Sri Lanka's star all-rounder Thisara Perera has confirmed that he was approached by New Zealand to play for their national cricket team.
Perera was approached by New Zealand when he was pulled out of national squad citing poor performance. Although he was included in the Sri Lankan A squad, Perera distanced himself from the team saying he was under mental stress.
"I was under stress. It is true that I was approached by New Zealand. They offered me citizenship and said I would be able to play for their national cricket team. I was also willing to accept the invitation. But later I realized I should give priority to my own country - Sri Lanka" Perera said in an up close and personal interview with weekend Lakbima yesterday.
He had also told the newspaper that President Mahinda Rajapaksa intervened in the matter and promised to mete out justice to him.
"The President told me not to make hasty decisions. He asked me to remain patient. Finally I managed to get back into the national team," Perera said.
Asian Mirror exclusively reported two weeks ago that Perera was considered for selection after President Mahinda Rajapaksa intervened in the matter. He was pulled out of the cricket team when he fell out with Sanath Jayasuriya, Chief Selector of the National cricket team, when the latter barred him from playing for T20 league matches.
Perera, who re-joined the national cricket team after a hiatus of a few months, ended up being the man of the series in the recent ODI series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Perera was approached by New Zealand when he was pulled out of national squad citing poor performance. Although he was included in the Sri Lankan A squad, Perera distanced himself from the team saying he was under mental stress.
"I was under stress. It is true that I was approached by New Zealand. They offered me citizenship and said I would be able to play for their national cricket team. I was also willing to accept the invitation. But later I realized I should give priority to my own country - Sri Lanka" Perera said in an up close and personal interview with weekend Lakbima yesterday.
He had also told the newspaper that President Mahinda Rajapaksa intervened in the matter and promised to mete out justice to him.
"The President told me not to make hasty decisions. He asked me to remain patient. Finally I managed to get back into the national team," Perera said.
Asian Mirror exclusively reported two weeks ago that Perera was considered for selection after President Mahinda Rajapaksa intervened in the matter. He was pulled out of the cricket team when he fell out with Sanath Jayasuriya, Chief Selector of the National cricket team, when the latter barred him from playing for T20 league matches.
Perera, who re-joined the national cricket team after a hiatus of a few months, ended up being the man of the series in the recent ODI series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Who gonna believe this story .. 
