SCENARIO 1: Kusal Mendis’s performance for Sri Lanka has been characterized as highly inconsistent throughout his one decade long International career, often drawing criticism for failing to deliver in crucial moments despite demonstrating significant talent in patches. Mendis maintained a high strike rate during the early stages of the recently concluded t20 world cup. However, as the tournament progressed, his form dipped dramatically.
Now, Kusal Mendis is lighting up the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). 413 runs in just 7 innings makes him the current highest run scorer of the league.
SCENARIO 2: Debuted in 2017 for Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of at least two major ICC tournaments midway or just before the start due to injury. In the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Hasaranga was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after sustaining a hamstring injury during Sri Lanka’s opening match against Ireland. During the 2023 ICC 50-Overs World Cup, while Hasaranga missed the start, he was originally slated to return but was ultimately ruled out entirely due to a Grade 3 hamstring tear sustained during his rehabilitation. In addition, he missed the 2023 Asia Cup as well due to a thigh strain.
But, all these years Hasaranga always managed to return to his full fitness just before the franchise cricket, Including Indian Premier League (IPL).
SCENARIO 3: Matheesha Pathirana has established a reputation as a dominant T20 death bowler in the IPL playing for one of the top most franchises, Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
But Pathirana has struggled to consistently replicate his high-impact IPL performance (19 wickets in 2023, 13 in 2024 for CSK) on the international stage for Sri Lanka, largely due to injury issues and inconsistent availability in major tournaments. Pathirana was also ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026, after scans revealed a calf strain. Just before the IPL, though, he regained his full fitness, passed Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) mandatory fitness test and joined his new IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after missing a few games.
Same applies for players like Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka and Maheesh Theekshana etc. They have all played brilliantly for various leagues around the globe, but failed to perform consistently for their motherland.
Manager mafia is to blame for their change in priorities, just like West Indies players.
Managers like Asanga Wijewardena signs a five year contract with players through intimidation and includes a clause in the contract that they should pay a commission of 10 % to him on all their earnings. then, to earn more and BIG, Asanga like managers go all out to slot their players in the franchise cricket! When money flows, playing for the country becomes secondary!
It has already destroyed West Indies Cricket. Franchise cricket severely weakened West Indies cricket by prioritizing high-paying, short-term contracts over national team duty, leading to a talent drain, lack of red-ball experience, and broken player-board relationships. Top players often prioritized league cricket, causing instability in national squads and diminishing long-term development in the Caribbean.
Same thing is now happening in Sri Lanka!
Nuwan Thushara, who has played only a handful of matches for Sri Lanka, was so desperate to play for his IPL team that he took Sri Lanka Cricket to the court6 to force the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Sri Lanka’s government, before anything else, needs to address this deepening crisis before it’s too late!
As Cricket Age published earlier, Asanga, taking full advantage of friendship with Mathews (who was Sri Lanka’s captain for a long time), has now built an empire! Other small time managers are also following the same blueprint!
While managers are earning big through placing players in franchise cricket, these cricketers are also making unimaginable money (which shows in their dramatically changed lifestyle as well).
Everyone is in profit, but, if the government doesn’t focus on this VERY VERY QUICKLY, Sri Lanka Cricket will be becoming another West Indies!
