Harin Fernando, Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister, is hopeful that allrounder Thisara Perera and shorter formats captain Lasith Malinga will be able to sort out their differences. Harin is in Australia to resolve the give Sri Lanka team a confidence booster amidst ongoing tension between Thisara and Malinga.
“Thisara is back on the 9th, I want him, Malinga and Angelo to sit on one table & sort it out. We are Sri Lankan’s we get annoyed, we fight but we get together very soon when it comes to national importance” Harin Fernando told ABC Radio Australia on the second day of the second test at Canberra on Saturday.
On January 26, Perera wrote a letter to SLC CEO Ashley De Silva, asking him to intervene and stop Malinga’s wife from maligning his image. In the letter, Thisara also mentioned that the team is badly divided at the moment and there is no unity amongs the players at all.
Harin, meanwhile, has also warned players that he won’t tolerate indiscipline and is ready to replace senior team with A side, if situation won’t improve.
“There are some factions in the team, we clearly told them that we have a very good U-19, an emerging & Sri Lanka A team so I told them don’t ever be confident on the place, we will make changes if there is no discipline” he added further.
“We are at the verge of a world cup. Our focus and attention should be on performing well at it instead of bickering over social media on pointless issues. Thevteam is in dire need of steady leadership and guidance. Importantly as environment of unity is needed in the dressing room. Something we lack very desperately at the moment. These issues need ractifying ahead of the World Cup” Thisara had wrote in his letter to Ashley De Silva.
