An unnamed senior journalist and the Sri Lanka Cricket’s Consultant Sanath Jayasuriya are reported to have played a part in the return of Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva into the Test fold so he could avert a possible ban from playing in four matches at the T20 World Cup which starts in June this year.
Hasaranga had reached a stage where demerit points against his disciplinary breaches had reached a level of 24 that can bring him the four match ban after his conduct during the recent ODI series in Bangladesh slapped him with a further fine and accumulation of the demerit points.
But the journalist is reported to have conveyed to Hasaranga that he could avoid an ICC ban at the T20 World Cup if he returns to Test cricket and play in the current two-Test series against Bangladesh.
According to the ICC regulations governing breach of the disciplinary code, a player found guilty can either be banned for two Test matches or four ODI matches or the same number of T20 matches whichever comes first.
But having retired from Test cricket Hasaranga faced a possible four match ban at the T20 World Cup and the journalist who has a rapport with both Hasaranga and Jayasuriya is reported to have orchestrated the scenario.
The journalist had then contacted Jayasuriya and suggested that he (Jayasuriya) directs Hasaranga to submit a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket requesting that he be taken back into the Test squad .
Jayasuriya is then said to have told the head of the Selection Committee Upul Tharanga to name Hasaranga in the 15-man squad for the current Test series in Bangladesh to prove that he has served the two-match Test ban that could exempt him from a ban at the T20 World Cup.
Tharanga was reported to have told Jayasuriya that Hasaranga cannot be named in the Test squad as he had retired from the traditional five-day format of the game and even insisted that proof be shown that SLC had accepted the player’s letter seeking reinstatement.
It is still not officially clear whether Hasaranga was named in the Test squad for the Bangladesh series so he could serve the two-match Test ban or whether the Sri Lanka T20 captain will have to face a four-match ban at the T20 World Cup.
However, Mahinda Halangoda the Manager of the SLC Team in Bangladesh speaking to journalists at a press conference prior to the ongoing 1st Test Match said that Wanindu Hasaranga had in fact sent an email earlier to SLC indicating that we would wish to come out of retirement if selected to play Test cricket again.
