While the International Cricket Council (ICC) leaves no stone unturned to fiercely defend its panel of umpires, Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva slammed the result of the third T20 against Afghanistan claiming his team lost as the umpires stood in the way and failed to rule on what was viewed as an illegal delivery at the Dambulla International Stadium on Wednesday night.
Displaying his immaturity as a so-called leader, Hasaranga with disregard for the players code of conduct stipulated by the ICC in making public remarks over umpiring told match officials Lyndon Hanibal and Raveendra Wimalasiri to seek a living elsewhere in typical playing to the whistle-blowing gallery.
The silence of Hasaranga’s employer Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), with several skeletons in their own cupboards, was as equally disturbing with money and might now the name of the game.
The whole sordid episode has left analysts wondering that if umpires can be taken to the cleaners at the drop of a hat, then several more before Hanibal and Wimalasiri, including the umpires at the disputed ending of the World Cup final of 2019, should have been closeted.
While Hasaranga vented his anger and frustration at losing, Afghanistan’s coach and former England batsman Jonathan Trott when asked about the final over lived up to his integrity and told the media that umpiring decisions must be left in the hands of the umpires.
According to the norm all cricket captains are privileged to submit to the ICC what is called a Confidential Report after each series or Tour on the standard of umpiring among other matters and for Hasaranga to be unaware or disregard the requirement further exposed the rot taking place at SLC whose office bearers carry on with impunity.
Hasaranga’s irresponsible public conduct follows the behaviour of the country’s ODI captain Kusal Mendis who carries the stigma of smashing the glass door of rival club Bloomfield at a domestic match.
Hasaranga has been banned from playing in two T20 matches and fined 50 percent of his match fee following his outburst and confrontation against umpire Lyndon Hannibal, the ICC announced yesterday.
