FLASH: Cricket selectors sacked, new panel named

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has sacked the cricket selection committee and appointed a new committee head by Asantha De Mel.

Aluthgamage has used his authority as Sports Minister to make the new appointment, the Sports Ministry said this evening (Thursday).

The previous selection committee was headed by Duleep Mendis. Sri Lanka has lost two consecutive Test and One-Day series, one against Pakistan and the other against South Africa.

Amal Silva, Don Anurasiri and Hemantha Wickremeratna were named as the other selectors in the new panel.

The new selectors will operate till the end of this year, the Sports Ministry said.

The move came just hours after the Sri Lankan Sports Ministry said that changes will be made to the national cricket team but insisted that the changes will not take place immediately.

Sports Ministry spokesman Harsha B. Abeykoon had said in a statement that Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was still awaiting a report from the cricket board and once the report is received a decision will be taken on any changes that need to be made.

The cricket board met this morning to discuss some of the issues concerning the national cricket team.

The Sri Lankan cricket team is currently on tour in South Africa and on its return the team captain T.M Dilshan is also expected to be replaced by former vice captain Mahela Jayawardena.

Sri Lanka is to undertake a tour to Australia next month for a tri-series against the hosts and India.