Resignations by Consultant Mahela Jayawardena and team coach Chris Silverwood have further exposed the rot taking place at Sri Lanka Cricket whose tainted officials are well entrenched with political cover after a second successive disaster by way of results at two World Cups within the span of seven months.
Jayawardena and Silverwood had very little to justify their continued presence with the Sri Lanka team but that they snubbed their employer Sri Lanka Cricket with what may have been a preemptive strike was blatant and clear that the environment they entered had turned toxic over the years.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was quick to put out media notices praising both Jayawardena and Silverwood but the statements were far from the truth that will never be revealed and like most closed door upheavals will be swept under the carpets.
Jayawardena and Silverwood by their exits also revealed that they had nothing to say publicly in the same way they did after returning from an ill-fated 50-over World Cup in India in October-November 2023 and were ordered to face the media along with the players.
“Because of our fitness, the fatigue got into us and our performance died down from the first game towards the last game. The guys made mistakes and that happens because of mental and physical fatigue. We lacked execution and concentration. We cannot hide from it,” Jayawardena said after returning with the team from the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023,
After telling the media on that occasion that the players lacked physical fitness and focus to end up in the ninth slot at the 10-nation 50 over World Cup in 2023, Jayawardena and Silverwood preferred the easiest way out with their resignations leaving Sri Lanka Cricket officials in a familiar situation from which they extricate with political patronage.
“After lengthy conversations with my family and with a heavy heart, I feel it is now time for me to return home and spend some quality time together”, Silverwood according to Sri Lanka Cricket said in his letter of resignation.
Although having his contracted extended to cover the T20 World Cup, Silverwood could have ended his stint on his own home turf after Sri Lanka’s tour of England in August and that he was quick on the draw caught a pondering SLC on the wrong foot.
But Jayawardena’s exit could have a more curious tale to relate in that Sri Lanka Cricket last December brought in a second Consultant in Sanath Jayasuriya who has gained a reputation for being ever ready to get into a role that because of his name and identity comes with a whopping price.
The conflict could not have been highlighted more as Jayawardena’s presence was not as visible as Jayasuriya was during the concluded T20 World Cup.
