Minister hits back at criticism over delayed approval of World Cup squad

Says SLC did not follow the correct procedure, asks who will take responsibility for any injustice in selection

In a fresh rebuke of the current administration of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe today said that SLC had delayed submitting the proposed squad and support staff for the upcoming World Cup for his approval, and therefore the Ministry was unable to send a suitable team for the sports’ showpiece event which begins in India next week. 

The statement comes as the Minister faced criticism on social media for approving the final Sri Lanka squad only hours before the team was set to leave for India on Tuesday. 

According to the Sports Law, Minister Ranasinghe clarified, SLC were expected to send the proposed squad list 21 days before the team’s depart to India, which they had not done. 

“Under the Sports Law, a letter containing the information of the players and officials travelling overseas, should be forwarded to Minister of Sports for approval 21 days prior (to the team’s departure) but SLC only sent the letter, signed by its Secretary Mohan de Silva, on Thursday September 20,” the Minister said in a media release. 

“The letter was only received by the Department of Sports Development (DSD) on Friday September 21, and despite the next two days being holidays, the approval of the National Sports Council (NSC) and the DSD was sought with the proposed squad then being reverted to the Secretary of the Sports Ministry, for the Minister’s approval,” the statement also read. 

The Minister claimed that this was not enough time to analyse the selections, or for an appeal to be lodged. 

“If an injustice has happened to any player or official, who will take responsibility?” the Minister asked. 
The Minister also added that he asked SLC for the timeline of recovery for three players – Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka – who were named in the proposed squad but were “subject to fitness”. 

The final squad list that was released by SLC on Tuesday evening however, it did not include Hasaranga, the names of Theekshana and Madushanka were included but without an asterisk over their fitness.