CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA 
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Present cricket team more talented than ’96 squad, says Arjuna
Sri Lanka's present cricket team is more talented than the 1996 World Cup winning squad, former cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga said.
"With the exception of Aravinda de Silva, the cricket team we have today is more talented than the 1996 squad," he said, adding that the present administration of the sport has misled young and talented cricketers.
"I had several questions with the Asia Cup," Ranatunga said raising concerns as to why the Asian Cricket Council awarded USD 50,000 to the curators and groundsmen at Colombo and Kandy.
"I have one question. There have been many Indian tours of Sri Lanka. Some games were washed out while some were played due to the dedicated service of the ground staff. But I have never witnessed anyone awarding them cash prizes," Ranatunga said.
The former cricket captain said that he is not opposed to money being distributed to the staff.
"I like it very much if the money is given to someone, and not stolen. But then, the Man of the Match too gave his prize money to the staff at the end of the tournament," Ranatunga said, adding that the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket has never made payments of this nature.
"The groundsmen rendered their services for all these years, but not even the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket has made payments of this nature. These are the facts that media must investigate," he opined.
Ranatunga said he will not make further comments on the matter, as he will be portrayed negatively for voicing these concerns.
The former Sri Lanka skipper also slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) as well as players for their silence on the controversy surrounding the rule changes, which he had earlier said favoured encounters featuring India and Pakistan.
Ranatunga advised the public not to blame players, despite issues with their professionalism. Although the country's current national players have several issues including their discipline and commitment, these are issues which can be addressed as responsible seniors, Ranatunga said.
"The players are always blamed. The skipper was blamed, the toss was blamed. But nobody spoke of the pitch, nobody blamed those who prepared the wicket," he said.
"Why can't a single player voice the issue where rules were changed in the middle of the tournament? It is because India is a powerful country. But we cannot betray our country, just because India is powerful," he said. (Kalani Kumarasinghe)
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