Jayasuriya’s surprise Test recall spells trouble for De Mel

Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim committee has asked the board’s cricket affairs commission, headed by Ranjan Madugalle, the ICC chief match referee, to seek further information regarding the advertising deal and whether De Mel was to benefit in any way from the contract if Jayasuriya was recalled as a Test player.

‘‘These are serious allegations and a fuller explanation is needed before the commission can take the investigation further,’’ said an SLC official who declined to be named on grounds of confidentiality.

He said that all future enquiries should be directed to Madugalle, recently returned to the island from South Africa. But he has so far not been available for comment.

It was De Mel, who immediately on his recall said he had been told that Jayasuriya was ‘‘forced to retire’’ and given 12 hours to write a retirement letter before the squad was named for the second Test against Pakistan at Asgiriya in Kandy. This was later confirmed by team sources and other Sri Lanka Cricket insiders.

‘‘Jayasuriya is the fittest of all the players,’’ said De Mel, when announcing plans two weeks ago to recall the Matara Mauler as part of a selection overhaul of the team now in England.

De Mel also criticised coach Tom Moody over his methods, saying that Sri Lanka had gone backward since he took over and praised the work of former coach John Dyson as he had ‘‘lifted the team to higher positions on the log.’’

Despite denials from Jayasuriya and the sports ministry, the island’s President Mahinda Rajapakse, had a hand in firing the selection chairman Lalith Kaluperuma and reinstalling De Mel, who held the post until March 2005. Just who was in this group and what was their interest has become part of the mystery that surrounds De Mel’s about turn on Jayasuriya’s decision to rescind his Test retirement to help the side.

Initial reports that Arjuna Ranatunga played the main role in Jayasuriya’s decision have been discounted by SLC insiders. They say that this was ‘‘a deliberate red herring’’ by interested parties to deflect how Jayasuriya stood to gain financially from his reselection.

De Mel was told on Monday by the SLC cricket affairs commission that Jayasuriya’s arrival at the team’s London hotel had a disruptive effect on players trying to establish themselves as new opening batsmen. De Mel has been told to join the team in England to sort out ‘‘the mess you have created.’’