Former Sri Lanka Chairman of cricket Selectors Pramodya Wickremasinghe is likely to return to the post, with the Minister of Sports set to appoint a new five-member national selection committee in the coming days.
Wickremasinghe, who first assumed office in April 2021, was removed in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s disappointing campaign at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. However, with Sri Lanka entering another crucial phase in international cricket, his name has once again emerged as the frontrunner to lead the country’s selection process.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara this week has held a special discussion on Tuesday with Wickremasinghe, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva and SLC Secretary Bandula Dissanayake. The meeting focused on Wickremasinghe’s potential reappointment and the proposed composition of the new selection panel, which will replace the committee headed by Upul Tharanga.
During the discussions, the names of Hemantha Wickremaratne, Vinothan John, Indika de Saram and Tharanga Paranavithana were considered as possible members of the new five-member committee. Both de Saram and Paranavithana serves on the selection panel led by Tharanga, whose two-year term is due to expire later this month.
Despite the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup looming large on the calendar, hopes that Tharanga and his committee would be granted a short-term extension until the conclusion of the global event were not realised. The decision not to extend the current panel has paved the way for a reshuffle, with the Sports Ministry opting to move swiftly on a new appointment.
Wickremaratne and Vinothan John are no strangers to the role, having previously served on national selection committees. Their inclusion is seen as an attempt to strike a balance between experience and continuity at a time when Sri Lanka are seeking stability and clarity in selection policy across formats.
Wickremasinghe’s previous tenure was marked by strong opinions and considerable public scrutiny. He faced criticism over certain selection calls and the overall direction of the team, particularly during periods of inconsistent results. However, he was also credited with introducing a clear youth-focused policy that accelerated the transition to a younger core of players.
Several cricketers identified and backed during Wickremasinghe’s tenure are now established members of the national setup, underlining the long-term impact of that strategy. He was also responsible for appointing Dasun Shanaka as Sri Lanka’s white-ball captain.
