Selectors aim to build a settled team for the World Cup
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee Chairman Kapila Wijegunawardena says selections are being made with greater emphasis on players' performances, fitness and leadership qualities as they seek to build a settled Sri Lanka team for the long term with the upcoming World Cup in mind. He noted that the recent changes to the captaincy and vice-captaincy, as well as decisions concerning senior and emerging players, are part of the plan for the upcoming World Cup.
Wijegunawardena said Charith Asalanka's seniority and previous leadership experience were the main factors behind his appointment as vice-captain for the ODI and Twenty20 tour of England.
However, with regular captain Kusal Mendis currently sidelined through injury, Charith Asalanka has been appointed captain of Sri Lanka's Twenty20 side, while Kamindu Mendis has been named vice-captain.
Explaining the decision to remove Kamindu Mendis from the vice-captaincy, the selection committee chairman stressed that it was not prompted by any issue concerning his performance or discipline. “Removing him from the vice-captaincy has nothing to do with selecting the captain,” Wijegunawardena said.
He pointed out that Kamindu Mendis, who was appointed vice-captain in all formats around three months ago, is one of Sri Lanka's leading batters, adding that another aim behind the decision was to give Kamindu the freedom needed to focus more on his batting.
Meanwhile, the selection committee chairman also commented on Sri Lanka Test team's recent failure to perform at the expected level.
Acknowledging that the team had not produced the expected results, Wijegunawardena said it was too early to state whether a change in the Test captaincy would be made at this stage.
He also said the leadership of current Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva would be discussed when the next Test squad is selected.
Dhananjaya de Silva has captained Sri Lanka in 18 Tests so far, winning 6 and losing 8 of those 18 matches. The other 4 matches ended in draws. Sri Lanka's Test win percentage under his captaincy is therefore 33.33 per cent.
However, the selection committee chairman stressed that the ultimate objective behind all these decisions is to build a strong and settled team for the upcoming World Cup. The selectors' next challenge is to combine the experience of senior players with the abilities of emerging players and develop the most suitable combination for each format.
Prakash Schaffter, who serves as secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket's Transition Committee, also attended the media briefing.
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting