'Under-fire' Sri Lankan selectors step down

The Sri Lankan selection committee, headed by Sanath Jayasuriya, has stepped down.

The development was confirmed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) vice president Mohan de Silva ahead of the fourth ODI of the ongoing five-match series against India.

The four-member selection committee consisting Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluvitharana, Ranjith Madurusinghe and Eric Upashantha, took office on May 1, 2016.

"Sri Lanka Cricket chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya as well as committee members Ranjith Madurasinghe, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Asanka Gurusinha and Eric Upashantha, have decided to resign," ESPNcricinfo quoted Sri Lanka's sports ministry as saying.

"A combined letter bearing the names of the above committee has conveyed this decision to sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. According to the letter, their tenure will end on September," the ministry added.

The announcement came days after the hosts lost the third ODI against Virat Kohli's men in Pallekele, and eventually conceded an unassailable 0-3 lead in the series. Before that, they were whitewashed in the three-Test series and home ODI series against Zimbabwe.

The committee had been at the receiving end of coach Nic Pothas, who said that 'too many cooks' were spoiling his efforts to revive the national team besides blaming outside interference for a string of poor performances in the recent times.

After the first ODI defeat against India, Pothas had said that the frequent changes in the selection line-up are making his job "very difficult".

The national selection committee, headed by Jayasuriya, had fielded 40 players in ODIs since taking over the role in May last year.

And Pothas, who took over the reins as head coach after Graham Ford stepped down at the end of June, admitted that there had been too many changes in the side.

"When you get consistency within a team of players, you will see improvements in performance. When we're getting new players every game, it gets very difficult from a confidence point of view. From the player's point of view it's very difficult. It's difficult for us - the coaching staff - to create a strategy," he added.