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Cricketers caught up in a wrangle... but the wagon moves on
By Marlon Fernandopulle
As the battle to take control of Sri Lanka Cricket continued between the Interim cricket committee and cricket heavyweight Thilanga Sumathipala grew more intense, the island’s cricketers were caught up in the melee this week as they left for Abu Dhabi on Friday to participate in a triangular tournament featuring an Indian eleven and a Pakistan eleven.

Having to abandon practices due to the unavailability of balls, an issue in the signing of the players contracts, refusal by the official clothes supplier to provide the playing kits for the triangular were some of the issues the players faced.

However, Adel Hashim, a member of the Interim Committee flatly denied that there were any issues on player contracts. "We did not face any issues with regard to player contracts. These 4-5 page contracts were handed over to the players on Friday and none of the players raised any issues. All 14 players signed the contracts and two members of the Interim Committee also placed their signatures". When asked about the supply of player kits for the Abu Dhabi triangular, Hashim confirmed that Sri Lanka Crickets official clothes supplier Trendy turned down the request and as a result they were forced to get the job done from other suppliers. "The main thing is to get the players kits for the tournament. Since Trendy refused, we got it done from a few other suppliers".

Meanwhile Thilanga Sumathipala denied that his administration had a hand in the unavailability of practice balls and the clothes issue. "There is a lot of talk of sabotage. Actually the sabotage was done on the 24th of March by the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket(SLC) and the appointment of the Interim Committee. Look at what has happened to Duleep Mendis? He has given his resignation. Ever since this issue came up Duleep has been in and out of the Police Stations and was quizzed by the CID for over four hours. Remember he was a player, captain, coach and Manager. Is this how we treat such a person?"

Earlier this week the ICC issued a press release recognising the Interim Committee as the lawfully appointed body empowered the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket. It further stated that following a detailed legal review of the situation in relation to the governance of the game in Sri Lanka it would recognise the Interim Committee appointed by the Sri Lanka Government as the lawfully appointed body empowered to conduct the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket.

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed also stated that the Interim Committee has been duly appointed by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in accordance with Sri Lankan law and, accordingly, ICC is required to recognize the Interim Committee as the body lawfully conducting the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Re-acting to the ICC press release Thilanga Sumathipala said. "We are not surprised at the statement made by the ICC. The Minister has appointed the IC and they will have to look at the International affairs relating to Sri Lankas cricket".

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