Minister appoints replacements for controversial trio

Sri Lankan sports minister Johnston Fernando is set to appoint three new selectors on Wednesday after the resignation of Amal Silva, Kapila Wijegunawardene and Brendon Kuruppu following a high profile dispute with the team management before the second Test.

The outgoing trio had wanted to rest vice-captain Marvan Atapattu and fast bowler Charitha Fernando for the Test against the wishes of captain Sanath Jayasuriya. The players were incensed and the sports minister concurred, overruling the selection committee.

In their place the minister Fernando has appointed three former Test cricketers: wicket-keeper Mahesh Goonatillake, off-spinner Ranjith Madurasinghe and left-arm spinner Don Anurasiri.

They will join chairman Tikiri Banda Khelgamuwa and T.B Nelson, both of whom had apparently been opposed to the resting of Atapattu and Fernando, who picked up four wickets in the second innings as Sri Lanka won by an innings.

The five-man committee was, however, only appointed until the end of the current 12-month term finishing 31 March, after which a fresh appointment will be made for the forthcoming year.

Present interim committee vice-chairman Michael Tissera was also recommended to the sports minister for a position on the selection panel. He was not appointed but is expected to become the new chairman when a fresh appointment is made in April.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Wijegunawardene, also a former Test player, has publicly criticised the minister for siding with the players.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Wijegunawardene said: "The changes to the team were made after the minister had ratified the side we selected. That had been done on the whims and fancies of the players. If the players can pick themselves, what is the point in having a selection panel?"

He claimed they wanted to "promote the standard of Sri Lanka cricket" and claimed to have been "humiliated" by the minister's actions.