Differences in the Sri Lankan team come to the fore

COLOMBO, July 16: Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya's apparent differences with Arjuna Ranatunga surfaced here yesterday when he boyco...

COLOMBO, July 16: Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya’s apparent differences with Arjuna Ranatunga surfaced here yesterday when he boycotted his predecessor’s first public appearance after the country’s World Cup debacle.

Organisers of a panel discussion — billed as a “world exclusive” — said Jayasuriya had been invited but could not attend.

Several local sports reporters and writers had also kept away from the meet as a mark of protest against Ranatunga’s attacks against a number of newspapers.

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Ranatunga said he was unsure whether he would be picked to play in the upcoming series against Australia and the One-day series — India is the third team — though he has been named in a 30-member list of probables with another veteran Aravinda de Silva.

“I am not sure if I will be picked by the selectors,” he said. “It’s up to the selectors to decide and not me.”

Jayasuriya’s seat remained empty at the same table where Ranatunga sat with Aravinda, who was also axed from his job as vice-captain in the aftermath of the 1996 champions’ disastrous campaign in England.

Two other seniors, Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tillekeratne, who had been invited to attend the discussion also stayed away.

AP adds:

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Ranatunga said he still had enough talent to play for his country, but claimed there was a conspiracy to oust him.

Ranatunga said, “This is not the time for me to go, when Sri Lankan cricket is down. Nobody can tell me when to go if I am getting runs. I still feel that I have a lot of cricket in me,” he said in the television interview in his first public appearance since he was axed as captain.

“I know of a conspiracy to see that I am gone forever. But this is not going to happen. I am around and I intend to be around,” Ranatunga, who led his country in 193 One-day matches and 56 Tests, said.

Ranatunga declined to name the alleged conspirators. “I am collecting evidence and when I have them all, I will expose them.”

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He said he had no objection to playing under Jayasuriya but cautioned that success was unlikely to be achieved overnight. “I do not think it is difficult to play under Sanath. I have played under Aravinda when I was dropped earlier as captain,” Ranatunga said.

“Sanath has played under me. He is very talented. If people are expecting results overnight, I think it is wrong,” he said.

Ranatunga also said he had no problems with former Australian cricketer Dav Whatmore who quit as the Sri Lankan coach after the 1996 World Cup victory (apparently due to differences with senior cricketers). Whatmore has been reappointed the Sri Lankan coach.