Viewing 10 comments - 11 through 20 (of 25 total)
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  • This is a surprised selection. Should I call it “another selection blunder” of the SLC? Dickwella and Bhanuka should have been included in the T20 squad for some valid reasons. It seems that our selectors do not have a clue on how to sort out the unresolved issues with regard to two vital batting positions in the T20 team for this year’s WC. (1) Left hand opening batters’ position & (2) Having a Top/Middle order Power Hitting Batter. In Australia we lost the series because of these two issues. SLC respecting the fitness standards is good. But do you think every country is strictly complying with these standards? Can anyone believe that Rohith Sharma (similar body as Bhanuka) has a perfect skin fold value?

  • Wanindu has certainly arrived and made his mark (and aren’t we all sighing a breath of relief!). He has all the makings of the next Malinga including the fashion to go with talent. I thought he neglects his considerable batting talent which could elevate him to a higher level – to the genuine alrounder level – the Ben Stokes level!

    Having said all of those wonderful things about Hasaranga, Rizwan has been nothing short of sensational and he is a quality wicket keeper. His sheer weight of runs will give him the spot I reckon (and what a partnership he has formed with Babar – milk and honey!).

    Not surprised the other two nominees are in the ‘beast mode’ (thank Warney!) the all important mode for t20. Interestingly both have a secondary skill which is another t20 factor where you cannot no longer be a one dimensional player. Yes you can be much like Warner, Rohith and others but that is why none of them are on this list.

  • This is a beautiful jersey. The home jersey is really great. I love the different shades of blue in the jersey plus the lion and multiple lines offer the jersey some flare. The away jersey is traditionally Sri Lanka with the yellow and blue incorporated into the jersey. Great design 👍

  • 100% agree with Sa’adi. Only very few cricket commentators these days who have the courage to talk straight. Bulk of them do not want to upset technical committee or the board.
    We expected lot from this technical committee but they have failed so far. The new contracts with KPI’s appear to be having some faults. No point of having KPI’s if you cannot measure them in a transparent manner. Once cricketers pointed it out that to the board and the technical committee they got angry. Now they are all out to take revenge from senior cricketers. Even our great Murali’s reaction was very poor.
    It is good to give more opportunity to young talented cricketers. But we need a good short, medium and long terms plans with seniors also in the mix.
    We also need a chief selector who is capable of earning respect from from all the cricketers. Of course he cannot make everybody happy but with clear policies and transparent action he can earn respect from everybody. ( such as Mahanama )

  • Depreciating assets? Bad form is temporary. All our past greats were pretty average players for most of their careers, ha ups and many downs, and bloomed after playing for many years. We have had 50+ debuts since Sanath Jayasuriya became chairman of selectors. That is crazy. No one has been allowed a long consistent run for years.

    You want to have the best talent, you pay them well and treat them well or someone else will and you lose. If there is no incentive to become a professional cricketer, youngsters will look for different careers. National pride and nationalism won’t matter when it comes time to pay your bills.

  • The author Thawfeeq is a veteran journalist and one of the most respected cricket writers in SL.

    He has given us a different perspective on this issue and we must value that. All the bayyos in the SL media and some former players are behaving like political stooges and giving us only one angle.

    I have only read one other article about this contract issue that gives a balanced view like Thawfeeq has and all other news coming from SL about this has been to punish the players and chase our valuable talent away.

    These bayyos were attacking Kumar and Mahela years ago too. Not every person has the knowledge/skills to manage employees and value staff in order to grow and be successful.

    Bayyos have no management skills or good ideas. Cricketers are the cricket board’s top assets and should be top priority.

    Read this article as well if you want to get a clearer picture of this fiasco: https://www.islandcricket.lk/news/featured/sri-lanka-contracts-cricketers-dispute-210615/

  • Most SL journalists are idiots. Sa’adi has brains. Rex wants harsher punishments for players who broke the bio bubble. Rex wanted Malinga to be taught a lesson too when Mailinga had an issue with the board. These idiots must be thinking there are international quality cricketers under every coconut tree because they are chasing away many players. I can’t believe we went into several world cups without Upul Tharanga who is one of the greatest ODI batsmen in our history. He has 15 ODI centuries and had at least 10 more ODI tons under his belt but his career was mismanaged by idiotic selectors like Sanath Jayasuriya and others. Angelo and Dimuth are now facing same calamity. These guys are in their prime years and have the ability to score big, match winning hundreds.

  • Saadi is right. Most Sri Lankans will not agree. Aravinda and his technical committee are causing a bigger mess not fixing anything.

    Mickey is spineless and will do as he is told so no hope there.

    Namal will appoint committees filled with people whom the public adore because Namal is a populist politician and that’s what they do.

    Right before a World Cup they are experimenting with the side. More competent management would be using this precious time get their World Cup top order batsmen into form by playing them consistently. Not us. Even in 2014 they selected Chandimal (a guy who wasn’t even in the T20 team) to be captain of 2014 T20 World Cup side and later they had to drop him in the middle of the World Cup! Our problems have existed even before 2015 because the political stooges at SLC are not there because they have the skills and ability to manage a national sports body. The worst is yet to come. The decline is far from over and cannot be reversed by Aravinda’s c

Viewing 10 comments - 11 through 20 (of 25 total)
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