SRI LANKA TOUR OF INDIA 2017

Sri Lanka ODI squad's departure to India delayed

by Rex Clementine • Last updated on

All sporting teams chosen to represent Sri Lanka need the approval of minister of sports according to Sri Lanka's sports law. © Getty

In a bizarre turn of events, Sri Lankan One-Day International players' departure to India has been delayed. Nine players who will be part of Sri Lanka's ODI squad that will play the three-match series against India, including captain Thisara Perera, had turned up at the airport but were told to go back home, sources told Cricbuzz on Tuesday (December 5).

"Most players reached the airport around 9pm on Monday. Left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana had even boarded the flight, but they were told to go back home as the team didn't have the approval of the minister of sports," a cricket official told Cricbuzz.

All sporting teams chosen to represent Sri Lanka need the approval of minister of sports according to Sri Lanka's sports law. The squad was selected on November 30 but there seems to have been a delay in sending the squad to the Ministry for approval.

Generally, all squads chosen to represent Sri Lanka are approved by the minister of sports without any reservations, but in recent times, the ministry has stressed on minimum fitness standards for the cricket team. This, following a series of fitness issues of players. The authorities are to introduce minimum fitness standards to all sports by the next year.

Strangely, SLC has not still announced the squad.

Ahead of the third Test against India in New Delhi, left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was chosen to go in as replacement for veteran Rangana Herath, but the sports ministry refused to endorse his selection as he had failed the fitness test. Later, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay was flown in to the Indian capital.

"We expect to resolve the matter by Tuesday evening and players should be in India by Wednesday morning," the source further said.

Sri Lanka have suffered three 5-0 whitewashes this year against South Africa, India and Pakistan. The first ODI between Sri Lanka and India gets underway on December 10 in Dharamsala.

After the Ministerial approval, the nine players will leave for New Delhi Wednesday night.

"The reason I stopped the players from leaving Colombo is that it would set a bad precedence. They have now received the necessary clearance and will leave for India tonight," Sri Lanka's Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara told Cricbuzz.

** Updated with Dayasiri Jayasekara's quote

© Cricbuzz

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