It’s shameful that Sri Lanka legends like Aravinda De Silva and Kumar Sangakkara advocates non performers like Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimane just to boost brand ‘Charlie Austin‘.
Aravinda De Silva, probably the best batsman in Sri Lanka cricket history. A living Legend. A big match player, unlike other so called Legends who played and plays only for records.
Aravinda won the 1996 world cup for his country, with some magical innings. In Semi final against, at Eden Garden Kolkata, his counter attacking innings of 66 was probably one of the most outrageous knock in World Cup history. Then in final, against Australia, he defused Shane Warne and Co. with his mesmerizing hundreds to bring the glory for Sri Lanka cricket.
That great Aravinda, as Sri Lanka is preparing for World Cup 2019, has now backed Dinesh Chandimal!
“We need a solid opener like Dimuth Karunaratne for ODIs since we are playing the World Cup in England, Then we have Angelo Mathews who will return to the side, Chandimal is also there so our bench strength is good” Aravinda said on Sri Lanka World Cup squad.
Obviously, it was beyond logic. It has been almost a decade, since Chandimal has been playing for Sri Lanka. Touted as Sri Lanka future, future captain, next great, Chandimal could not fulfil any of the promise, he had shown during the early days of his career. Few flashy test innings here and there, that’s it! Chandimal and Virat Kohli started their career at same time. Today, Kohli is chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 international centuries record, while Chandimal has finally been discarded from all three formats.
This is not the fault of selection committee. This is not the fault of Sri Lanka Cricket Board. This is Chandimal’s own fault.
To be precise, Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimane (another player, whom Aravinda backs blindly) are of lost generation. Both they wasted ten precious years of Sri Lanka Cricket. Many talented and deserving players could not play for Sri Lanka, because of too brass blind faith in Chandimal and Thirimane.
Fortunately, Now, SLC, selectors and Sri Lanka Cricket fans alike have realized the incompetent of Chandimal and Thirimane at international level. As a result, just within few months, Sri Lanka have unearthed youngsters like Oshada Fernando and Avishka Fernando, who have impressed big time!
Unfortunately, the great Aravinda, as usually, is batting for Chandimal. It’s shocker, but not unexpected! After all, the great Aravinda has always backed Chandimal and Thirimane without any proper reason. He was the one who included Thirimane in a t20 world cup squad, which was one of the most ridiculous decision in the world cup history.
He became the great Aravinda, by scoring tons of runs, by whacking Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, by playing most memorable knocks in World Cup history.
The same Aravinda is backing Chandimal and Thirimane, who wasted ten years of Sri Lanka Cricket!
Next, Sri Lanka Cricket fans can expect another statement about Thirimane inclusion in World Cup squad by another legend Kumar Sangakkara. He is the all time too scorer for Sri Lanka in Test and ODIs. But, just like Aravinda, he too bats for non performers like Chandimal and Thirimane just to boost brand Charlie Austin!
