Dropping Sanath, Vaas a hard decision - Aravinda

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

Chairman Cricket selectors Aravinda de Silva said that the omission of Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas from the final 15 of the World Cup squad was a hard decision and an emotional one, and did not want to look into individuals, but selecting a team that will ultimately represent the twenty million people of the country was main target.

A media conference was held at the SLC Headquarters yesterday to spell out the criteria of selection by Chairman selectors along with another Ranjit Fernando and Shabir Asgarally.

"The duo has done so much for Sri Lanka Cricket which cannot be forgotten, we have looked at every possible options to select the best possible 15 players for the World Cup and we were not going to waver from that, rather than looking for individuals as such. We wanted the best team which ultimately to go out there and represent the twenty million people in the country, that was the only reason to leave them out", said Aravinda.

He continued saying that unfortunately not only those two. It was a very, very hard decision and an emotional one for the four selectors to leave out two great cricketers in that calibre.

"Knowing the feeling being a past cricketer, they would have been looking forward to bid good bye after the World Cup, but it was unfortunate, but that's how it goes. I guess they have great future ahead to contribute towards Sri Lanka cricket and I hope they will do so. At the same time, Suraj Randiv, I must say has not done much wrong to be out of the squad but, it was unfortunate the we looked at the combination and the variation which we need in the 15. So those are the three guys whom do I feel for", Aravinda said.