The Sri Lankan selectors might field a second-string squad for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against India if the players don’t sign the annual contracts.
Both on the field and off it, Sri Lankan cricket is undergoing one of it’s worst phases. There is a big pay dispute going on between the players and Sri Lanka Cricket. Most of the players have refused to sign the annual contracts as they believe the sum offered by the board is a lot lesser than other top cricketing nations.
According to reports, the Kusal Perera-led side travelled to the United Kingdom for their series against England after signing a declaration. However, the board might not accept that for the upcoming series against India at home. Hence, that could lead to the selectors naming a second-string squad.
Sri Lanka Cricket’s Chairman of Selectors, Pramodya Wickramasinghe, mentioned that they will pick the squad for the India series after the completion of Sri Lanka’s tour of England.
“These players are currently practicing and playing matches and we will consider them for selection for the Indian series. We have still not selected the squad for the series with India, we will do that after Sunday’s third and final ODI against England,”
Sri Lanka finished their white-ball tour of England on July 4, and failed to win a single game. They lost every game by comfortable margins and barely looked like being in winning positions in any of the games. Perera’s side lost the T20I series 0-3 before rain saved them in the final ODI and forced a 0-2 result in the ODI series.
Sri Lanka are scheduled to play India in three ODIs and as many T20Is. The Indian team will be without several stars as they are in the UK for the upcoming five-match Test series against England.
Shikhar Dhawan will lead this Indian side. India’s tour kicks off with the ODI series on July 13. The T20I series is scheduled to start on July 21. All six games will be played at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
