Chasing 275, the visitors were bowled out for 76 in 19.5 overs in Auckland and lost the match by 198 runs.
This defeat means automatic qualification for this year’s World Cup In India appears unlikely for Sri Lanka now! If South Africa wins their two matches against Netherlands, or Ireland win their three remaining games, those teams put themselves on 98 Super League Points each, which Sri Lanka now can not reach even with two win against New Zealand.
Surprisingly, but as usually, for Sri Lanka’s most Important assignments in both test and ODI formats to secure Test Championship final and automatic qualification in the 50 overs World Cup respectively, team reached New Zealand without their Consultant Coach Mahela Jayawardene!
Mahela, one of the most sought after (self proclaimed) Coach in global T20 Franchise Cricket, landed at Maitland Place last year as almost 20 Thousands USD per month Consultant Coach. Since then, Sri Lanka Cricket is on ventilators!
In more than one year since his illogical appointment, Mahela has given only ‘guest appearances‘ in Sri Lanka’s dugout. He chooses and picks his availability for Sri Lanka on his own, as there is no one at Cricket Board to Instruct him. After all, he used to sit with Country’s former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa!
So it’s quite obvious, that when Sri Lanka were fighting to advance for Test Championship final and ODI World Cup, Mahela was trading his skills in USA (off course in franchise cricket).
For Sri Lanka, Instead of joining the team in New Zealand he gave some advises. And, as usually, those advises once again buried Sri Lanka!
For example, he and Tim McCaskill (another white elephant in Sri Lanka Cricket) advised Cricket Board to send his favorite Thilina Kandamby as white ball assistant coach! As a result, Sri Lanka collapsed for 76 in first ODI. Kandamby is a loser and his only qualification is that he comes from SSC.
However, whatever is written about Mahela, he can’t be questioned. Don’t forget he used to sit with Namal Rajapaksa! More than that, he provides a protection shield to Maitland Place bosses against World Cup winning legendary captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who chairs National Sports Council these days!
Another big failure in Sri Lanka coaching setup is batting Coach Naveed Nawaz. A manipulator, who secured his job by going behind half a dozen people, has contributed nothing since his appointment. He is outdated, chased out by Bangladesh, but glued with Sri Lanka team, with the blessings of a former Sri Lanka captain.
But, he also won’t be questioned, because, he too is in good book of Mahela! RIP Sri Lanka Cricket!
