Sports Minister recalls Sri Lanka ODI players
December 5, 2017 11:09 am
Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara has recalled the Sri Lankan cricketers who left for India last night to join the ODI squad for the upcoming series, sources told Ada Derana.
Nine players who were attempting to travel to India have reportedly been turned away at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
Sources said that the Sports Minister has not granted approval to the squad.
Sri Lanka are currently playing the series decider of the 3-match Test series against India in New Delhi.
Following this, they will shift the action to a three-match ODI series, which will be the final fifty-over series for both teams.
Sports Ministry sources said Jayasekera was incensed that the players had been cleared to leave before he had given formal approval to the team selection.
A 1973 law gives the Sri Lankan sports minister the power to change national teams before they compete.
The ministry sources said Jayasekera may order at least two changes to the squad named by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board.
The nine players stopped from leaving were led by captain Thisara Perera who was only named last week.
The other eight are Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chathuranga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep.
