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| Kochi Tuskers skipper Mahela Jayawardena in action at the Indian Premier League. |
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has written to Sri Lanka Cricket on Friday requesting the Lankan cricket authorities to reconsider their decision to recall its players from the ongoing Indian Premier League T-20 tournament.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee secretary Nishantha Ranatunga speaking to the Sunday Times said “The BCCI has written to us making a request to reconsider our decision to recall our cricketers by May 5.
“We will meet in this regard after the holidays next week and take our decision”.
Earlier Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage issued a stern warning recalling all Lankan players from the IPL by May 5 and to take disciplinary action against the players if they do not return in time for practice to prepare for the English tour. The Sri Lankan team will leave for England on May 10 and will play their first side game on the 14th of May prior to the First Test which begins at Cardiff on May 26.
The IC secretary also pointed out that the tour of England is very important to Sri Lanka in the present context.
The 2013 World Test Championships will be played in England. The first four ICC ranked teams by the end of 2011 will take part in this championship in a semi-final work off. At present India is in the first place with 128 points, South Africa in the second place with 117 points, England in the third place with 115 points, Sri Lanka in the fourth place with 109 points and Australia in the fifth place with 107 points.
If Sri Lanka beats England in England there is a likelihood of Sri Lanka moving into the second or the third place in the rankings.
The England tour will be followed by Sri Lanka hosting Australia in August for 3 Tests and three One-day Internationals and touring Pakistan for three Tests in October-November by which time the final rankings will be revealed.
Sri Lanka will tour South Africa by the turn of this year on another three Test tour.
The Lankan Cricketers who are engaged in the IPL at present are – Nuwan Kulasekera and Suraj Randiv (Chennai Super Kings), Kumar Sangakkara (Deccan Charges – captain), Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando (Mumbai Super Kings), Nuwan Pradeep and T.M. Dilshan (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardena (captain) and Thisara Perera (Kochi Tuskers – Kerala), Angelo Mathews (Pune Warriors – India).
The last game of the first round of the Indian premier League tournament will be played on 22nd May and on that day Lasitha Malinga who has become one of the most successful bowlers in the IPL this year will be in action for the Mumbai Indians.
However upsetting the apple cart with cash rich power house India may also hurt SLC who are facing a cash flow shortage at present.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka cricket has also renewed the contract of the Lankan team manager Anura Tennekone by another year.
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