In a recent television interview, former Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga raised severe concerns about the state of cricket in Sri Lanka, both in terms of player development and governance. He criticized former players Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Tillakaratne Dilshan for not preparing the next generation, specifically Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne, to fill their shoes after retirement. Ranatunga suggested that this lack of mentorship hindered a smooth transition and impacted the team’s performance and stability.
Additionally, Ranatunga highlighted the pervasive corruption issue within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). He shared an unsettling experience where he was blatantly asked about the amount of money he could offer in exchange for votes, illustrating the extent of the corruption. This situation revealed that financial incentives were prioritized over genuine efforts to improve the sport. Ranatunga even claimed that the depth of corruption was so severe that someone as famous as Mahinda Rajapaksa would be unable to win an SLC election.
These comments from Ranatunga, a respected figure in Sri Lankan cricket, shed light on the challenges facing the sport in the country. The issues of poor succession planning and deep-rooted corruption suggest a need for significant reforms in the administration and management of cricket in Sri Lanka.
