World Cup spot and series at stake due to poor planning

Rex Clementine at Pallekele

When politicians have a say in making key appointments, they nominate kith and kin, stooges and in some cases total misfits. That’s what has happened when you look at the Central Bank, Ministry of Agriculture and National Cricket Selection Panel. We warned in these spaces on Sunday that playing five specialist batsmen in the ongoing three match ODI series is too much of a risk. A day later that became four with Minod Bhanuka ruled out with injury. The selectors should have addressed the issue by adding more cover in the batting department. But they were arrogant and thought that they had all bases covered and were taught a bitter lesson on Tuesday as Zimbabwe squared the three match series.

Sri Lanka had a good opportunity to seal this series 3-0 and move up to number three in ICC World Super League, but poor planning and lack of knowledge have been stumbling blocks towards the team making progress. The selectors have been quick to point fingers at players for not living up to expectations but have they done their jobs well? They are yet to address a single media briefing although there have been several debatable decisions. You can only come to the conclusion that they are hiding behind the pandemic.

This series is part of the ICC World Super League and all focus must be on automatic qualification for the game’s showpiece event to be hosted by India next year – the 50 over World Cup. Only hosts India and seven other teams who are top in the rankings go through automatically while the other five of the 13 teams will be relegated to play a qualifying round. A bit more planning would have seen Sri Lanka collecting all 30 points available in the series.

Sri Lanka opted for four specialist batsmen and three all-rounders. Among them, apart from Pathum Nissanka the rest were not in the best of form while Kusal Mendis was returning after a suspension.

Successful Sri Lankan teams in 1990s had Roshan Mahanama at number seven. A decade later Russel Arnold occupied that slot. To expect Chamika Karunaratne to deliver at seven is wishful thinking.

Sri Lanka’s one-day team resembles the England’s ODI teams of 1990s and 2000s where they relied on too many half-baked all-rounders. England hardly made any progress in white ball cricket those days. That’s exactly what’s happening to Sri Lanka at the moment as they are pinning their hopes on Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne. Of the three all-rounders, only one can play in the side and if the selectors are not willing to accept the reality, let them learn the lessons the hard way.

Having said that, it was a remarkable fight back by Dasun  Shanaka and Kamindu Mendis after being set a stiff target of 303. Reduced to 63 for four, they did well to help Sri Lanka reach a score of 280.  In the post match media briefing, Kamindu admitted that had he stayed on till the 40th over instead of getting out in the 35th, the result could have been different.

Or maybe if Sri Lanka had more batting depth, the result could have been different too.

Another pertinent point that needs to be asked is despite you having so many bowling resources, how come the opposition is posting totals in excess of 300. Obviously the team has missed Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera making a comeback after COVID wasn’t the same bowler. The fielding standards were horrible. That has been that for the last so many years. Sadly, no one wants to address the issue. When Zimbabwe’s fielding is better than Sri Lanka’s, you can have a fair idea about our standards.