Sanath Jayasuriya versus the selectors Part II

Sri Lanka's most recent selection debacle, dubbed "Sanath Jayasuriya versus the selectors Part II" by one fan, has created a vigourous debate on CricInfo's Sri Lankan cricket forum.

The controversy has dominated the minds of incredulous fans, fed up with the increasingly common disagreements between the selectors, captain and sports minister.

The latest argument centred upon the selection of the squad for Sri Lanka's tour of South Africa, as Jayasuriya tried to make changes to the original 16-man party chosen by the three-man selection panel headed.

Jayasuriya, coach Dav Whatmore and cricket advisor Duleep Mendis where all invited to the selection meeting but afterwards a disgruntled Jayasuriya made a direct plea to sports minister Johnston Fernando to intervene.

According to reports, Jayasuriya wanted at least two changes: the inclusion of medium pace all-rounder Kaushalya Weereratne and wicket-keeping-batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, both of whom are club team-mates.

Jayasuriya complained to the minister that he had not been properly consulted, a claim that was vigorously denied by chairman of selectors Guy de Alwis, who revealed that Jayasuriya had been present throughout the meeting.

The selectors stood their ground, refusing to heed the sports minister's written request that they "reconsider" their selections, although they included left-arm fast bowler Ruchira Perera after his full fitness was confirmed.

The final 17-man squad was only confirmed by the sports ministry on Friday night, barely 48 hours before the team's departure.

Although fans questioned the wisdom of some of the selections made, there was widespread agreement that Jayasuriya had overstepped the mark.

"If he has differences with the selectors he must make it clear to them when they are discussing it. Not go running the Minister. It's ridiculous. Obviously individuals will have differences but in the end everyone must learn to compromise," said Rav.

Some were more scathing: "Instead of trying to continuously improve himself, he seems more concerned with how the board should run its affairs and which players he wants in the side. It's time the Board tells him who is boss," fumed Simon.

Simon went on to accuse Jayasuriya of favouritism: "Jayasuriya should not have the right to pack his club buddies in to the team. Does he think this is the Diplomatic Service where all your faithful followers are rewarded with ambassadorships?"

Chathura adds: "This running to Minister has become a joke. It ridicules SL cricket in the eyes of the world media. 'Minister, please stay out of selection decisions!' This type of tug-o-war not going to help players."

However, a fan nicknamed 'Ingenious' was more supportive of Jayasuriya's stance: "Jayasuriya is not right in running to the minister but they (selectors) probably did not listen to him in the first place. He should get used to voicing his opinion firmly because his captaincy is at stake when the team fails."

Ingenious worries about the capabilities of the selectors: "I always believed that the selectors had the statistics before them and, unlike us, actually watched the youngsters in person. But from all that has gone on here there appear to know zilch - why are they taking so many mediocre fast bowlers?"

Omar Nawaz, living in France, questions some specific decisions: "The 'dumping' of players such as Dilshan, Chamara Silva and Akalanka Ganegama is inexplicable. How Jehan Mubarak could have got the nod ahead of even Michael Vandort is baffling."

Rav is more worried about the fast bowlers selected: "All of the new bowlers have been plucked straight out of the development squad. Some haven't played a full season of first-class cricket. There are more seasoned bowlers available with A team experience - these young bowlers are too raw."

Finally, Chathura wants greater consistency: "Even though there are separate pools for National, A team and Development squads, there's definitely no orderly rise and fall of players through this structure. Zoysa is a classic example, going from steady national player to nobody within couple of months. The criteria being used to rate players are a mystery."

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