Thisara Perera, the dashing allrounder of Sri Lanka team, has accused Tanya Perera, the wife of team’s shorter formats captain Lasith Malinga, for deliberately attacking against him in order to malign his image. Perera, who has been in form of his life in recent times, has written a letter to SLC CEO Ashley De Silva, asking him to interfere immediately to solve the crisis, the team is facing currently.
Here are the excerpts from the letter :
Mr. Ashley De Silva
Chief Executive Officer
Sri Lanka Cricket
35, Maitland Place
Colombo 7
26th January 2019
Dear Sir,
I write to you with a sense of disappointment and great concern for Sri Lanka Cricket and myself as a senior player in the team.
As you may already know there has been a series of posts on social media targeted at me by Mrs. Tanya Perera, the wife of Sri Lanka ODI and T20 captain Lasith Malinga. My wife and I had endured these posts in the past and kept quiet about it put of the respect to the game and off course Lasith Malinga himself.
However, it took a darker more demeaning turn while we were in New Zealand right in the middle of a tour. The level of discomfort and mental trauma that was endured as a result of this was beyond words.
I have been accused of running after high ranking officials and minister asking them to retain me in the national team. I have always adhered to the selection process of SLC and never once questioned a decision to drop me, nor have I asked for the favours in this regard. Upon my recall to the national side, I believe I have done justice to my place. My statistics for 2018 would speak for itself.
Furthermore, I have never shied away from responsibility. When Sri Lanka has to tour, I had entrusted with the captaincy, when no one else came forth. May I add that it was an honour and I previlage to represent my country in a tour that was more about helping a fallen neighbor to regain international status as a safe touring destination.
However, when these kind of accusations are made by the incumbent captain’s wife on social media, it is hardd to prevent the general public from believeing and further slandering me in various ways. The pressure was such that I knew that if I failed in one game, that I would be dropped without a doubt
There has been a general sense of unease in the dressing room ever since and to be honest the environment was rather unpleasant for the youngsters especially when two senior players were not on the same page. We can now play as a team with friction. The leadership’s role is to create stability and unity within the team even before one could start with a game plan. In this instant I regret to say we had none of the above.
I have had to endure these slanderous posts and the embarrassment of having to answer to people of my intentions were in fact in line with the team? Nobody plays for Sri Lanka with an intention to lose. We give our best to the team and country and my performance in the New Zealand tour due just that.
Today, we were once again targeted at the joking point on one of Mrs. Perera’s posts. Needless to say it went viral and ended on my social media feed as well.
I know these posts are created to dishearten and shaken my confidence. However, I don’t deter. But having stated that, sir I plead with you to intervene here and put an end to this childish behavior by a very well respected public figure.
We are at the verge of a world cup. Our focus and attention should be on performing well at it instead of bickering over social media on pointless issues. Thevteam is in dire need of steady leadership and guidance. Importantly as environment of unity is needed in the dressing room. Something we lack very desperately at the moment. These issues need ractifying ahead of the World Cup.
We need to go forward as a unit for an a team of factions. The leadership and seniors of the tea m must set the example for this.
I am available for an inquiry in necessary.
I thank you for providing me an opportunity to bring forward my concerns to the team management.
Sincerely
Thisara Perera
It is noteworthy that few weeks ago, Lasith Malinga’s wife had posted on social sites accusing Thisara to go behind high profile officials to retain his shorter formats captaincy.
