Sri Lankan cricket players raise concerns with Cabinet Sub-Committee

• Slam coaching staff for ignoring concerns, flag absentee team doctor
• Criticize quality of pitches and turf provided to them   

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

In a candid session with the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to address issues affecting Sri Lanka Cricket, members of the national cricket team expressed several concerns and grievances highlighting significant gaps in player management, coaching, the quality of pitches and turf provided to them and overall administration.   

The Sub-Committee, led by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry submitted its report to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on January 1 this year. The report is said to have been compiled against the backdrop of the current crisis, taking into account opinions and recommendations from various key entities.   

The players asserted that the coaching staff exhibited an unwillingness to listen to their concerns. They emphasized a perceived lack of attention to skills training and expressed exhaustion following morning fitness sessions.   

The team informed the committee that the assigned team doctor was rarely present, leading to an unfulfilled medical support objective. They suggested that a well-presented fitness improvement strategy could positively impact the team. They highlighted the absence of a specific nutrition plan and skill training.   

They expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of motivational and psychological support/training, citing a complete absence of communication and agreement on these critical issues.   
Certain players expressed concerns about potential judgment or victimization if they raised issues with the administration or personnel, fostering a culture of non-openness.   

The team believed there was a serious communication breakdown, leading to problems. They noted that many service providers/consultants had close ties to the SLC administration rather than being top-level specialists.   

Players expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of involvement in planning training programmes, fitness regimens, and tournament preparations.   

The team criticized the absence of a strategic approach to scheduling, particularly the proximity of the LPL tournament to the Asia Cup and World Cup, which they believed was detrimental to Sri Lanka’s efforts.   

Players strongly criticized personnel responsible for preparing grounds and pitches, citing a lack of technical expertise as a cause for the decline in abilities among batsmen and bowlers.   
The players expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of cricket in local tournaments, substandard pitches, and the recruitment process for coaching and support staff, alleging favoritism over merit.   
Players argued that playing on such surfaces did not adequately prepare them for international competitions held in various regions worldwide.   
Concerns were raised about the merger of Division 1 and 2, as well as the consolidation of 24 teams into one division, negatively affecting the quality of cricket and competition. The players proposed a two-tier tournament system.   

Players believed that specialized player clinics, focusing on spin bowling, quick bowling, and wicket keeping, were beneficial. They urged the implementation of such programmes.   
At the club level, the players observed a dominance of spin bowling, with several clubs opting to open their bowling with spinners. This trend has led to concerns about the lack of development of fast bowlers and limited exposure for batsmen against fast bowling.   

In response to the players concerns, the committee proposed formalizing the Technical Advisory Committee, consisting of former international cricketers, to advise on cricket-related decision-making.   

The report recommended the separation of general administration and cricket-related matters, introducing a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for administrative affairs and a Director-Cricket for cricket-related activities. A four-year plan, drafted by the Technical Advisory Committee in collaboration with stakeholders, was proposed for approval by the Executive Committee.   
Coaches and support staff should be chosen based on current strategic competitive necessities and international standards. The report stressed the ongoing development of cricket abilities and monitoring of players, incorporating technological advances and data analytics.   

Meanwhile, members of the Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team have put forward a proposal for the establishment of a women’s franchise tournament, akin to the Lanka Premier League (LPL).   

In the recommendation put forward by the sub-committee, the proposal suggests that a select few premier clubs compete in Division 1, while others are relegated to Division 2, with promotion and demotion contingent on performance metrics.   

Also, both divisions are urged to align their pitches, infrastructure, and officiating with international standards.   

The committee underscores the need to make domestic cricket highly competitive, proposing a revamped and strengthened provincial cricket framework as a permanent fixture. The initiative involves selecting the best talents from domestic, U-19, Emerging, and A-teams for provincial tournaments, mirroring the successful model of Australia’s Sheffield Shield.   
With a strong emphasis on maintaining diverse age and gender squads and planning fixtures in advance, the committee explored the possibility of introducing a women’s franchise league.