Wanindu Hasaranga’s Test return not to exploit loopholes of ICC ban | REPORT

Wanindu Hasaranga has hogged the limelight over the previous few days. Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup captain discovered himself in sizzling water in the course of the third ODI towards Bangladesh on March 18 when he snatched his cap from an umpire and ridiculed the umpiring in the course of the sport. 

Immediately after the sport and earlier than he was suspended by ICC, Hasaranga was named within the Test squad for the sequence towards Bangladesh. He got here out of the Test retirement after seven months however was hit with three demerit factors which took his demerit tally to eight in 24 months. Resultingly, Hasaranga was handed a ban of two Tests, or 4 ODIs or T20Is, whichever comes first. 

Sri Lanka will play the T20 World Cup 2024 after the Test sequence and if Hasaranga had not returned to the Tests, he would have to miss the preliminary half of the World Cup in June. However, as he made a return to the Test squad, the ban meant that he would miss the two-Test sequence and not the half of World Cup.

However, in accordance to a report in ESPNCricinfo, Sri Lanka Cricket has stated Hasaranga’s return to Tests was not to exploit the loopholes of the ban. It added that Hasaranga had knowledgeable the board on March 16 of his want to be thought-about for the longest format of the sport. He cited that his health has improved now. 

“It was about two weeks ago that he told us he was open to playing Tests again. We know how it looks, but this decision was taken well before the final ODI,” Sri Lanka’s choice committee member Ajantha Mendis advised the cricket-based web site.

It added that the International Cricket Council is believed to be in contact with SLC to decide his Test return. Moreover, it states that even Sunriser Hyderabad, his IPL franchise, did not know of Hasaranga’s intentions to play the Tests.