Arjuna Ranatunga: An insult to Sri Lanka

India captain Shikhar Dhawan (right) and teammates during their first training session in Colombo, Sri Lanka yesterday. Pic/BCCI Twitter

Sri Lanka's World Cup-winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga has slammed the country's cricket board for agreeing to host a 'second string Indian team' in a white-ball series later this month, saying that it is nothing short of an "insult."

India and Sri Lanka are due to compete in three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals beginning July 13. With India's major stars like skipper Virat Kohli and his limited-overs deputy Rohit Sharma in England for an upcoming Test series, the team here is being led by opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and features half a dozen uncapped players.

Arjuna Ranatunga. Pic/AFP

‘Administration to blame'

"This is a second string Indian team and their coming here is an insult on our cricket. I blame the current administration for agreeing to play with them due to television marketing needs," Ranatunga, a government minister until two years ago, told reporters at his residence. "India sent their best team to England and sent a weaker side to play here. I blame our board for that," added the legendary batsman, who led Sri Lanka to the 1996 ODI world title.

SLC justifies position

Sri Lanka Cricket responded by saying that the touring squad is a seasoned one. "Out of the 20-member India squad, 14 players have represented India across all formats or in some form and not a second string team as claimed," the SLC stated.

The visiting team has just completed its compulsory quarantine and would play the home team in the first ODI on July 13. India's National Cricket Academy chief and celebrated former captain Rahul Dravid is the head coach for the tour.

"This is the latest norm in the cricketing world, especially the full ICC member countries, as they maintain specialist squads and players for each format of the game," the SLC said.

Five Lankans spurn tour contracts

Five Sri Lanka cricketers have refused to sign "tour" contracts ahead of the limited overs home series against India amid the stalemate between the board and the players over national contracts. Sri Lankan cricketers are currently playing in England without a contract as an agreement could not be reached with the board before their departure for the UK.

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