There is an ‘elite‘ club in Sri Lanka cricket and privileged members of that club never allows outside side players to prosper. The classic examples are Lasith Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Both were freak! Both had great cricketing brain. But, they were never seriously considered and supported as captains. Now, the same thing is happening with Suranga Lakmal.
In last ten months, ever since Chandika Hathurusingha has taken over as head coach of Sri Lanka, the national team has completely been lost the plot and in the news for all wrong reasons. First, there was ball tampering incident, followed with breach of the spirit of the game! Ever consistent Danushka Gunathilika also stole the limelight with his unique off field antics. And now, the removal of Angelo Mathews! You can get 10 breaking news of the Sri Cricket daily, but nothing will be related to cricket! It’s all for wrong reasons!
During this difficult time for Sri Lanka cricket, Suranga Lakmal emerged as the most unlikeliest hero!
When Dinesh Chandimal, Chandika Hathurusingha and Asanka Gurusinha all perished after ball tampering controversy during the second test against West Indies in May, Lakmal took over captaincy reins, that too of a rather inexperienced team. Even then, by defying all odds, he won a test match for Sri Lanka!
It was not a fluke! He repeated the history against South Africa as well. Now, he has captained Sri Lanka in three tests, and has 100 percent winning record. In an era, where a single win has been celebrated as a world Cup win by Sri Lanka fans, Lakmal produced three test wins in a trot!
More importantly, he looked like a captain in command. He was aggressive, innovative and never afraid to take risk. In one of the test against South Africa, he persisted only with spinners to bundle out opposition batting line up and didn’t give a single over to fast bowlers, including himself!
In just three tests, Lakmal showed the captaincy skills and proved that he has the leadership skills. Moreover, he proved that he has that ‘Midas touch’ to win the matches in most difficult circumstances.
However, instead of being rewarded with leadership in any of the format, especially when Sri Lanka cricket is playing musical chairs game with captaincy, he has been removed from the ODI squad!
For an outsider, it’s a normal selection process. However, insiders confirms Cricket Age that it was a well planned conspiracy to keep Lakmal away from the leadership role.
According to sources, there was an argument between Hathurusingha and Lakmal, after he was mysteriously dropped from the squad against Afghanistan match in Asia Cup. Lakmal, stunned by team management decision, asked about his exclusion. The powerful coach didn’t like that his authority was challenged! So, now he has been removed from the ODI squad for the upcoming series against England.
Though, there are lot of other reasons as well of his removal. Angelo Mathews has always been praised and supportted by some former players from the ‘elite group’. Kumar Sangakkara, in particular, is a big supporter of Mathews, right from the beginning. As he always backed Lahiru Thirimane and he could never deliver as a batsman, he always supported Mathews as a captain, even though he could never achieve his true potential as a leader!
Sangakkara has always this habit to support and back wrong peoples at wrong time for wrong cause!
It’s all because Mathews is regarded as an ‘urban star’, while Lakmal is an outsider. He doesn’t belongs to elite club of Colombo. He is not good in English and is not a darling of media either. He just believes in his ability, hard work and passion for the game!
But, this is an era, where you must brand yourself. Otherwise, you will be knocked out. Few years ago, same thing happened with Tillakaratne Dilshan. He was one of the most complete player in Sri Lanka cricket history : a great batsman, a bowler with Midas touch, outstanding fielder! But, some ‘external factors‘ had never allowed him to captain Sri Lanka with full support! Then, same thing happened with Lasith Malinga. He has won a t20 world Cup for his country. But, like Dilshan, he was also an outsider. Like Dilshan, he was also not good in English. He was more like a Sri Lankan, not like an Englishman!
And Sri Lanka Cricket doesn’t like the players for captaincy role, who have Sri Lanka flavour! Chandika Hathurusingha is also the same. He is not a Sri Lankan anymore. He is an Australian. An urban star! His friends Thilan Samaraweera, Romesh Rathnayake are also urban stars now! They have forgotten their roots!
That’s why Suranga Lakmal has been removed and Dinesh Chandimal has been appointed as new Sri Lanka captain!
