Sri Lanka Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha to be sacked

Sri Lankan cricket’s downfall in the last few years is no secret now. While many link it to the retirement of greats like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who were holding forte for years, it has also been associated with the inability of the new players in the team to fill in for them collectively. It is also noteworthy that people also think that since the time Asanka Gurusinha took the reigns of the once legendary Lankan outfit as Cricket Manager, the team has seen one humiliating loss after another.

As per reports, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to sack Asanka Gurusinha from his post. The decision had been taken last night when SLC top officials met Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera to decide the fate. In addition, it also suggests that the senior players of the team have also raised their concern regarding Gurusinha behaviour and interfering nature.

Politics within SLC

Earlier, SLC suffered a massive setback off the cricket field when their head coach Graham Ford decided to quit his job. He reportedly had a few spats with team manager Gurusinha, claiming the latter had crossed his limits on certain occasions. He was roped in from Australia and appointed the team manager. Ford particularly had an issue with Gurusinha’s excessive involvement in the issues pertaining the team’s performance.

Nevertheless, Gurusinha then had the backing of Sumathipala, who explained that the former was brought into the side to make Sri Lanka a “winning team”. He also mentioned that Gurusinha’s role as a Manager involves coordinating with support staff, players and the board. However, now, it is possible that after the involvement of complaints from the players itself, his powerful influence can hardly benefit him.

Gurusinha’s issues now concrete

In an even more recent event on the timeline, Gurusinha was reportedly pushing the inclusion of Malinda Pushpkumara in the national side for the second Test match against India. While the Sri Lankan selectors wanted to include young promising spinner Lakshan Sandakan in the squad, it was Pushpkumara who finally made the cut because of Gurusinha’s persuasion.

Talks about Gurusinha having an overpowering say in the team matters that surfaced after Ford’s abrupt exit as the head coach after a disappointing show during the Champions Trophy now became concrete. He was said to be intervening in most of the decision-making processes – be it the selections, or the practice sessions. Arjun Ranatunga’s claim that politics in the SLC has disinterested him, makes more sense now.