Like a well planned comedy show, Sri Lanka’s clueless Chief selector Asantha De Mel brought his political favorite Ramith Rambukwella into the Dambulla Team just few hours before the opening ceremony of 50 overs super provincial tournament on Monday. In order to promote ‘brand Rambukwella‘, Asantha De Mel, who talks big but delivers nothing, deprived one of the most exciting young allrounder Ashen Bandara who was in original squad. Bandara has been rated highly in domestic circuit and had been included against Australia in a test match few seasons back for his brilliant fielding.
Reasons are obvious for Asantha De Mel to include Ramith Rambukwella, even if it came at cost of a young talent. When there was no elected administration at Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), Asantha De Mel forced his way to become the Chief selector through the blessings of a top politician, who was enjoying the power through the ‘abducted‘ government at that time. Asantha De Mel appointment was politically influenced. So, now he is repaying his godfathers by including non performer Ramith Rambukwella, who is the son of a former minister. Ramith Rambukwella’s father is a close associate of that top politician.
The most shocking fact is that even SLC Top officials Ravin Wickramaratne (vice president) and Mohan De Silva (secretary) we’re also clueless about the last minute inclusion of Ramith Rambukwella. That’s why, when journalists at opening ceremony press conference asked the question of Rambukwella’s inclusion, they directed their fingers towards Asantha De Mel.
However, promoting non performers is nothing new for Asantha De Mel. After all, he is the one, who brought Lahiru Thirimane for the T20 world cup few years back! He has always been a vocal supporter of Thirimane, a batsman who has wasted an entire decade of Sri Lanka Cricket and still struggling to find his feat at international level. But, Asantha’s blind faith with Thirimane is still going strongly, as now he has made him as the captain of one of the team in the upcoming provincial tournament. So, don’t be surprise, if Asantha De Mel brings non-performers like Ramith Rambukwella and Lahiru Thirimane into the world cup squad as well.
