Many would argue that had Sri Lanka gone into the recent World Cup with all their big guns fit and firing, they might have reached the semis. That’s the popular line doing the rounds. But if we are calling it as we see it, this campaign was heading for a collapse even before the first ball was bowled.

Reappointing Dasun Shanaka as captain was a gamble, lacked foresight and in the end created divisions within the team. The decision to bring back Pramodya Wickremasinghe as Chairman of Selectors didn’t inspire confidence either. It was a move that had trouble written all over it, the kind that can unsettle a dressing room before a ball is even delivered. It’s like appointing Mervyn Silva as Public Relations Minister. A bull in a China shop is less troublesome than these two southerners.

Of course, injuries played their part. Losing Matheesha Pathirana and Eshan Malinga robbed the attack of bite, but the biggest dent was the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga. A proven match-winner, Hasaranga is the sort who can turn a game on its head in the space of a couple of overs. Without him, Sri Lanka were always chasing the game.

What is more concerning is the recurring nature of Hasaranga’s injuries. Missing yet another global tournament due to a hamstring issue raises serious questions. Over the last two years, the pattern has been far from encouraging, and for a professional cricketer, that’s an area that needs urgent attention.

Clearly frustrated by the injury crisis that derailed the campaign, Sri Lanka Cricket have decided to take a firmer stance. Players seeking No Objection Certificates for the IPL will now have to clear fitness tests first. It’s a step in the right direction and one that had been coming for some time.

In the past, when the board tried to assert control, players pushed back, often using franchise connections to apply pressure. This time, however, SLC seem prepared to stand their ground and ensure that national duty is not treated as optional.

There has to be a sense of accountability. It does not sit well when key players miss a World Cup and then turn up fully fit for franchise cricket. That is a contradiction that undermines both the team and the system.

Nuwan Thushara’s situation, however, presents a slightly different picture. The slinging seamer, who was not part of the World Cup squad, has also struggled to meet fitness standards. SLC have inserted a clause allowing them to withhold NOCs for three months beyond the contract period, a move that shows the board have learned from past lapses.

That said, Thushara’s case deserves a degree of empathy. At 31, he is nearing the latter stages of his career and opportunities like the IPL do not come around often. While fitness standards must be upheld, there is also room for discretion, particularly in cases where the player was not part of the World Cup plans.

If players are now seeking leniency, it also reflects gaps in how fitness has been managed over time. Preparation at this level is a long-term investment, not something that can be patched up overnight.

by Rex Clemetine