Fears have been expressed by followers of the Sri Lanka cricket team that the axing of four players who were part of the historic match-winning team in Pakistan, could spell doom for the side picked to tour Australia for three T20 matches starting on October 27.
It follows the re-entry of three players Lasith Malinga, Kusal Perera and Niroshan Dickwella who refused to play in Pakistan. A fourth player, Kusal Mendis was also brought in, but he was recalled having recovered from injury and did not refuse to tour Pakistan.
The players left out from the squad that triumphed in Pakistan are wicket-keeper batsmen Minod Bhanuka and Sadeera Samarawickrema, batsman Angelo Perera and all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka.
The biggest fear is that shuffling of the players can alter the mindset of the tour party. But coach Rumesh Ratnayake addressing the media before the team’s departure said he was confident that the players would make a good combination as a single unit motivated for results.