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Angry Ranatunga blasts interim committee

Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka's outspoken former captain, has lauched a stinging public attack on the interim committee running cricket in Sri Lanka

Cricinfo staff
04-Jan-2006


Arjuna Ranatunga is not a happy chappie © Getty Images
Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka's outspoken former captain, has followed his resignation as cricket committee chairman with a stinging public attack on the Jayantha Dharmadasa-led interim committee running cricket in the island.
Ranatunga - joined by Sidath Wettimuny, one of Sri Lanka's most respected former players and administrators - resigned in protest from the cricket committee, claiming that his six months in charge had been a "waste of time" because Dharmadasa's committee routinely ignored the recommendations of the cricket committee.
"We had a long term plan with the aim of developing cricket but the way things were going I decided that the atmosphere was not conducive and decided to quit," Ranatunga told the Daily Mirror. "It is absurd hanging on to the committee if nothing is going to happen. They only wanted to keep the big names in the committee and we had nothing to do. It has been six months of wasted time."
Ranatunga is most upset by the controversial decision to expand Sri Lanka's already weak first-class cricket championship from 16 to 20 teams as part of a post-Tsunami compromise due to the cancellation of the promotion and relegation stages last year.
"We being in the committee were not informed that the teams in the Premier League cricket tournament were going to be increased from 16 to 20. I am fully against this as at the most we need eight or 10 first-class teams."
Ranatunga also criticised the selectors, lambasting them for the appointment of Chaminda Vaas as vice-captain and several other recent selections. "I totally disagree with this set of selectors. I don't want to interfere with selections but the system is completely wrong. There are some players who should have been in the team and the selectors must think about the 2007 World Cup. I endorsed his [Vaas's] selection but not when a tour is on and by disheartening another player."
Ranatunga now worries for the future. "We can see from our own eyes the problems -- losing to the Bangladesh Under-19 team on three occasions is not a joke. All our top coaches are in charge of teams abroad and they come and beat out national teams. It is pathetic to see this happen. "I am very sorry and dejected and hereafter I will never get involved with cricket in Sri Lanka unless I am in some position where cricket can really be promoted."