Mahela Jayawardene and Muttiah Muralitharan turn down requests to assist Sri Lanka national team

David Cooper - Writer 16:52 15/06/2018
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  • Muttiah Muralitharan (l) and Mahela Jayawardena (r). Kumar Sangakkara (c) is yet to respond.

    Sri Lankan legends Mahela Jayawardene and Muttiah Muralitharan have turned down the opportunity to provide consultancy services to the national team.

    The national selectors had plans on Thursday to appoint a number of ex-players including Jayawardene, Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara on a panel that would advise how the team can return to winning ways.

    But Muralitharan ruled himself out, by saying: “I am of the view that it (the invitation) is an insincere, cunning move, to use us when the cricket administration is in such a deplorable state.”

    Ex-captain Jayawardene, who scored 11,814 Test runs in 149 matches, took to social media to voice his opinion. “I don’t have any trust in the system. If any one wants to buy time please don’t use us!” the former Sri Lanka captain said on Twitter.

    Sri Lanka cricket has been at a all-time low, after suffering Test and one-day whitewashes to India on home soil as well as losing a home ODI series against Zimbabwe. They were also beaten by West Indies in last week’s first Test.

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