Arjuna Ranatunga, arguably Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer, was heavily criticised for his remarks against the Indian cricket team which is currently in the island nation for a limited-overs series. 

Ranatunga had disrespected the Shikhar Dhawan-led team, calling it a weak side, and even criticised his own country’s cricket board for agreeing to host a second-string side.

Snapshots from #TeamIndia's first training session in Sri Lanka #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/hzBx8DNye2

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 2, 2021

The 1996 World Cup-winning skipper, even in his wildest of dreams, wouldn’t have thought that the table would turn so quickly and he would end up looking like a fool.

Well, that’s exactly what is about to happen. You see, Sri Lanka Cricket Board and its players are at loggerheads owing to their contractual issues and given that none of them is ready to back off the issue is likely to drag on for a bit longer than expected.

© Reuters

According to a report in Daily FT, the 24 players who went on England tour had refused to sign the annual contract or the tour contract that was given to them by the Lankan board but were allowed to board the plane after signing a voluntary declaration form.

You might think the same thing might happen this time around as well, what’s stopping that? The answer to this question lies in the statement given by SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, who said it was a one-off incident when the board caved in front of the players, but not anymore.

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“The Executive Committee on the advice of the Technical and Advisory Committee will have to decide whether the players will have to sign a tour contract. Probably that is the only option left because we are not going ahead with voluntary declaration forms,” said de Silva.

“We will not want to go ahead with any voluntary declaration forms in the future. It was the first time a team had left overseas signing such a document.”

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If indeed the contractual situation is not resolved in the next few days, then Sri Lanka Cricket will be left with only one option, pick players from the pool of 39 contracted cricketers, which mainly includes fringe players.

“These players are currently practising and playing matches and we will consider them for selection for the Indian series. We have still not selected the squad for the series with India, we will do that after Sunday’s third and final ODI against England,” said chairman of selectors Pramodya Wickramasinghe.

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Given Sri Lanka's dismal performance in England, where they have lost all the matches, the majority of Indian supporters wondered whether they aren’t playing with the second-string side in England already.

While many described the move as a masterstroke as it would give them an excuse to avoid humiliation after losing the series against India, others took a sarcastic dig at Ranatunga who was left eating his own words.

So that they can make an excuse after lossing to india second string side

— Jatin Goyal (@JatinGo1920) July 3, 2021

SL players to srilanka cricket board right now.... pic.twitter.com/yyyD1UCA0U

— Bella Ciao (Chai) (@punjabiii_munda) July 3, 2021

Second string? Even their main team looks like third string tbh

— Heisenberg (@internetumpire) July 3, 2021

This is an insult to Indian team

— Shashank Balnad Kukkaje (@shashank_balnad) July 3, 2021

England me first string khel rhi h? 🤨

— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) July 3, 2021

Then Daniel will say that our second string team played so we lost , SLC Giving him reason

— PRΟÀÑŠH (@Pri7an45_MahiRo) July 3, 2021

Achha inki second string side bhi hai?

— Ved Pathak 🇮🇳 (@Vedpathak35) July 3, 2021

Is their a 2nd string for Srilankan team?

Aren't they playing with the fourth string already?

— Yashu #BarcaFc (@yashu0204) July 4, 2021

Such disrespect to Dhawan and co. to play againt Sri lankan second string side

— 𝕊𝕎𝔸ℕ𝕂𝔸ℝ (@SwankarCricket) July 3, 2021

Ye jo England me khele wo 1st string the?

— Shreyash (@Shreyash_2204) July 3, 2021

1st string side bhi to hona chahiye second string bolne ke liye

— Sahil Gupta (@SahilGu44779098) July 3, 2021

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