Sri Lanka’s disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 has stirred controversy, with Chief Selector Pramodaya Wickramasinghe attributing it to an alleged external conspiracy.
Following their worst World Cup display since 1992, winning only two of nine games, the island nation faced turmoil. The sports minister initially dismissed the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), later reinstated by the court of appeal, deepening the crisis.
Upon the team’s return, Chief Selector Pramodaya Wickramasinghe claimed that the poor show was a result of an external conspiracy. Pressed for details, Wickramasingha, a member of the 1996 World Cup-winning team, requested two days to disclose everything, taking responsibility for the situation.
Sri Lanka’s 5-wicket loss to New Zealand marked the end of their troubled World Cup campaign. Injuries led to squad replacements and even a mid-tournament change in captaincy. A joint resolution in parliament demanded the resignation of the SLC’s management. It caused a split in the government over the decision to sack them.
Addressing the team’s inconsistency, head coach Chris Silverwood acknowledged that missed opportunities and inconsistency were the key factors leading to an untimely exit.
“I believe inconsistency is a fitting term. We’ve shown some good cricket, and looking back, we’ll regret missed chances. There were specific games where seizing opportunities could have changed our outlook. The reality is that despite our efforts, inconsistency persists. It’s a long-standing issue we’ve been addressing and must keep working on. So, yes, inconsistency accurately describes our situation,” he said.