Can't rule out India's chances, says de Mel
Staff Reporter - 24 July 2001
Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Asantha de Mel is of the opinion
that the Sri Lankans have the best side in the ongoing Coca-Cola
Cup tri series in Colombo. "However, it would be wrong to write
off India, even though they have lost the first two matches. They
are playing in familiar conditions and always have the ability to
come back. So at the moment, I am not ready to say that they do
not have a chance in the tournament," he said while talking to reporters
in Kolkata on Monday.
De Mel, who was the spearhead of the Sri Lankan attack in the 1983
and 1987 World Cup competitions is in the city for a meeting
with the chairman of the Asian Cricket Foundation Jagmohan Dalmiya. "The
meeting is basically to discuss the way cricket can be developed in the
region," said de Mel.
De Mel, who is also a member of the interim Cricket Board of Sri
Lanka, said that the preliminary investigations on the allegations
of match-fixing against Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva have
failed to reveal anything substantial. "Both are not guilty and
the allegations are false," he said.
De Mel added that de Silva had every possibility of making a
comeback to the Lankan side. "Arjuna is concentrating on his
insurance business but Aravinda is continuing to play. He has
been performing regularly and there is every possibility that he
will make the squad for the 2003 World Cup," de Mel said.
© CricInfo