Team management’s selection and tactical blunders continued as Sri Lanka U19 lost the match against Afghanistan by 32 runs through D/L method, played on Wednesday at Whangarei in the U19 world cup .
Sri Lanka ‘think tank’ included Santush Gunathilika by dropping Hasitha Boyagoda. Boyagoda, a stylish right-hander batman, played a match winning knock against the same opposition during the Asia Cup few months ago. However, Coach Roy Dias and manager Mahinda Halangoda dropped him for the ‘Mr. Favourite’ Santush Gunathilika, and to make things worse, asked Nipun Dananjaya to open the innings, even after knowing that he never opened in his life, not even for his school sides and naturally he is a middle order batsman.
As expected, he failed miserably and could make only 4 runs while opening.
They dropped Boyagoda, who has been a regular opener for Sri Lanka U19 in recent months. But included Gunathilika as a fast bowling allrounder. He bowled few overs in order to justify his inclusion but couldn’t get a wicket. To make things worse, while batting, Gunathilika Couldn’t justify his selection once again as he could only make paltry 12 runs off 18 balls. During the last overs, when Sri Lanka was searching for quick runs, Gunathilika was rotating the strike and exposing tail enders.
These strange selections raised many questions! Dhananjaya Lakshan, another opener who made a match winning century in the first match against Ireland, is also a fast bowling allrounder. Actually, during the Asia Cup, he opened the bowling for Sri Lanka in two matches.
However, in order to justify Gunathilika inclusion, Team management didn’t instruct the captain to give a single over to Lakshan in today’s match.
