Arjuna Ranatunga’s comments have angered the Indian hierarchy

It seems that Sri Lankan cricket administration is in for turbulent times. According to a cricket insider, recent comments made by the SLC Interim Committee Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga seem to have angered the Indian Cricket authorities. As a result of this situation the rescheduled ODI series with India is being pushed into oblivion.

The recent comments made by Ranatunga regarding the Indian Premier League have got the Indian Cricket authorities on the wrong side of the coin of grace. At the same time the much-talked-about England tour which was scheduled for early 2009 is still in abeyance. Ranatunga was the architect of this hastily arranged tour in which the dates directly clashed with the second season of the Indian Premier League.

A perturbed cricket insider speaking to The Sunday Times said, “The Indian cricket authorities clearly are annoyed with us at the moment and are awaiting a change of attitude at this end. The 2006 ODI series against India which was postponed was rescheduled for May 2009, but that too had to be postponed because of the IPL. Initially they promised us another window. But, now that window seems to be shut. This is a very serious situation. If the England tour does not take place we will lose only about two million dollars, but, if the Indian ODI series goes under the matting, we stand to lose about 14-15 million dollars. At the moment, because of the present Indian tour we are rather stable financially, but, if the Indian window is not opened we will be in the red again.”

Malinda on the hammer

Meanwhile, a disagreement between the selectors and playing seniors seems to have erupted over the surprise selection of opener Malinda Warnapura who has enjoyed a very fine stroke with the bat in the Test arena. Directly after the news conference regarding the ODI leg of the Indian tour skipper Mahela Jayewardene and coach Trevor Bayliss were seen engaged in a deep chat and later it came to be known that they were discussing this issue.

However, a selection source said he was unperturbed over the issue and thought it was only a storm in a tea cup. He said, “We only have drafted a good opener who is in roaring form at present. We feel that this is a very good option. The squad already has four seamers and two very good spinners with Jayasuriya and Dilshan in as the other options.

The opening slot is the thinnest slot in our arsenal and with the addition of Warnapura we feel that this problem also had been attended to. The team management right through has been requesting us for a player who could either bat in the middle or open if the need arises and Warnapura fills into this slot like no other.