Standing by its Indian couterpart in the Sourav Ganguly ban issue, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board has said that it was improper to punish the skipper alone in cases such as a team's slow overrates.
"I think the captain can do little under such circumstances. I feel it is not right to put the blame on the captain," Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa said in Kolkata on Saturday night.
Pointing out that the captain needs cooperation from his players, Dharmadasa cited the example of Australia led by Kim Hughes in the 1980s.
"Players like Dennis Lilee did not cooperate with him. It's not an easy job for the captain on the cricket field," he said.
Turning to the coming tri-series between India, Sri Lanka and West Indies beginning this month end, Dharmadasa said Ganguly's presence would give a boost to the tournament.
"I think Ganguly should come. And I think we need him for the sake of the tournament," said the businessman-turned cricket administrator.
However, he backtracked when pointedly asked if the ICC's rule of banning the skipper for the team's slow overrate was justified. "Well, you see, we have to go according to the ICC rules."
On the Sri Lankan team's preparations for the 2007 World Cup, Dharmadasa said a plan has been drawn up as per the recommendations of the cricket committee comprising six former captains.
"We will switch over from a club-based format to provincial format, taking the Sheffield Shield in Australia as the model," he said.
He said keeping in mind the fact that several of the senior players would be in their mid-thirties during the next World Cup, young players were being groomed as part of the 'A' side.
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