Sri Lanka sense injustice over wickets they are playing on in World Cup 2019; moves ICC

Former world champions Sri Lanka have managed to reach four points in the ongoing ICC World Cup, thanks to two washed-out games against Pakistan and Bangladesh. They have only managed to beat Afghanistan and were routed by New Zealand. Sri Lanka were never among the favourites in this edition even as semi-finalists, thanks to their poor form. However, the Islanders now have come with a serious complaint and that is about unfair treatment allegedly meted out to them.

The Lankans were crushed by New Zealand by 10 wickets in their first match of the tournament in Cardiff on June 1. They are now set to meet Australia in their fifth game on Saturday at the Oval on what look’s to be another green top. Team manager Asantha de Mel wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) complaining about the same but confirmed that he hasn’t received a reply from the latter.

“What we have found out is that for the four matches we have played so far at Cardiff and Bristol the ICC has prepared a green pitch, and at the same venues where the other countries have played the pitches are brown and favourable for high scoring,” de Mel was quoted as saying by Sri Lanka’s Daily News.

“This is a World Cup where the top 10 countries are taking part and I feel that all the participants should be treated equally.”

Sri Lanka also allege unfair treatment in terms of facilities

De Mel, a former Sri Lanka cricketer, said the pitch that was being prepared for their clash with the defending champions at the Kennington Oval is green and he found it unfair on part of the ICC that while it is giving one type of wicket to some teams, it is not denying the same to others. He also alleged that Sri Lankans were being given insufficient number of practice nets and other facilities that are being offered to other sides.

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He said the hotel in Bristol where the Lankan team was accommodated had no swimming pool while it is necessary for the fast bowlers to relax their muscles after practice. He said cricketers of Pakistan and Bangladesh had been given such facility in Bristol. Both games that Lanka were supposed to play against those two teams in Bristol were abandoned.

Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne, though didn’t confirm in a pre-match conference whether they had filed a complaint or not but said that they expected fair wickets.