On Friday, Sri Lanka Cricket came up with a response for the World Cup-winning skipper, Arjuna Ranatunga who had criticized the board for agreeing to play against India’s B team in the upcoming limited-overs series, scheduled to be commencing on July 13. The cricket board refuted Ranatunga’s claims, saying the Indian team, led by Shikhar Dhawan, is a strong side.
Ranatunga had hit out at the Sri Lankan cricket board as he said, “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.”
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India named a 20-man squad with 6 uncapped players, who will be led by Shikhar Dhawan and features fresh faces. It will be coached by former Indian skipper, Rahul Dravid. Sri Lanka Cricket pointed out that 14 of the 20 players have played for India across all formats and the Dhawan-led side is a “strong” one.
In a statement regarding the same, Sri Lanka cricket wrote: “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that despite claims by various parties as reported in the Media, the National White-Ball team of India currently touring Sri Lanka is a strong squad. Out of the 20-member India squad, 14 players have represented India across all formats or in some form. (Test, ODI, or T20i), and not a ‘second-string team,’ as claimed.”
SLC also said international teams have been fielding two team simultaneously to deal with the Covid-19 restrictions. Notably, this is one of the rarest occasions where two Indians team will be in action simultaneously. India will play 3 ODIs and as many T20Is in Sri Lanka between July 13 and 25 while Virat Kohli’s men take on England in a 5-Test series, scheduled to be commencing on August 4.
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SLC’s statement further added, “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 aim of such arrangements is to be competitive in each format of the game by maintaining specialist players and squads. Apart from it, maintaining separate squads enable cricketing boards to fulfill their international commitments unhindered, such as the ICC Future Tours Program.”
