Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa has called on the government to intervene and address the logistical and scheduling issues faced by the Sri Lanka men’s cricket team in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2024 in the USA.
Addressing the Parliament today, MP Premadasa highlighted that the national team was facing logistical and scheduling issues, which are adversely affecting their performance in the cricket tournament.
“Firstly, as per the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rules, the accommodation of the team must be 45 minutes away from the stadium. However, the Sri Lankan team is placed at a hotel nearly 1 ½ hours away from the grounds.
“Secondly, the team had been stranded at the airport for almost 08 hours ahead of its first match in New York resulting in them missing their practice match,” MP Premadasa pointed out.
Likening the ICC’s dealing with the Sri Lankan team to ‘Step motherly treatment’, the Opposition Leader said this has resulted in the team feeling exhausted, which was affecting their performance on the field.
MP Premadasa further questioned if Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Sports Ministry had not discussed the schedule of the team with the ICC before their departure.
He urged the government to focus its attention on the matter and to obtain the necessary facilities required for the cricketers.
Responding to MP Premadasa, Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said the matter would be directed to the Ministry of Sports and that an answer will be provided tomorrow. (Newswire)
