Colombo: Sri Lanka's 1996 captain, Arjun Ranatunga has slammed the Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) board for playing a series with a 'second-string Indian team'. India and Sri Lanka are going to play a three-match T20I and ODI series from 13 July 2021. Team India is without some of its senior players - like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma or Jasprit Bumrah.
BCCI has picked a completely new team from the team which is currently in England waiting to play a Test series against England. Ranatunga feels that it is an insult towards the Sri Lankan team and the board should not have accepted BCCI's offer to play a series.
"This is a second-string Indian team and their coming here is an insult on our cricket. I blame the current administration for agreeing to play with them due to television marketing needs," Ranatunga told reporters at his residence as reported by PTI.
India has picked up a different team with captain Shikhar Dhawan and coach Rahul Dravid. Dhawan's team has some important players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav and others. Ranatunga feels that BCCI has sent a "weaker" side to play against Sri Lanka.
"India sent their best team to England and sent a weaker side to play here. I blame our board for that," added the legendary batsman.
Well, Sri Lanka's recent form has not been great. They haven't won a single series in 2021. Such a dismal performance by Sri Lanka, who once were the world champions in 1996 and then reached the finals consecutively in 2007 and 2011, is a rare sight. They changed the captain recently. Sri Lankan cricketers are not building a great reputation around their team. During South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka, when SL lost the series 0-2, some players were caught smoking, drinking and getting involved in all sought of 'objectionable activities'.