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Reuters
Reuters
Politics

Sri Lanka selectors resign after India debacle - reports

Cricket - Sri Lanka v India - Second One Day International Match - Pallekele, Sri Lanka - August 24, 2017 - Sri Lanka's captain Upul Tharanga reacts as he walks off the field after his dismissal by India's Hardik Pandya (not pictured). REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's selection panel, led by former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, will step down after the current limited overs series against India following the team's slump in form, according to reports on Tuesday.

The pressure on the panel to resign had intensified after Sri Lanka were beaten 3-0 in the home test series against India, who have also taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ongoing five-match ODI series.

The five-member panel will stay on only for the next two ODIs and the sole Twenty20 against India, ESPNcricinfo reported citing a sports ministry statement.

FILE PHOTO: Sri Lanka's cricket team captain Dinesh Chandimal and chairman of selection committee Sanath Jayasuriya inspect the pitch ahead of their final test match against India. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

"A combined letter bearing the names of the above committee has conveyed this decision to sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. According to the letter, their tenure will end on September 7," the ministry was quoted as saying.

Angelo Mathews stepped down as Sri Lanka captain from all formats last month after they succumbed to their first ever ODI series defeat against Zimbabwe.

Dinesh Chandimal was put in charge of the test team who were whitewashed in the test series by India and now face a similar humiliation in ODIs against the neighbours.

Cricket - Sri Lanka v India - Third One Day International Match - Pallekele, Sri Lanka - August 27, 2017 - Two police officers stand guard as India's MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma walk off the field after winning the match. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Irate fans have staged protests over the team's poor form and some of them hurled water bottles to hold up play in Sunday's ODI against India at Pallekele.

The selectors have been accused of lacking vision and making frequent changes to the squad but Jayasuriya has blamed it on a spate of injuries that have plagued the side over the last 12 months.

Cricket - Sri Lanka v India - First One-Day International Match - Dambulla, Sri Lanka - August 20, 2017 - Sri Lanka's Niroshan Dickwella reacts as he walks off the field after his dismissal by India's Kedar Jadhav (not pictured). REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Keith Weir)

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