Sri Lanka: Frayed tempers mark 3-hour selection meeting (4 March 1999)

4 March 1999

Sri Lanka: Frayed tempers mark 3-hour selection meeting

Elmo Rodrigopulle

The selectors of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka comprising Duleep Mendis (chairman), T. B. Kehelgamuwa and K. M, Nelson after a stormy near three-hour meeting on Tuesday picked a squad of 18 from which the final 15 will be picked for the World Cup tournament due to start on May 15. The other selector Asantha de Mel is out of the country.

Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and vice captain Aravinda de Silva were co-opted into the meeting. The selectors did well in inviting the captain and vice captain to the selection process because they are the people most concerned when it comes to the game.

According to reports, it probably was the most heated selection meeting with tempers getting frayed at times. But all being cricketers of repute they selected the best men with the ability to perform, considering that we are the World champions and that hard earned tag must be jealously guarded and retained.

The 18-member squad finally pencilled down were; Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Aravinda de Silva (VC), Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharene, Avishka Gunawardena, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardena, Upul Chandana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Kumara Dharmasena, Nuwan Zoysa, Chandika Hathurusinghe, Eric Upashantha, Suresh Perera, Ruwan Kalpage and Hemantha Boteju.

Missing from the Australian tour party for the Carlton and United Series are: - Hashan Tillekeratne, Roshan Mahanama and Ruchira Perera.

It is understood that there was a strong lobby for the inclusion of Hashan Tillekeratne. Firstly for his immense experience and secondly for his ability to keep wickets if injury strikes Kaluwitharane. That was a sensible argument considering that retaining the World Cup is our priority. The selectors will not be faulted if they rethink and include Tillekeratne.

Considering that Sri Lanka has to play 10 matches in all in the World Cup bash - 5 first round games, 3 super league matches, semi-final and final, experience is of utmost importance and it is hoped that when the final squad of 15 is made, it will be enveloped with experience.

It is interesting to note the inclusion of Kumara Dharmasena who was under a cloud with a suspect action. If he has been cleared then he will add muscle as an important allrounder.

Left arm paceman Nuwan Zoysa has also been given the green light by the medics concerned and if he is fully fit then there is no doubt that he should be in the final squad.

Ian 'beefy' Botham, the former England captain and all-rounder has been signed on by the Cricket Board to coach the Sri Lankan pacemen. The Sri Lankans are due in England an April 23 and Botham will immediately begin his stint with the pacemen.

Botham's aggressive approach, on which he based his success will be of great importance to our pacies in their search for success.

Roy Dias the former stylish wizard with the bat will be the coach. Dias has earned the respect of his charges and continuity too is what he needs.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)