Debasis Sen, Delhi: Nine members of the Sri Lanka ODI team were called back from the Bandarnayeke International Airport yesterday. The players were supposed to join the team in Delhi for the forthcoming three match ODI series which gets underway at Dharamsala on December 10.
According to reliable sources in Sri Lanka Cricket, the players were asked to return back since they did not have the approval from Sports Ministry to travel to India. The players returned back after reaching the airport around 8:30pm. The players included Thisara Perera (C), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chathuranga De Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep.
The source confirmed, Sri Lanka Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara had got the squad after 5 pm yesterday, (although selections were done on last Thursday) so he couldn’t approve without discussing with team Captain and Sports Ministry medical staff for fitness pass.
But the players were asked to leave for the airport after assembling at the headquarters in SSC.
The Sri Lankan test team are currently taking part in the test series. The visitors trail the three match test series 0-1 following their loss in the second test match at Nagpur.