later reinstated by the court of appeal, adding further complexity to the crisis.
On Thursday, a joint resolution in the parliament, involving both the government and opposition, demanded the resignation of the SLC's management. The government, divided over the sports minister's decision to remove the SLC board, released a report recommending a new constitution for the governing body, proposing a new voting structure for appointing office bearers.
The allegations of an external conspiracy add a new layer of intrigue to the unfolding situation, and Wickramasinghe's promise to disclose more details in the coming days is awaited with anticipation.
(With inputs from PTI)
