Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) spent a massive amount of over Rs. 69 million to send its national team to England on a chartered flight, professor Arjuna De Silva, chairman of the board’s medical committee has revealed.
Speaking to Ada Derana, he reasoned that the huge amount was spent to ensure the safety of its players.
“The players were sent to England on a chartered flight, spending over Rs. 69 million, considering their safety. The team was also vaccinated on priority, even before the Indian team was vaccinated,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prof. De Silva also said that the players were allowed to go out of the hotel but were strictly prohibited from going into the city.
“They were not restricted to their rooms but had the option of going out of their rooms just outside their hotel when nobody was around, during the day. However, they were clearly and strictly advised not to go to the city,” De Silva said.
“I don’t usually criticize players. But on this occasion, I felt really angry and sad about the behavior of the players,” he added.
Significantly, batsmen Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis were recalled from England due to a suspension after they breached the bio-bubble in Durham.