The strange nature of the Wanindu Hasaranga situation is growing. Even a week after the league began, the Sri Lankan spinner, who was selected for the Test squad and might avoid fines from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the Twenty20 World Cup, has not yet joined his Indian Premier League (IPL) team.
His management told Cricbuzz on Friday, “He will join sooner rather than later,” as Sunrisers Hyderabad awaited the team’s integration. However, the manager was unable to provide a specific date for his visitation to Hyderabad. “All I can say is he will definitely join the team.”
Surprisingly, Sunrisers acquired Hasaranga for his basic price of Rs 1.5 crore when Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who had acquired him for INR 10.75 crore in 2022, released him. A good number of foreign players have left the IPL after bidding cheaply at the auction.
The manager of Hasaranga has maintained that this perception is untrue. We could have signed up for an INR 2 crore base price if money had been an issue. Additionally, less games equate to less money. He needs to tend to his ankle. In addition, he leads the national team as captain,” the manager clarified.
From the perspective of SRH, the wait is protracted and unclear. The franchise is unable to look for a replacement because there is no assurance over when he will arrive. Officials from the franchise declined to comment.
It is anticipated that Hasaranga will go abroad, most likely to Dubai, on March 31 for a checkup on his problematic left ankle. The management stated that Hasaranga would decide whether or not to join the IPL team based on the opinion of the expert. “He wants to enjoy the IPL, therefore he will definitely join. The management emphasized, “We are in contact with the franchise.”
Hasaranga had resigned from the five-day format a year prior, but he was unexpectedly named to the Test team for the away series in Bangladesh, which drew criticism to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Given that the revelation was made right before the 26-year-old spinner was set to face penalties from the ICC, its timing was highly controversial.
He was suspended for two Test matches, four ODIs, or four Twenty20 matches, depending on which came first by the global body. He will lead Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup and the Test selection has guaranteed he won’t miss a match. However, the SLC asserted that the Test selection was not a ruse to get around the prohibition.
The entire matter still has a curious quality to it. Hasaranga was chosen by the Sri Lankan selectors for a Test series that began on March 22, the first day of the IPL. Did the SLC know about Hasaranga’s injury when he was selected for the Test squad, given that he has been missing the IPL due to it?
The SLC consultant, Sanath Jayasuriya, stated he cannot speak until he receives approval from his board. Neither the player nor the SLC officials have reacted to messages from this website.
