Sri Lanka’s new cricket selectors are washing their hands over the re-appointment of Kusal Mendis to captain the team in the home series against Zimbabwe claiming the matter was for Sri Lanka Cricket to decide.
Mendis, who captained Sri Lanka at the 2023 World Cup in India where the team finished in the ninth slot in the 10-nation championship, was given the nod to continue in the leadership role two days after he smashed the glass door of rival club Bloomfield at a domestic match that was widely viewed as a serious breach of discipline on his part.
The new Sri Lankan ODI skipper’s sporty hair cut
But at their maiden Press conference to announce the Sri Lanka squad, head selector Upul Tharanga said they are awaiting the outcome of an investigation into the rage after Mendis who plays for the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) smashed the glass door of Bloomfield after he was dismissed for a second-ball duck.
“Discipline is very important especially when it involves the captain. We are awaiting the Report and the matter is in the hands of SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) and SSC (Sinhalese Sports Club)”, said Tharanga who refused to reveal what kind of punishment Mendis will be subjected to.
But Tharanga acknowledged that Mendis who replaced Dasun Shanaka was not the best man for the job that in the past was associated with leaders in the mould of players like Anura Tennekoon, Micheal Tissera, Bandula Warnapura, Duleep Mendis, Ranjan Madugalle, Arjuna Ranatunga and more recently the great batting pair of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena who were unquestionable in their conduct as captains.
“At the World Cup Dasun Shanaka was not among the runs and was not scoring and Kusal Mendis came in. So we thought we will go with Kusal Mendis”, said Tharanga when he was asked why Mendis was preferred ahead of Shanaka for the current series against Zimbabwe.
