Sri Lankans hit back at criticism with social media boycott

Published July 25, 2021
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan opener Avishka Fernando steers the ball through point as Indian wicket-keeper Sanju Samson looks on during the third One-day International at the R. Premadasa Stadium.—AFP
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan opener Avishka Fernando steers the ball through point as Indian wicket-keeper Sanju Samson looks on during the third One-day International at the R. Premadasa Stadium.—AFP

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s head coach Mickey Arthur ordered the national squad off social media on Saturday after disgruntled fans launched a campaign to boycott players following a string of defeats overseas.

The South African said players were getting ’absolutely hammered’ and it was affecting their judgement and mood as they prepare for the T20 World Cup later this year.

“Some of the stuff listed there is beyond comprehensible,” Arthur said ahead of Sri Lanka’s three-match Twenty20 International series against India starting at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

Sri Lanka managed to deprive India of a clean sweep of the One-day International series by winning the third and final match on Friday. Sri Lanka have now lost the last four consecutive ODI tournaments.

Sri Lanka start the T20 series against India after losing five straight series, with the last defeat coming against England earlier this month.

The decision to order the squad off social media came after Sri Lankan fans initiated a campaign to boycott their own players on Facebook and Twitter.

“My advice to the guys is just stay off it. You get absolutely hammered on it,” Arthur said. “There is only one way to handle it and that is not to look. So my best advice is just get over it because there are some idiots there who think they know exactly what’s going on, when in fact they know nothing.”

He said players should take his example of not engaging on social media and said he only signed up to Twitter in April last year because of a coronavirus lockdown.

But Arthur took to Twitter himself last Wednesday to deny that he had a spat with skipper Dasun Shanaka after they lost the second ODI to India this week.

“It was actually a very good debate, no need to make mischief out of it!” Arthur said on Twitter.

Shanaka later told reporters that the bust-up was about tactics.

Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit half centuries in their three-wicket consolation win in the rain-hit final ODI.

Chasing a revised target of 227 in the reduced 47-overs-a-side contest, Sri Lanka depended on a 109-run second-wicket stand between Fernando (76) and Rajapaksa (65) to achieve their target with 48 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka collected 10 Super League points for the 2023 World Cup qualification and won their first ODI against India since 2017.

Earlier spinners Akila Dananjaya and debutant Praveen Jayawickrama took three wickets each to set up the win as India were bowled out for 225 in 43.1 overs after being put in to field first.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

P.P. Shaw lbw b Shanaka 49
S. Dhawan c Bhanuka b Chameera 13
S.V. Samson c Fernando b Jayawickrama 46
M.K. Pandey c Bhanuka b Jayawickrama 11
S.A. Yadav lbw b Dananjaya 40
H.H. Pandya lbw b Jayawickrama 19
N. Rana c Bhanuka b Dananjaya 7
K. Gowtham lbw b Dananjaya 2
R.D. Chahar c and b Karunaratne 13
N.A. Saini c Fernando b Chameera 15
C. Sakariya not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-9) 10
TOTAL (all out, 43.1 overs) 225
FALL OF WKTS: 1-28, 2-102, 3-118, 4-157, 5-179, 6-190, 7-194, 8-195, 9-224. BOWLING: Chameera 8.1-0-55-2 (5w); Dananjaya 10-0-44-3; Karunaratne 6-0-25-1 (2w); Jayawickrama 10-0-59-3 (2w); Shanaka 8-0-33-1; Mendis 1-0-8-0.

SRI LANKA:

W.I.A. Fernando c Shaw b Chahar 76
M. Bhanuka c Sakariya b Gowtham 7
B.P.P. Rajapaksa c Gowtham b Sakariya 65
D.M. de Silva c and b Sakariya 2
K.I.C. Asalanka lbw b Pandya 24
M.D. Shanaka c Pandey b Chahar 0
W.R.T. Mendis not out 15
C. Karunaratne st Samson b Chahar 3
A. Dananjaya not out 5
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-6, W-15, NB-5) 30
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 39 overs) 227
FALL OF WKTS: 1-35, 2-144, 3-151, 4-194, 5-195, 6-214, 7-220. DID NOT BAT: P.V.D. Chameera, P. Jayawickrama.
BOWLING: Saini 5-0-27-0 (1nb, 1w); Sakariya 8-0-34-2 (2nb, 1w); Chahar 10-0-54-3 (2nb); Gowtham 8-0-49-1 (6w); Pandya 5-0-43-1 (7w); Rana 3-0-10-0. RESULT: Sri Lanka won by three wickets; India win three-match series 2-1. UMPIRES: H.D.P.K. Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and R.S.A. Palliyaguruge (Sri Lanka). TV UMPIRE: R.R. Wimalasiri (Sri Lanka). MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka). PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Avishka Fernando. FIRST MATCH: Colombo, India won by seven wickets. SECOND MATCH: Colombo, India won by three wickets.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...