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Graeme Labrooy To Be Appointed SL Team Manager For South Africa Series

Written by N Krishnamurthy

Graeme Labrooy, Chairman of Selectors, is likely to be given the additional responsibility of Team Manager for the South Africa series by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), Cricket Age reliably learns.

South Africa to play Two tests, Five ODIs and one-off T20I during the tour. The first test to kick off from July 12 at Galle.

The decision was taken after the departure of Asanka Gurusinha, who was shouldering the responsibility of Sri Lanka team manager till now. Gurusinha, who has been found guilty for his involvement in delaying the match for two hours during the second test against West Indies recently, has taken over as Sri Lanka High Performance Manager.

According to sources, Labrooy name was finalized on the influence of a former SLC President, who is still running the show. Labrooy, a controversial and clueless Selector has been considered loyal to that former President and is notorious for selecting players and squads on his behalf.

On Thursday itself, Labrooy selected a player Nisala Tharaka for the Sri Lanka Board President XI Squad, without realizing that he is currently in Bangladesh and is playing in the second test for the A Team.

Labrooy not only got wrong in including Nisala Tharaka, he also picked Shehan Jayasuriya, Malinda Pushpkumara, as well as put two U19 Players Nipun Malinga and Kamindu Mendis as reserve players into the squad.

Few hours later, when SLC Media unit realized this big blunder that Nisala Tharaka is playing in Bangladesh after Sports Journalists around the world inquired about this, Labrooy brought another squad. At 4.25 PM, SLC Media Unit released corrected squad, and this time they put Vikum Sanjaya and Wanindu Hasaranga as reserves, and opted out Sehan Jayasuriya and Malinda Pushpkumara. However, this time around also Labrooy Committed a big blunder, as he picked only 10 players into the squad.

It created a havoc at SLC, as media unit recalled the sent Mail at 4.34 PM. Finally, in the 4th attempt, Labrooy picked a right squad and at 4.40 PM SLC Media unit finally released the ‘Playing’ Squad.

This Incompetent act of Labrooy not only brought universal shame for Sri Lanka as South Africa is in Island and they also came to know about this mash-up, it once again raised serious questions against Work Style of the Chief Selector.

Few days ago, Labrooy also selected the U19 Squad according to the instructions of that former President. Now, he has been rewarded for his loyalty and this also proves that Even though Country’s Sports Minister Faizer Mustapha has appointed a Competent Authority Kamal Padmasiri to run the SLC, in reality the board has been running by that former President.

 

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N Krishnamurthy

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