Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has expressed his displeasure with regard to Sri Lankan players continuing to be a part of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 despite the island nation going through economic crisis.
Protests have flared up across various parts of Sri Lanka as the nation is facing its worst-ever economic crisis. The country is experiencing a severe shortage of rations, fuel and essential items, including medical supplies.
Ranatunga has urged the Sri Lanka cricketers, who are part of IPL 2022, to leave the fifteenth season immediately and come in support of protests.
“I am sure you all know who are the players playing in the IPL. I don’t want to mention, but I would want them to leave their job for a week and come in support of the protests. I really don’t know, but there are some cricketers who are lavishly playing in the IPL and haven’t spoken about their country. Unfortunately, people are scared to speak against the government. These cricketers are also working for the cricket board under the ministry, and they are trying to protect their jobs. But now they have to take a step as some of the young cricketers also came forward and gave statements in support of the protest,” Ranatunga said as quoted by ANI.
“When something is going wrong, you should have the guts to come out and speak against it without thinking about your business. People ask me why I am not in the protests. It’s just that I have been into politics for the last 19 years, and this is not a political issue. So far, none of the political parties and politicians have got into the protests, and that’s the biggest strength of the people of this country,” he added.
Notably, quite a few Sri Lanka players, including legends like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga, are part of IPL 2022, working in various roles for different franchises. When it comes to players, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dushmantha Chameeera, Chamika Karunaratne and Maheesh Theekshana are part of different squads.
