JOIN USSri Lanka Cricket put up a strong defence of Dilruwan Perera who got himself mired in a controversy after asking for an unusual review of his lbw dismissal on the fourth day of the first Test here on Sunday.
Suggestions, which couldn't be substantiated in the absence of hard evidence, were made that the all-rounder, who was walking towards the dressing room before turning back suddenly to signal the 'T', was gestured by his team-mates to seek the review.
Denying any foul play, SLC issued a statement on Sunday evening, clarifying what it claimed the "ambiguity surrounding the DRS appeal" by Dilruwan. It went on to add that the batsman was under the impression that Lanka were out of reviews.
"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to clarify the ambiguity surrounding the DRS appeal of Dilruwan Perera during the fourth day's play of the 1st Test in Kolkata earlier this afternoon. Contrary to the assumptions made, there was no "message from the dressing room" involved in the requested review.
"Having mistakenly assumed that Sri Lanka were out of reviews, Dilruwan Perera had turned to leave the field when he heard Rangana Herath inquire with the on-field umpire Nigel Llong if Sri Lanka have any reviews left, to which Mr Long answered in the affirmative. It was then that Dilruwan requested the review," the statement read.
With over a crowd of 20,000 still wildly celebrating the dismissal, it is hard to believe that Dilruwan actually heard a polite chat between Herath and Llong.
The release further added: "We wish to place on record that every single Sri Lankan player and official is not only strongly respectful and bounden to uphold the rules and regulations of the ICC, but plays his game of cricket under the ethics and principles of true sportsmanship and the Spirit of Cricket."
Later in his post-match comments, Herath too seconded SLC's claim. "It is simple as this. What happened was I asked Mr Nigel Llong whether there was a review left. I guess Dilruwan probably heard it as well and opted for a review."
The veteran admitted that neither did he see any signal from the dressing room nor did he call back Dilruwan to seek review.