A major controversy has arisen regarding Sri Lankan cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga. The leg-spinner had announced his retirement from Test cricket last year. However, before the Test series against Bangladesh, which begins today, Hasaranga declared that he would be making a comeback to Test cricket.
So far, so good! But here is the problem – the leggie’s decision came after the third and final ODI against Bangladesh on March 18. In this match, the Lankan spinner showed dissent against a decision of the umpire. The result of this was a fine of 50% of his match fees and three demerit points.
Those three demerit points took his aggregate of such points to eight – which leads to a suspension from two Tests, or four ODIs, or four T20Is – whichever comes first. Now, here is the curious bit – the decision of Hasaranga to un-retire came after the third ODI and before the penalty for his transgressions had been announced.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s availability for the T20 World Cup
In other words, by un-retiring and declaring himself available for the two Tests against Bangladesh, and getting picked by Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga has ensured that his suspension gets consumed in the upcoming series.
So, if he hadn’t un-retired and Sri Lanka hadn’t picked him for the Test series, what would have happened? Well, after the Test series against Bangladesh, the next assignment for Bangladesh is the T20 World Cup. This means that Hasaranga would have had to miss the first four matches of the T20 World Cup later this year.
It’s hard not to connect the dots. What’s more, the leg-spinner hasn’t played a first-class game for more than a year. So, him being picked for the Tests seems quite odd. All the more so because the Lankans have some good options for their Test XI already. Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis have been in the Test set-up for quite some time. Uncapped Nishan Peiris is also in the squad.
Jayasuriya has been very successful in the Test format. Mendis has been less so but has some experience. Hasaranga may well have made his way into the team as the third spinner if the ban wasn’t in place. That is, if his decision to un-retire wasn’t a tactical move.
Wanindu Hasaranga would be one of Sri Lanka’s most important players in the T20 World Cup. His absence in the first four games would have been a big dent to his team. That, for now, seems to have been averted, by hook or by crook.