The presence of “white people” coaching and mentoring Sri Lanka’s international cricketers could likely become a thing of the past if incumbent Sports Minister Harin Fernando is able to have it his way and terminate their services.
Fernando said neither he nor the players were able to figure out what the Suddhas were asking them to do during practices or at a match.
“Oh God, did Sports Minister Harin Fernando really say that?”
He was referring to the debacle suffered by the Sri Lanka at the World Cup in October-November 2023 where the team ended in the ninth slot of the 10-nation tournament.
“The top is in disarray”, said Fernando. “We have eight white men (Suddo) deciding what has to be done with the team and the players don’t understand what they are saying. We cannot play cricket like this”.
Interestingly Minister Fernando made the remarks after a meeting with International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Jeff Allardice who visited the island to discuss how and when to lift a ban imposed on Sri Lanka.
But while claiming that the ICC gave him an assurance of lifting the ban by March, Minister Fernando was more vocal on the presence of foreigners and accused Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials of not taking responsibility for the team’s downfall at last year’s World Cup.
“I am telling SLC that somebody should take the blame for the debacle in the team. It is SLC that is responsible or is it the (foreign) coaches whose contracts we keep extending”, Fernando asked.
But former Sri Lanka and World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga said Minister Fernando’s curiosity to implement any changes at SLC was an eye-wash that most Sri Lankan followers will not buy.
“The government will not take anyone to task at Sri Lanka Cricket. An election is due this year and the campaign of government politicians will be funded by Sri Lanka Cricket,” Ranatunga charged.
