The wrongful exclusion of dynamic left hander batsman Kusal Perera from the test squad for Zimbabwe test series has irked everyone. Not only legends like Mahela Jayawardena and renowned commentators like Harsha Bhogle have raised question over Kusal’s omission, Sri Lanka cricket fans are also showing their anger and frustration, particularly against chief selector Asantha De Mel.
So much so that now Sri Lanka cricket fans have officially launched a petition sign campaign against Asantha De Mel, in their attempt to force Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) to remove the clueless, biased chief selector.
Die hard cricket fans are that much angry, that more than 1700 people have already signed the petition. In addition, on every social media platform, ‘remove Asantha De Mel’ banners are being seen everywhere!
The backlash against Asantha De Mel started on Tuesday, when Sri Lanka announced 15-member squad. Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal was included in the squad after recovering from dengue. The surprise move, however, was to drop Kusal Perera, who just one year ago had played the greatest innings of all time in test cricket history, against South Africa in Durban.
After the announcement of the squad, former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena, an admirer of Kusal’s match winning ability, also expressed his anger over this illogical exclusion.
“Wasn’t he the same player who won the test match in Durban single handedly 12 months ago? He has only played 3 test matches (5 Innings) since then” a surprised Mahela Jayawardana posted on his twitter handle.
Today, renowned Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle also expressed his displeasure over Kusal’s omission.
“So Kusal Perera plays the test innings of 2019, among the finest ever played, but by the start of 2020, isn’t good enough to be in the test squad. There, in a nutshell, is the issue with Sri Lanka. So many fine players unable to go to the next level” Bhogle, always a KJP’s fan, posted on his twitter handle.
Asantha De Mel, however, came out with one of the most bizarre explanation on Kusal’s absence from Zimbabwe tour.
“Yes, Kusal can make 150s, but we needed someone who can occupy the crease, which is why we Chose Thirimane” Asantha explained Kusal’s exclusion.
The logic was that much pathetic, that even Mahela felt it’s an insult to keep continue with his view.
‘I rest my case’ Mahela posted on his twitter handle after seeing Asantha De Mel’s View on Kusal’s omission.
A proven failure as chief selector, Asantha De Mel has indeed redefined the ‘biased selection policy’ by dropping Sri Lanka’s biggest match winner Kusal Perera, while persisting with epic disasters like Lahiru Thirimane and Niroshan Dickwela. Thirimane in particular, who is playing since ages, has been gifted 35 tests, in which he has managed an embarrassing average of 22.64, with a lone hundred in one decade long career.
Cricket Age understands that Asantha De Mel has a personal liking for Thirimane, that makes him determined to keep playing the useless left hander as long as he remains chief selector.
Dickwela’s case is no different. A miss and hit player, Dickwela has not scored a century, even after playing 35 tests as a wicket keeper batsman. Despite the mediocre return in test cricket, Asantha, for some mysterious reasons, is keep playing him, discarding Kusal Perera!
