NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka's cricket captain, Kusal Mendis, has voiced concerns over the International Cricket Council's (ICC) suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), fearing potential repercussions on the national team's upcoming fixtures and preparations for the men's U19 World Cup in early 2024.
Despite a turbulent exit from the World Cup, losing seven of nine matches in India, Sri Lanka have a packed schedule ahead, beginning with Zimbabwe's tour to the island nation in January-February. The 2024 men's U19 World Cup, set to kick off on January 13, adds urgency to the situation, with 16 teams competing.
Mendis expressed hope that the suspension would be resolved promptly, allowing the team to focus on their upcoming commitments and ensuring the successful hosting of the U19 World Cup. The ICC suspended Sri Lanka due to perceived government interference in the national board, following a unanimous resolution by the Sri Lankan parliament calling for the removal of the cricket governing body.
Addressing Sri Lanka's recent struggles, particularly against India, Mendis defended the team's performance, stating, "We had performed well against them despite being bowled out for 50 and 55." India had dominated Sri Lanka in recent matches, bowling them out for low scores on multiple occasions.
In response to the team's lacklustre World Cup performance, Sri Lanka's sports minister sacked the SLC management on November 6, appointing an interim committee led by former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. However, the court of appeal reinstated the SLC management the following day.
Mahela Jayawardene, the high-performance coach, acknowledged deficiencies in execution and expressed the need to correct them moving forward. Despite the administrative challenges, the team manager, Mahinda Halangoda, assured that discussions were held with players to minimise the impact on their focus and performance.
(With inputs from PTI)
