Kapila Wijegunawardena alleged that he was a victim of petty politics © Getty
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) accused former selection committee chief Kapila Wijegunawardena of hurting the morale of the national team ahead of their ICC World T20, 2016 campaign by making "inaccurate and misleading" statements in the media.
"Mr Wijegoonawardne's statements are inaccurate, misleading, and defamatory, and furthermore are of the nature to cause grevious injury to the morale of the Sri Lanka cricket team, currently intent on bringing home the World T20 trophy," a statement from the board read.
Wijegunawardena, who was recently sacked as head of Sri Lanka's selection panel, had alleged that he was a victim of petty politics. He said that a selection committee would not be required in future as politicians were hand-picking the squad. Wijegunawardena also stated that the decision to relive Lasith Malinga of his duties as the skipper for the World T20 was deliberated at a team hotel room during the Asia Cup.
On the back of a string of poor results, Sri Lanka's cricket has endured a tough time in the recent past. To make matters worse, the entire selection committee was unceremoniously sacked by Sri Lanka'a Sports Minister, Dayasiri Jayasekera after the national side failed to make it to the final of the Asia Cup T20, 2016.
The current chairman of SLC, Tilanga Sumathipala, is the deputy speaker of parliament and it is believed that he had influenced Sports Minister Jayasekera to fire Wijegunawardene.
The SLC has now appointed a three-member independent panel to review Wijegoonawardne's statements and make recommendations to the board on the appropriate disciplinary action to be taken against him, if necessary.
© Cricbuzz
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