Upul tharanga appointed as the new chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket’s selection committee

2023.12.13

One of the youngest committee members ever selected to a position of this kind at SLC, it will serve a two-year term.

Upul Tharanga, former Sri Lankan opener, is the new chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) selection committee. The committee, also featuring Dilruwan Perera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Indika de Saram, and Ajantha Mendis, is a response to Sri Lanka’s disappointing 2023 World Cup performance, where they won only two of nine matches, missing out on the 2025 Champions Trophy qualification. Tharanga’s leadership aims to rejuvenate the team and restore Sri Lanka’s cricketing prominence.

Tharanga, Dilruwan, and de Saram showcased their prowess in first-class cricket just this year. Meanwhile, Paranavitana, who bid farewell to international cricket in 2020, recently graced the domestic cricket scene in 2020. On the other hand, Mendis, who retired in 2019, has gracefully transitioned to the legends circuit, keeping his cricket spirit alive.

The determination regarding the fresh committee was reached after SLC submitted a roster of names to Sri Lanka’s recently appointed sports minister, Harin Fernando. As per Sri Lanka’s sports law, the sports minister holds exclusive authority to appoint selection committees. Although SLC leaned towards retaining the outgoing committee led by Pramodya Wickramasinghe for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Fernando opted for a rejuvenated lineup, emphasizing the need for new faces in the committee.

Throughout Wickramasinghe’s tenure, he spearheaded a transformation marked by a youth-centric approach, sidelining several senior players in favor of a nucleus of younger talents. The outcomes of this strategic shift yielded a blend of surprises, including Sri Lanka’s unexpected triumph in the 2022 T20 Asia Cup and triumphant home series against Australia, South Africa, and India. However, these achievements were counteracted by disappointing performances in the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, as well as the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Consequently, discussions revolving around Sri Lanka’s recent form have revolved around finding the optimal balance between youthful exuberance and seasoned experience. This pivotal aspect is anticipated to be at the forefront of the new committee’s agenda as they embark on the task of selecting their inaugural squad.

@charith