The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL), Triphone Miranda, speaking to the Sunday Observer soon after his return from Sharjah, said that skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluvitarne, had flown direct to Bombay for a double-wicket tournament.
He said that the tournament in Sharjah was well organised and that everything went off well. On Sri Lanka's performance, Miranda, said ''There is a lot of pressure on the boys after they won the World Cup and many expect them to win every game. Things go wrong on and off and we must accept defeat, too. The boys are all upset, but its all in the game. It was a pity, but New Zealand played very well and are a much improved side.''
Miranda also said that ICC referee, Mike Smith's original interpretation of the rules was wrong, but his (Smith's) final decision was correct, and that the Sri Lanka Cricket Board's Chief Executive, Dhammika Ranatunga, was at the stadium right throughout the game between Pakistan and New Zealand and conveyed Smith's final decision to the team.
Mike Smith first said that Sri Lanka had qualified for the final because of a better run rate than the Kiwis, but after hectic consultations, Smith, overruled his earlier decision soon after the Pakistan vs New Zealand game. The rule stipulates that if two teams have equal points, side winning more matches in the league goes through to the final.
Miranda also said that the Sri Lanka Cricket Board President, Upali Dharmadasa will be meeting Sri Lanka's coach, Australian Dav Whatmore, in the next few days as there are various matters to be discussed with Whatmore before he leaves the island to take up appointment as coach of Lancashire in the English county cricket scene. Whatmore will be released only after these matters are settled, and in addition, he has to give the Sri Lanka Cricket Board various reports, too, on his assignment with them (BCCSL).
Whatmore's book is expected to be released only after his departure from Sri Lanka.
On Asanka Gurusinha being kept out from the last two games in Sharjah, Miranda said that it was entirely a decision taken by the team management. Marvan Atapattu, who was representing Sri Lanka 'A' against West Indies 'A' in the first unofficial Test in Kurunegala, was flown to Sharjah and replaced Gurusinha in the last two games. Miranda also said that the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has not even discussed with Gurusinha about him being released to play club cricket in Australia, contrary to various reports in the print media.