Sri Lanka Men’s team manager Manuja Kariyapperuma Ignorance towards his responsibility with Women’s side proved fatal and it eventually contributed in Island’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2022 in New Zealand, Cricket Age reliably learns.
Kariyapperuma is associated with Women’s side as consultant and sole in-charge of scheduling home series and away tours for the team. However, in last one and half year, he couldn’t arrange a single international assignment for women’s side! According to sources, the main reason for this perfect mess is Kariyapperuma’s affection for more high profile job of Men’s team manager!
“He ignored all his responsibilities for women’s side and stuck to men’s team manager’s position, as allowances are good there” a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) insider told Cricket Age.
And it proved fatal for Sri Lanka, as in the last week of November International Cricket Council called off Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 in Harare due to the introduction of travel restrictions from a number of African countries, including the host country Zimbabwe, following the breakout of a new COVID-19 variant in southern Africa. The decision was taken during the preliminary league phase of the nine-team tournament, that was to decide the final three qualifiers for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, to be played in New Zealand, as well as two additional teams for the next cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship. After the cancellation, the qualifiers were decided according to the team rankings as detailed in the tournament playing conditions. Therefore, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies progressed to the event in New Zealand and Sri Lanka were out of of the race, as they couldn’t climb up in the Rankings due to no matches in last one and half year!
The teams who have qualified for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be held in New Zealand from 4 March to 3 April are Australia, England, India, South Africa, New Zealand (hosts), Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh.
According to sources, Kariyapperuma was not even first choice for Men’s team manager post! For months, SLC vice president International Cricket Jayantha Dharmadasa tried his best to remove Kariyapperuma and bring a competent manager, but even after being a stalwart of Sri Lanka Cricket, he couldn’t succeed. The accusation is that few former legends, who sits in various committees, are backing Kariyapperuma, in order to take control over National sides and keep getting inside information.
“Even now, he is avoiding women’s team repatriation from Zimbabwe work. He just doesn’t care about Women’s Cricket, as its less attractive monetary wise” the insider added further.
