Arjuna Ranatunga, the Sri Lankan world cup cricket winning captain, on Friday accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa of preferring the IPL matches last year even at the cost of playing for the national side.
"President Mahinda Rajapaksa allowed the Sri Lankan cricket players (last year) to participate in the IPL even if it meant it was at the expense of their playing for the national team to participate in international cricket matches," Ranatunga, who at that time was the Chairman of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka cricket, alleged at a press conference.
Ranatunga was apparently referring to the controversy of Sri Lankan cricket players wanting to participate in the second edition of the Indian Premier League
last year at a time when the SLC agreed for an ad-hoc tour of England around the same time.
This was to fill a vacancy created by the cancellation of a tour to England by Zimbabwe during the period. The tour was subsequently cancelled.
Ranatunga, who has had an uneasy relationship with Rajapaksa since he was sacked from the top post in Sri Lanka cricket, has put his weight behind opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka as the former top general seeks to unseat Rajapakse on January 26.
Rajapakse and Fonseka, who have been at loggerheads over who should claim credit for the military victory over Tamil Tiger rebels in May, are in a straight fight.
Ranatunga was sacked from the top post in the cricket governing body in December 2008 amid allegations by the Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge that he was not cooperating with the organisation or the players.
"We tried to sort it out but could not and he has been removed," the Minister had said.
Ranatunga's two brothers are supporters of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
While one of the sibling Nishantha Ranatunga is the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) the other, Prasanna Ranatunga, is the Chief Minister of the Western Province.
Ranatunga, who joined the opposition parties bandwagon on December 17, also said he opposed the system of allowing national players from involvement in political advertisements.
Leg spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya have appeared in political advertisements supporting Rajapaksa, who called a snap poll two years ahead of schedule to take advantage of his popularity following the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May last year.
Ranatunga's family wields considerable influence and have been staunch supporters of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
"I loath corruption," Ranatunga had said while announcing his support to Fonseka. The cricketer, who is a ruling party MP, underlined that he had put his faith in the former general's leadership to clean up the system in the country.
He had then said that corruption had even pervaded the country's sports and he would assist the new leadership in the clean up in the sports.
timesofindia
"President Mahinda Rajapaksa allowed the Sri Lankan cricket players (last year) to participate in the IPL even if it meant it was at the expense of their playing for the national team to participate in international cricket matches," Ranatunga, who at that time was the Chairman of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka cricket, alleged at a press conference.
Ranatunga was apparently referring to the controversy of Sri Lankan cricket players wanting to participate in the second edition of the Indian Premier League
last year at a time when the SLC agreed for an ad-hoc tour of England around the same time.
This was to fill a vacancy created by the cancellation of a tour to England by Zimbabwe during the period. The tour was subsequently cancelled.
Ranatunga, who has had an uneasy relationship with Rajapaksa since he was sacked from the top post in Sri Lanka cricket, has put his weight behind opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka as the former top general seeks to unseat Rajapakse on January 26.
Rajapakse and Fonseka, who have been at loggerheads over who should claim credit for the military victory over Tamil Tiger rebels in May, are in a straight fight.
Ranatunga was sacked from the top post in the cricket governing body in December 2008 amid allegations by the Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge that he was not cooperating with the organisation or the players.
"We tried to sort it out but could not and he has been removed," the Minister had said.
Ranatunga's two brothers are supporters of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
While one of the sibling Nishantha Ranatunga is the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) the other, Prasanna Ranatunga, is the Chief Minister of the Western Province.
Ranatunga, who joined the opposition parties bandwagon on December 17, also said he opposed the system of allowing national players from involvement in political advertisements.
Leg spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya have appeared in political advertisements supporting Rajapaksa, who called a snap poll two years ahead of schedule to take advantage of his popularity following the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May last year.
Ranatunga's family wields considerable influence and have been staunch supporters of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
"I loath corruption," Ranatunga had said while announcing his support to Fonseka. The cricketer, who is a ruling party MP, underlined that he had put his faith in the former general's leadership to clean up the system in the country.
He had then said that corruption had even pervaded the country's sports and he would assist the new leadership in the clean up in the sports.
timesofindia
