The decision of the Sri Lankan team management to “rest” Muttiah Muralidharan and Chaminda Vaas for today’s Super 8 World Cup match against Australia has set tongues wagging more than usual in the SET Max studios in London.”If Paul Condon and his Anti-Corruption Unit men are around, they should go into the Sri Lankan dressing room and ask what the hell is happening,” former Australian captain Ian Chappell said, as Mandira Bedi‘s jaw dropped, in a manner of speaking.
Present in the studio when Chappell made the stunning accusation was former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga, but even the proud Sinhala nationalist refused to rush to the team’s help.
“All I can say is that the Sri Lankan team had the most accomplished substitutes on call today—Murali, Vaas and Marvan Attapattu,” Ranatunga said feebly.
The charitable view of the decision to drop Murali and Vaas, two of the most effective bowlers in the tournament, is that the team may have not wanted to expose them to the Aussies in the match since they are already assured of a semifinal berth.
“You could say they are saving them for Jamaica,” Chappell said. “But what do you tell spectators who have paid top dollar for a much-hyped encounter like this?”
To be fair, nobody mentioned the word match-fixing. But in the era of spread betting or spot betting, bookies are known to take bets on the composition of a side, too. So, were Murali and Vaas kept out to keep some forces beyond the boundary happy? Maybe, maybe not.
Don’t shoot us; we are just the piano players.
This wasn’t a important match from SL’s perspective as they have already qualified for the semi’s… they took a decision and rested the 3, Ian Chappel and his inane comments will stir the hornets nest when there isn’t a need and moreover we and Pakistan are already out of the tournament
Ian Chappell’s surmise is farfetched but at least it’s interesting. It opens up a simple question: is a team duty-bound to select its best team? Who decides what is the best team? The team management or outsiders sitting in TV stuos half way around the globe?
Vaas and Murali may have been rested to prevent injuries to them in an insignficant match. If it was the fear of injuries to senior players, then why play Jayasuriya?
At an intellectual level, it can be argued that Jayawardene did not want to
show his trump cards with a possible rival in the finals. But what if the Lankans don’t make it to the finals? It’s of course the team’s prerogative to play the side it wants, but a more rational explanation is called for.
“…Mandira Bedi’s jaw dropped”
Since India went out of the world cut, that show really has become boring…
the chappel brothers need to keep their mouths shut.
@ atma… whom is the national team bound to give a rational explanation for ?? their respective board, press, fans????,… the captain and the selector with all their wisdom select the eleven for the match and thats where the matter should end. Some loonies sitting and giggling all the time just cant potshots on everything that happens.
On second thoughts, it might seem like a masterstroke to shield your best bowlers against the rampaging Australian batsmen for the finals. But what if the Lankans do not make it to the finals!!
Lets wait till the finals when Murali’s Doosras, Malingas Missiles and Vaas’ metronomic left-arm swing are on display before passing judgment on Jayawardene shall we ;)…
game was ‘fixed’?? the result would not have altered had those two played.
Nothing wrong in Ian Chappell asking this as it was in SL’s interest they win this game.
kila kilaa!!
I always that Mandira’s jaw was not the one to drop…. something else!!
chee kalla!!
kila kilaaa!!
I think SL team is right in making this decision.Mind u ,cricket is not only a game played with physical strength & ability but also with the power of hte brain.SL are tactically right in their decision.Moreover why does Chappell make such a fuss out of this incident.Isn’t if coz Aussies couldn’t play a good practice match against SL before da finals.Why talk about match fixing as Mostpeople believed that Aus will win. We know who Chappell is and what SL is capable of.SL will be the world champions!!!
Pingback: srilanka - » THE SRI LANKA FREEDOM PARTY S BREATHTAKING PROPOSALS ON …