Sri Lanka Cricket Dismisses Media Allegations Against National Players Deliberately Underperforming Against South Africa

Sri Lanka Cricket denied allegations levied by some media reports regarding the national team.

Some of the reports claimed that few of Sri Lanka’s national players did not commit themselves and deliberately underperformed against South Africa in the recently concluded limited-overs series.

Sri Lanka cricket team lost 0-3 in T20Is against South Africa

Sri Lanka Cricket said it has not received any such complaint from the ‘Team Management’ against any player of the national team.

Sri Lanka were whitewashed in the three-match T20I series by the Proteas but they emerged as winners in the ODIs as they won the series 2-1.

Sri Lanka successfully defended a lean total of 203 in the final ODI as they bowled out Temba Bavuma and his men for 125 to win the match by 78 runs and seal the series.

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to inform you that it was the same group of players who played in the ODI series which Sri Lanka won against South Africa,” a media statement issued by the board read. 

Sri Lanka not only won the ODI series against South Africa but also gained crucial points and moved up in the rankings of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.

Sri Lanka Cricket requests media organisations to avoid publishing false reports

The national board urged media organisations in the country to follow ethical journalism and not demoralise the team ahead of their T20 World Cup campaign.

“Therefore, Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to request from the respective news organizations, which published the false and fabricated news item to follow ethical journalism practices, as such, false reporting will destabilize and scuttle the National Team’s preparations ahead of the crucial ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” SLC mentioned.

“Such false reporting will also mentally affect the players, who are showing commitment and desire to count their presence in the team, as witnessed in the recent competitions, Sri Lanka played,” the board concluded. 

Sri Lanka will have to make it through the qualifiers round in Oman, where they are grouped alongside Ireland, Namibia and the Netherlands in Group A.

All-rounder Dasun Shanaka will lead the 15-member squad announced by Sri Lanka Cricket last week.

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