Some cricketers give priority to play in IPL - Minister

Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it will make fitness priority when selecting players to the national cricket team in the future.

The decision was taken after the fitness of some players was questioned after Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the finals of a cricket tournament in England recently.

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera told reporters that a programme is now being formulated on ensuring only physically fit players are picked for the team in the future.

The minister also accused some Sri Lankan cricketers of giving India priority and not the national team.

He said that some cricketers undergo fitness programs in Sri Lanka, but then play in India and not for the Sri Lanka team. “They go to play in India for the money,” the minister said. The sports minister was referring to some Sri Lankan cricketers who had decided to play for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in India.

-Xinhua
-Agencies