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T20 World Cup 2024
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) responded strongly to reports of members of the national team being involved in a ‘drinking party’ ahead of a crucial T20 World Cup match against South Africa last month.
The statement refers to an article (an inaccurate one, in SLC’s view), titled “Drinking Party Inside Team Hotel Before South Africa Match?”, published on July 7. It appears to have been published by The Morning, a Sri Lankan news outlet.
SLC categorically and strongly refutes the contents of the article and confirms that no such incidents, as described, have occurred. Therefore, SLC states unequivocally that the news report is entirely false, fabricated, and baseless.
READ: https://t.co/sr1NHVVKZU #SLC #lka…
The piece alleges several members of the Sri Lankan national team being involved in a “late-night drinking session” on the eve of their T20 World Cup opener against South Africa in New York. According to the report, “three top-order batters, a veteran fast bowler and a world-renowned all-rounder” were part of this gathering ahead of the match which was set to be played on June 3 at 10:30am local time.
The piece adds that a newly appointed assistant coach and a leading player manager, representing eight players in the national side, were also present; alleges that a senior adviser asked for the incident to be covered up; and cites this incident as a reason for erstwhile head coach Chris Silverwood not accepting SLC’s offer of a contract renewal following the World Cup.
Silverwood had resigned from his position citing personal reasons, and was replaced in the interim by Sanath Jayasuriya yesterday (July 8). Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene had also stepped down from his role as consultant coach of the national team.
As it happened, the match did not go to plan for Sri Lanka as they were bowled out for a paltry 77 on a difficult New York wicket, and South Africa chased the total down with 22 balls to spare. They ended up winning just one match in the World Cup, against Netherlands in their final group stage game.
SLC responded to the report on Tuesday: “SLC categorically and strongly refutes the contents of the article and confirms that no such incidents, as described, have occurred. Therefore, SLC states unequivocally that the news report is entirely false, fabricated, and baseless.
“We vehemently believe that such false reporting unfairly damages the reputation of Sri Lanka Cricket, its officials, and the players.
“In light of the said false allegations, Sri Lanka Cricket has requested that the respective newspaper publish a ‘Right of Reply’ to address and rectify the damage caused to Sri Lanka Cricket.”
At this point in time, there is no further information on whether the report has any credence, but it does not seem to have been picked up by other news outlets.
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