Sri Lanka’s bowling sensation Ajantha Mendis may not make it to Bangladesh to join the team from the second Test onwards though he has been given the green light by Sri Lankan physiotherapist Ranjith Nanayakkarawasam and there have been requests from skipper Mahela Jayawardena and coach Trevor Bayliss for his inclusion as an additional player.

It is reported that SLC interim committee chairman Arjuna Ranatunga has refused to include Mendis citing the expenses involved. He is also reported to have stated that if Mendis is to be included it would have to be done with the approval of the SLC Interim Committee.

However, an additional member Guy de Alwis will make it to Bangladesh with all expenses paid along with an allowance of US$ 150 per day as the Interim Committee member on tour for ten days, The Sunday Times learns. An annoyed cricket insider asked, “What contribution could de Alwis make on this tour when they have decided to keep Ajantha out?”

Earlier Mendis sprained his ankle while the team was touring Zimbabwe and was deemed to out of action for one month. Subsequently he was okayed to be included as Nanayakkarawasam was of the view that he would be fit enough to play in the second Test subjected to another fitness test prior to his inclusion in the final eleven.

Meanwhile, once again like the now aborted English tour the Sri Lankan tour of Pakistan has been agreed upon without any Interim Committee approval. However SLC media manager Shane Fernando had gone on record saying that the SLC had the blessings of the IC for this tour. Indo-Asia News Service quoted Fernando as saying, “Sri Lanka Cricket on Friday formally accepted the invitation to undertake a full tour to Pakistan in January, a day after India cancelled the scheduled tour in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack. This tour has been formally confirmed on Friday at the board meeting. This is basically Sri Lanka supporting Pakistan as a neighbour. Sri Lankan team, which is currently touring in Bangladesh, will be travelling to Pakistan on January 19."

"The schedule has not been finalized, but we are hoping that we would be playing three Test matches and five ODIs or three Test matches, three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches," Fernando told the IANS.
However, several interim committee members said they were oblivious to any such move made by the IC. One irate member also said “When it comes to Ajantha Mendis they want the IC approval, but for the approval of the Pakistan tour and the appointment of Ashley de Silva as the acting CEO till the return of Duleep Mendis who is on holiday in Australia till the 29th of December were not discussed with us at all. This state of affairs is very irritating”.