Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has termed Sri Lankan great Arjuna Ranatunga’s statement that India has insulted the island nation by sending its ‘second-string’ team for white-ball series to grab the “limelight”. There is a trick.
The 1996 World Cup-winning captain said earlier this month, “The Indian team that came to Sri Lanka is not their best; This is a second level team. Did our sports minister or cricket administrators not know this?
Ranatunga told Sri Lankan media, “Sri Lanka (cricket) may have gone down but as a cricketing nation we have an identity, we have dignity, we should not do our best to play the Indian B team. “
The Shikhar Dhawan-led 20-man Indian team is in the island nation to play three ODIs and as many T20Is, starting on July 13.
“Ranatunga says India shouldn’t have sent their ‘B’ team. I don’t know what he is talking about. The 1996 World Cup winning captain is a big name in world cricket. I think he made this statement in the headlines. India has around 50-60 cricketers who can make two international teams,” Kaneria said on his YouTube channel on Monday.
“India has sent Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Kunal Pandya and many others – they represent India consistently. Very sad to hear such statement of Ranatunga. I think he has been asked by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) not to issue such statements,” said Kaneria, who played 61 Tests and took 261 wickets.
“Sri Lanka cricket is on the decline. The way their series in England has played out shows how their cricket is going downhill. They have forgotten to play cricket. The SLC should be grateful that India is sending a team to help them tide over their financial woes. I am sure India will beat him in the series.”
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