Sri Lankan Sports Minister to launch inquiry on 'grass-trimming'

Sri Lankan Sports Minister, Dayasiri Jayasekara has set up an independent investigation over the trimming of grass over the pitch during the recently concluded India’s tour of Sri Lanka after the allegations came from Lasith Malinga. The Sri Lankan pacer revealed about ‘pitch-tampering’ against home team’s instructions during the Brainstorming Workshop held last week.

Malinga informed about how the curators prepared the pitches against the word from home side and asked for an inquiry over it during the workshop hosted by the Sports Minister at Water’s Edge, Battaramulla. Minister Jayasekara in a release informed about the investigation which will be led by the additional secretary at the Ministry.

“Malinga requested us to have an inquiry on the misdeeds which happened while preparing pitches during the recent Indian series and due to that fact, an additional secretary at the Ministry will lead the investigations on this matter,” Minister stated in a press release.

Cutting the grass against the word of the Sri Lankan players and management.

Malinga accused the curators of cutting down the grass soon after asking them to keep it alive. When questioned about cutting against their word, Malinga admits of getting responses like wrong blades used. The 34-year-old feels that a curator is not fit for his job at the International level if they give silly responses to serious mistakes.

“When we inspect wickets before the game we are asked to give our opinion on the type of wicket to be prepared. We tell them something like: ‘right keep grass like this.’ But when we take two steps away from the wicket they cut the grass and when asked why they give excuses like they used the wrong blade,” said Malinga during the workshop according to Ceylontoday.lk.

“If it is an international curator who chooses the wrong blade I don’t think he is capable for the job. I have informed responsible parties on this. This has happened not once, but twice. This also affects the game and affects us mentally. Sometimes we get to know only on the morning of the match that wickets have been changed from the previous day,” added Malinga.