World Cup hero Ranatunga stops watching SL

AFP, COLOMBO: Former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga on Wednesday lambasted the country's cricket leaders and said he had stopped watching the ailing national team.

Ranatunga, 53, said he was also disillusioned with the government of which he is a minister because it failed to protect the game.

“Frankly, I don't watch cricket anymore,” Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to a World Cup triumph in 1996, told AFP. “I read about it in the newspapers but I don't watch cricket.”

Since retiring, the sports star has entered politics and was an unelected cricket administrator in 2008.

“I am disappointed about cricket since the last elections,” he said.

Ranatunga and his brother stood for the top two posts on the Sri Lankan cricket board in January last year but were easily beaten by Thilanga Sumathipala and his team.

Ranatunga, who is the petroleum minister, is pushing for the ousting of the leadership and the appointment of an interim committee to administer the game.

World Cup hero Ranatunga stops watching SL

AFP, COLOMBO: Former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga on Wednesday lambasted the countrys cricket leaders and said he had stopped watching the ailing national team. Ranatunga, 53, said he was also disillusioned with the government of which he is a minister because it failed to protect the game. Frankly, I dont watch cricket anymore, Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to a World Cup triumph in 1996, told AFP. I read about it in the newspapers but I dont watch cricket. Since retiring, the sports star has entered politics and was an unelected cricket administrator in 2008. I am disappointed about cricket since the last elections, he said. Ranatunga and his brother stood for the top two posts on the Sri Lankan cricket board in January last year but were easily beaten by Thilanga Sumathipala and his team. Ranatunga, who is the petroleum minister, is pushing for the ousting of the leadership and the appointment of an interim committee to administer the game.