Ball fiasco forces Sri Lanka to abandon practice

Sri Lanka's national players returned to practice on Tuesday to prepare for the forthcoming tsunami charity games in Abu Dhabi, but were forced to abandon their plans because Sri Lanka Cricket officials refused to release practice balls, claiming "proper protocol" had not been followed by the government-appointed interim committee.

The 14 players were left kicking their heels in frustration as Brendon Kuruppu, the team manager, tried unsuccessfully to convince Sri Lanka Cricket's operations department to hand over some balls. "We went to SSC for a net session but the basic requirements like balls and water were not there and we were forced to return an hour later," Marvan Atapattu told The Island newspaper.

Ray Illangakoon, Sri Lanka Cricket's media manager, blamed the interim committee, telling the Daily Mirror: "We didn't know anything about these practices. Nobody had informed us, so how could we issue balls? It is the interim committee that arranged this tournament and the practice and they should therefore take the blame."

The farcical mix-up is the latest manifestation of a board crisis that has become intensely embarrassing for Sri Lanka. The government is locked in a confusing legal power struggle with Sri Lanka Cricket after it suspended the registration of the association on the grounds of financial mismanagement.

Thilanga Sumathipala, Sri Lanka Cricket's president and the sports minister's key adversary, defended the decision to not release the balls: "There is a protocol that needs to be followed for these practices, with the coach sending a list of things needed which is then approved by the chief executive and released by the director of cricket operations. People blame us when we don't follow these protocols, claiming there is no accountability, and when we do follow the protocols we also get criticised."

Meanwhile, Jeewan Kumaratunga, the sports minister, was left furious after the incident, telling The Island: "This is a clear example that some of these individuals don't have the interests of the game at their heart and it shows that my decision to appoint an interim committee was a right one."

Jayantha Dharmadasa, the chairman of the government's interim committee, called for Sumathipala's permanent removal from the administration: "People can have their differences but they should not mess with the cricketers. If cricket in Sri Lanka is to improve the man who is causing all the trouble must be removed."

Sri Lanka's cricketers will try to practise today at 2pm, and Kuruppu told journalists that the issue would be resolved by then. Sri Lanka are sending a "Sri Lanka XI" to the three-match tournament, which will now start on May 1 after being delayed for two days to accommodate a veteran Indian team. They will travel without a coach or a physio.