We take the responsibility & the blame - Mendis (5 June 1999)
The unsuccessful Sri Lanka cricketers in their quest to retain the World Cup title returned home last afternoon on an Emirates flight, Sans, skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Deputy Aravinda de Silva who opted to delay their return whilst Muttiah
05-Jun-1999
5 June 1999
We take the responsibility & the blame - Mendis
Richard Dwight
I am prepared to play in any capacity - Arjuna
The unsuccessful Sri Lanka cricketers in their quest to retain the
World Cup title returned home last afternoon on an Emirates flight,
Sans, skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Deputy Aravinda de Silva who opted
to delay their return whilst Muttiah Muralitheran remained to turn
out for the Lancashire county.
Tour officials and members of the Cricket Board acting swiftly, loss
no time in meeting the media to lay bare and apprise it of all that
centred around cricket between the team leaving for England and their
subsequent return.
Speaking on the occasion the manager of the Sri Lanka cricket team at
the outset virtually took the wind off the sails of the media when
Mendis read out a statement made by skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, to
quote, "All decisions during the tournament were with the full
consensus of the tour management and the respective players concerned
and I take full responsibility for all decisions which did not go
according to plan." He further states that his continuing to lead the
side depends solely on the selectors and since he has a bit more
cricket left in him, would like to play in any capacity.
The Manager Duleep Mendis without quibbling with words reiterating
what Arjuna said was highly apologetic saying that they were not
making any excuses for their dismal performances for which they were
responsible and took the blame. With deep emotion he felt that they
had let down their followers, sponsors and the country at large. He
went on to explain that they tried Hashan Tillekeratne but it did not
work and had to rivert to Mahela Jayawardena and felt that Hashan was
not a one dayer. Despite going early to get acclimatised to the
English conditions it did not help, he said. Our batting which was
our forte he stressed failed all the time and our bowling and
fielding which improved, influenced by our bad batting also wilted
when the Indians were making merry. Mendis concluded by saying "there
are the good times and bad times and we must be appreciative of this
and take steps to remedy that which has gone wrong and forge ahead".
Source :: The Daily News