With less than ten months to go for the Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka’s 50-over playing 11 needs an overhaul. It’s an obvious conclusion for anybody who watched the way the Lankan team fared in India during their previous One-Day International (ODI) series.

Why should we struggle so much in the batting department, failing miserably to just bat through the 50 overs, as seasoned campaigners such as Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dimuth Karunarate are not given a go?

It is puzzling as to why those players are overlooked.

Informed sources provide an answer: A current leading player in the national short-format team is allegedly intentionally and conspicuously blocking the re-entry of the mentioned seniors to the team for his own benefit. He is said to be fearing that their arrival may put his position in danger before the World Cup!

It is also understood that this said senior player has created a strong association to ensure the success of his selfish operation. One senior cricket VP, a former legend of the game, and a present national selector, too, have joined this leading player in his covert operation of intentionally blocking Mathews, Chandimal, and Karunarate, the source further revealed.

With only a few series and limited time left before the next ODI World Cup, to be held in India later this year, any sensible and pragmatic committee will seek the contribution of all the experienced and still-in-form batters to the present team, especially in the batting department, at a time when the current young ones have continuously failed to impress.

On the other hand, the relevant senior player doesn’t need to panic, the source opined. He batted admirably in the last India series, so he does not need to worry about his position in the team. Therefore, this is nothing but a case of a few individuals’ shallow personal agendas further ruining Sri Lanka’s cricket.