‘Have the brain to judge how to face the ball’ - Arjuna Ranatunga blasts Sri Lanka team

Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has criticised the current national cricket team, saying that while the players have talent, they lack the intelligence d the humility to accept defeat gracefully. Speaking at an event with students, Ranatunga emphasised that modern players often lack the discipline and mindset required to succeed consistently at the international level.

He also pointed to the role of the cricket administration, suggesting that mistakes and mismanagement by officials are affecting the team’s performance. Comparing the current squad with the legendary 1996 World Cup-winning team, Ranatunga noted that past players approached the game with focus, discipline, and a sense of responsibility toward the nation. Ranatunga further criticised the modern emphasis on financial gain, urging players to prioritise representing their country and playing carefully and thoughtfully, rather than being driven solely by money.

“The ones who learn have the brain to judge how to face the ball, how to bowl and how to take a catch. We can’t point a finger at a child if the parents are doing wrong. The same issue applies to Sri Lanka Cricket. I have been raising these concerns for several years,” Ranatunga said as quoted by The Daily Mirror.

“The players today are more talented. However, they need discipline, dedication and a sense of shame when they lose. When I lost a match, I didn’t even come out of the dressing room. Today, everything is about money. If players focus on playing good cricket for 10 to 12 years, the money will eventually come. That is the right approach,” he concluded.

As the former legend pointed out, the Sri Lankan team is currently in poor form. In the Asia Cup 2025, they lost all three of their Super Four matches to exit the tournament early. This was followed by a three-match ODI series in which they were comprehensively whitewashed. Currently, Sri Lanka sit at the bottom of the points table in the ongoing Pakistan T20I tri-series, alongside Zimbabwe and hosts Pakistan, highlighting a continuing slump in performance across formats.