Sri Lanka selectors shift focus onto experience
Sri Lanka's new chairman of selectors believes that experience will be the key to success in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, suggesting an imminent shift away from the youth focused selection policy pursued in recent years
Rex Clementine
28-May-2002
Sri Lanka's new chairman of selectors believes that experience will be the
key to success in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, suggesting an imminent
shift away from the youth focused selection policy pursued in recent years.
The new policy follows the resignation of former Sri Lanka captain Michael
Tissera as chairman after a disagreement with the Sports Minister, just days
before Sri Lanka's first Test against England, which was quickly followed by
the resignation of two other selectors, Don Anarusiri and Mahesh
Goonatilleke.
The Sports Minister Johnston Fernando accepted the three members
resignations and appointed Guy De Alwis as head of a new three-man
committee. He is joined by Sinhalese Sports Club ground manager, television
commentator and former Sri Lanka cricketer Ranil Abeynaike and Roger
Wijesuriya, the only member to remain from the previous panel.
De Alwis's comments suggest that veterans Aravinda de Silva, 36, and Hashan
Tillakaratne, 34, could force their way back into the one-day squad, as
could discarded all-rounder Chandika Hathurusingha, 33, who has been in
outstanding form in domestic cricket in recent times.
"Today the game has become so competitive," says de Alwis, "and I wonder
whether the youngsters at times can cope up with the pressure of
international cricket. I personally don't think going for youth is the key
to success in the World Cup. Experience will be vital."
As has been the case with previous committees, World Cup success is the
overriding priority of the new committee: "Our main target is to win the
World Cup in South Africa. We want to have a balanced side. We will talk to
the captain and the coach and will work out these matters."
De Alwis, a former wicket-keeper batsman who represented Sri Lanka in the
1980s, reveals that he is looking forward to speaking to the experienced
cricketers who have been overlooked in recent past.
He also sounded a warning to the players, demanding a consistently high
level of performance: "Players must realise that they have to perform
constantly at the top level. My committee is not keen on past merits and
records. We will look at the performance."
If that means that hard decisions have to be made then so be it: "Some will
be definitely unhappy with us, but I have been called to do a job that I
will do even if the stakes are high."
He is not yet ready to unveil the extent of the proposed changes: "I can't
be specific at the moment as it would not be fair to discuss these without
speaking first to the captain and the team management."