Lanka unhappy with green pitches, training facilities

London, June 14

Complaining of step-motherly treatment meted out to them in the ongoing World Cup, an exasperated Sri Lanka has expressed dissatisfaction at the types of pitches provided, inadequate training and transport facilities apart from below-par accommodation. 

Sri Lanka team manager Ashantha de Mel has written to the ICC, stating that Sri Lanka were made to play on two green decks in Cardiff, where they lost to New Zealand before defeating Afghanistan, whereas other teams who played on same venue were provided high-scoring pitches. De Mel said another green track awaits Sri Lanka ahead of their match against Australia on Saturday. “What we have found out is that for the four matches we have played so far at Cardiff and Bristol the ICC has prepared a green pitch, and at the same venues where the other countries have played the pitches are brown and favourable for high scoring,” De Mel said.

“The pitch being prepared for our match at the Oval is green. It is not a case of sour grapes that we are complaining but it is very unfair on the part of the ICC that they prepare one type of wicket for certain teams and another type for others,” said De Mel. He also complained that the bus, which has been assigned to the 1996 World Cup winners, is a small with less seating capacity, as compared to Pakistan who have been given a spacious double-decker bus. “Even the practice facilities provided at Cardiff were unsatisfactory. Instead of three nets they gave us only two and the hotel we were put up at Bristol did not have a swimming pool, which is very essential for the fast bowlers especially to relax their muscles after practice,” added the manager.

“The hotels that Pakistan and Bangladesh were put up at Bristol had swimming pools,” he further rued. De Mel also criticised the timing of the World Cup, which is being held in the early part of the summer, and has resulted in matches getting washed out. “What they should have done is played the Ashes series first and then held the World Cup in the latter part of the summer which is generally dry,” said de Mel. — PTI

Aus vs SL in World Cup

Matches 10

Australia won 7

Sri Lanka won 2

Form guide

Australia: WLWWW

Sri Lanka: WLWLL

(L=lost W=won; Last five completed matches, most recent first)