When the much awaited announcement of Sri Lanka’s squads for the T-20 and ODI series in UAE against Pakistan came, there were indeed a few surprises.
One of them was that the selectors had said that they were resting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. They had given out two reasons. One was that excessive amount of cricket Herath had played this year while the second was that they were concerned of a burn out of their star spinner in the lead up to the 2015 World Cup.
The statement revealed something significant. The selectors, who do no more honourary jobs as they are paid for their work, don’t do their homework.
To put it plainly, Herath had not played a single T-20 International in the entire 2013. If he is part of their plans for the World T-20, he should have been included in the squad to see what he can bring to the table against Pakistan. Herath has to be a part of the World T-20 squad, to be played next March in Bangladesh as he brings much needed experience and more than that variation to an attack that is heavily depended on off-spin bowling.
There’s no way that the selectors can grumble that Herath has played excessive cricket. In 2013, he has just played three Tests and 17 ODIs and no T-20s at all, which is insignificant according to international standards. In comparison, Herath played 10 Tests, 22 ODIs and four T-20 Internationals in 2012.
People who watch selectors’ moves with suspicion claim that Herath was left out as the selectors have ulterior motives. They have reasons to believe so as well.
Since 2010, Sri Lanka’s selectors have tried several spinners without much success except for Herath. Off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake was shaping up nicely. In the series against South Africa this year, he not only did bowl economically but caught the opposition by surprise as he could bowl with the new ball quite effectively.
Senanayake is 28 and has only played six T-20 Internationals. He should play more in order to gain more experience and by no means he has a permanent place in the side. But surprisingly for the game against New Zealand a fortnight ago at Pallekele the selectors rested him. The official explanation was that the selectors wanted to check some of the other players in the squad and that player happened to be Ramith Rambukwella.
There’s no denying of the fact that Ramith’s talents are suited for T-20 cricket. But the fact that the 22-year-old has made his international debut prior to his Royal College contemporary Bhanuka Rajapakasa means that there could have been other reasons than mere cricketing ones for his selection. That is where Sanath Jayasuriya has been not entirely honest.
Sanath’s selections are so inconsistent. While he felt it was appropriate for a budding cricketer like Senanayake to be left out of the playing eleven in order to try out someone new, he didn’t feel that the same rule should apply for some of the batsmen.
The T-20 International against New Zealand featured all the seniors. Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillekeratne Dilshan were all part of the side. But how come that the selectors didn’t feel that they should try out someone else than the three men who are sure to make it to the World T-20 squad, remains a question.
One reason why that Sri Lankan cricket faced many setbacks over the years was that the administrators weren’t honest. Among our recent administrators we have had proven crooks.
The selectors largely remained independent. The Board couldn’t interfere with selections. But the situation has changed in recent times. Now that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) pays cricket selectors, they have direct influence on the selectors. It’s nothing new and happens elsewhere in the world. But the problem is honesty is a word alien to SLC.
