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To join tour party for VB Series later this week?
Sana declares himself fit!
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Sri Lanka’s most capped one day player Sanath Jayasuriya who returned home midway from the New Zealand tour and missed out on being selected for the Australian tour has declared himself fit and is set to join his team mates down under later this week.Following his return from Kiwi land last week Jayasuriya has recovered fully from his shoulder injury and declared his availability for the Australian tour. Speaking to The Sunday Times yesterday the former Lankan skipper said, “I have obtained a letter from an Orthopaedic Surgeon from Apollo Hospital and got the all clear signal to start playing again.” In fact Jayasuriya was in the playing eleven for Bloomfield who were up against Moors SC in a Premier League Match which was scheduled for yesterday.

According to Jayasuriya although the Lankan Physio was initially of the view that the injury will keep him out of action for 2-3 weeks, the Physio later realized that he had recovered quickly and given a second report to SLC on his progress. However by that time the National Selectors had selected the squad to Australia not considering Jayasuriya due to the physio’s initial opinion on his injury and recovery period.

With Sri Lanka going down tamely to world champs Australia in the opening game on Friday and woefully lacking experience in their batting line up it is very likely that Sanath Jayasuriya will be called upon to boost their chances in the triangular tournament. Sri Lanka’s next game is on Tuesday against South

Africa which will be followed by a game against Australia on Sunday. Speculation was rife that Jayasuriya will make it for the game on Sunday.

SLC denies but De Mel confirms
Meanwhile in the other development which enveloped the cricketing circles Sri Lanka Cricket’s Interim Committee vehemently denied statements made by former test cricketer Ashantha De Mel that he was offered the position of Chairman of the Selection Committee.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Secretary of the SLC Interim Committee Adel Hashim said, “SLC has not approached Ashantha De Mel or any other person and offered the Selection Committee Chairman’s position. In fact we have not even discussed this matter at committee level. As far as we are concerned Lalith Kaluperuma remains as the Chairman of Selectors with K M Nelson, Shabir Asgerally and Don Anurasiri as the other members in the panel.”

However when the Sunday Times contacted Ashantha De Mel the former all-rounder confirmed being approached and offered the position of Chairman in the Selection Committee.” Three members of the SLC Interim committee met me last Sunday and requested me to be the Chairman of the Selection Committee. I agreed to their request, subject to certain conditions”, De Mel said. Ashantha also confirmed to the Sunday Times that the Interim Committee promised to get back to him this week on the matter.

This situation, where the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing clearly indicates the manner in which the SLC Interim Committee is operating. It also demonstrates the weakness of the Administration that governs Sri Lanka Cricket. They surely do not have one voice. A similar situation is slowly but surely emerging in the Sri Lanka team today. They are ganging up and disintegrating.

The team spirit and unity that prevailed once upon a time is no more today. It all began with the elevation of Chaminda Vaas to the position as vice – captain. Soon after Vaas was given the cold shoulder by his senior colleagues. Although the situation was confirmed by the Manager in his tour report, no inquiry or investigation has been done to date on this matter. This is what transpires when you are governed by a weak administration! The end result of all this is reflected by the team’s performance today.

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