Sri Lanka eye redemption against Zimbabwe in Galle
‘Get fit or get out’
COLOMBO, June 28, (AFP): Sri Lanka are looking to pick themselves up as the series against Zimbabwe begins this week in Galle after a string of poor performances prompted their coach to quit.
Angelo Mathews leads the Sri Lankans who take on Zimbabwe in the first of five one-day internationals on Friday as they look to get over their first-round exit in the Champions Trophy.
South African Graham Ford quit as coach last week with assistant Nic Pothas taking over in an interim capacity for the clashes against Zimbabwe, whose tour will end with a single Test match next month in Colombo.
Ford’s exit just 15 months into his four-year contract adds to Sri Lanka’s problems on and off the field, which are hampering preparations for the 2019 World Cup.
Veteran paceman Lasith Malinga was this week handed a one-year suspended ban after being found guilty of insulting a minister but has been retained in the 13-man ODI squad.
The speedster has been docked 50 percent of his match fee from Friday’s opening game in Galle and is under six-month probation after comparing the country’s sports minister to a “monkey”.
The minister – Dayasiri Jayasekera – had accused Sri Lankan players of being too fat after the team failed to reach the Champions Trophy semifinals in England.
Malinga, who returned from injury to the 50-over side in England, struggled and took only three wickets in three matches.
The islanders have just won five of their 20 one-day games since August 2016 with two coming against hosts Zimbabwe during a
Mathews
tri-nation series triumph in November. Zimbabwe, on their first tour of Sri Lanka since 2001-2002, are led by Graeme Cremer and are trying to build momentum as they look ahead to the World Cup qualifying tournament in April next year.
The African nation has slipped to 11th, a place above bottom-ranked Ireland, in the International Cricket Conference ODI rankings. They lost a five-match series at home to Afghanistan 3-2 in February.
Star player Hamilton Masakadza, who has played only one of Zimbabwe’s five one-day games this year, is expected to bolster the batting line-up on tricky Sri Lankan pitches.
Cremer’s leg-spin, off-spinner Sikandar Raza and left-arm bowler Sean Williams will lead the spin attack on surfaces that should turn.
Coach Heath Streak blamed Zimbabwe’s dismal form on a “lack of cricket” as financial and administrative hurdles hinder progress.
The first two ODIs will be at Galle, the first limited-overs matches there in 17 years. The remaining three games will be at the refurbished stadium in Hambantota. The only Test will be at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo starting July 14.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government on Wednesday warned the national cricket team to get fit in three months or get booted out.
The ultimatum came after the squad was found to be unfit for the series against Zimbabwe which starts Friday. “No one has a satisfactory level of fitness, but I have made an exception this time,” sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said.
Players are selected by an independent panel for the national team, but the sports minister must give final approval before they can represent the country.