Sri Lanka are set to be fined by the ICC after refusing to attend conduct a compulsory post-match media conference following their 87-run World Cup defeat to Australia.
The 1996 world champions were comfortably beaten at The Oval on Saturday, 24 hours after lodging an official complaint about what they claim is inferior treatment compared to other nations.
Team officials refused to open the door to ICC officials after the match in a move that is certain to infuriate cricket’s governing body.
Sri Lanka team manager Ashantha de Mel claimed earlier this week some of the hotels the team have stayed at have lacked a swimming pool and the bus that had been ferrying them around the UK was too cramped.
De Mel was also unhappy about the pitch that was being prepared at The Oval, hinting that it was less batting friendly than the one that was prepared for India’s win over Australia last Sunday.
The claim was vehemently denied by the ICC who said they employ an independent body to work with local curators to prepare the pitches.
Australia captain Aaron Finch, who plays county cricket at The Oval for Surrey praised the pitch and praised the work of the curators who have battled against rain in the English capital all week.
“I thought the pitch played beautifully today,” Finch said.
“I thought with how dry it was it might spin more, but it played beautifully all day.”
Jeff
Roar Rookie
That's a good summary of the sorry state of SL cricket. In the mid 2000s, when SL cricket was strong at the international level, they obviously scoured the world long and hard for an administration blueprint that would carry the game forward...and clearly settled on adopting that of the West Indies Board. Similarities are uncanny, matched perhaps only by Zimbabwe.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't leave anything in the hands of SL officials..
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Sri Lankan cricket has been in trouble for years. Woeful administration, disputes between Board and players re pay, neglect of upcoming talent in the domestic competition because administrators couldn't be bothered with a strategy/succession plan during the golden years of Dilshan/Jayawardene/Sangakarra/Malinga/Herath etc.
dat
Roar Rookie
I feel they are now some what better than they were in the last year and half. They did beat South Africa in Sa, which neither India or Australia were able to accomplish (albeit with the absence of one AB Devillers) , beat Afghanistan in this wc and looked to produce a scare in the first 10 overs with the bat yesterday. Before the last few months, they were in quite a disarray since they kept replacing their captain every 2nd series,hiring and firing coaches without any reason,corruption allegation their officials,Malinga losing all his form and fitness,Angelo Mathews and his tussle with the coach, Losing to Afghanistan in the Asia cup , series loses to Zimbabwe etc. With the limited talent pool they have and their domestic setup being a complete joke, In all likelihood,they might never be able to replicate the form they had from 90's to early 2010's,but for whats it worth, they are at least showing signs of improving,after owning the 2nd poorest win ratio in the 50 over format among all the top 20 ranked icc teams(only papua new guinea had a worse win ratio in that time period).
Raimond
Roar Guru
SL officials need to get a handle on that, I wouldn’t leave anything in the hands of the ICC.
Neel
Roar Guru
I have never seen a Sri Lankan outfit that is so dysfunctional in my years of watching cricket. Politics, egos, ordinary selections, the retirement of two-three key players and other issues have led to the decline of Sri Lanka.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'll bet there weren't too many volunteers to go for a "recovery swim" in the past week, with the weather they've been having in England, James. I gather it's been colder in summer time in England, than it has on most of the east coast of Australia in winter!
Paul
Roar Guru
Dat, my understanding is each team has an advance party that is given all the details of the sorts of things you mention and weeks before hand, go to the various venues to find out about the training facilities, accommodation, transport, etc. I assume this would be same for Sri Lanka as the other touring sides. If so, why didn't they complain BEFORE the tournament started and if not, why didn't they take advantage of the time before the Cup started to see if there were any problems and if there were, get them fixed? I'm also wondering why the captain said nothing when it's his players who are being affected? At the end of the day, this still sounds like sour grapes to me, especially with the team manager airing grievances in public, rather than trying to resolve them in a more diplomatic manner.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Swimming pools are important because they’re used to assist recovery
dat
Roar Rookie
Their complaint was not just restricted to the type of pitches they played on but also included being provided a cramped bus with less seating capacity than other teams(which i heard might have been true), practice facilities provided at Cardiff only having 2 nets and also not have a swimming pool in their hotel at Bristol .
Paul
Roar Guru
Sri Lankan cricket is in trouble when they start to blame the ICC over claims of bias and underprepared pitches. If any team should have a complaint about scheduling, it's South Africa, with so many games so early in the tournament, or India, with so few. As for the pitch, yep, that was a good call by the Sri Lankan management after one bloke made more than 150 and another 70 odd, both at better than a run a ball. Sri Lanka the nation is struggling and clearly the team is going through a rebuilding phase. They both want to see their team winning and don't this kind of rubbish put on them by a bunch of bureaucrats. Let the guys play cricket and any issues can be thrashed out with the ICC in an appropriate manner.