Sri Lanka conduct 'emergency meet' following Proteas Test series whitewash

Colombo [Sri Lanka], Jan. 19 (ANI): Following the recent whitewash in the three-match Test series against South Africa, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Board conducted an emergency meeting here on Wednesday. The Angelo Mathews-led side was convincingly beaten 3-0 in the series, which was dominated by the Proteas in all the three departments of the game. The series culminated with an innings and 118 runs loss for Sri Lanka at the Wanderers. According to the SLC website, during the meeting, Mathews affirmed his team's commitment to re-strategize for the upcoming T20 and ODI in South Africa. The meeting was conducted by SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala here in Colombo at the Sri Lanka Cricket Head Quarters with Mathews and coach Graham Ford present via telephone from South Africa. Apart from Sumathipala, Mathews and Ford, those present at the meeting were board vice-presidents Jayantha Dharmadasa and K. Mathivanan, along with chairman of selectors committee Sanath Jayasuriya and team manager Ranjith Fernando. "Angelo is confident of bouncing back and winning the tournament," the president said immediately following the meeting. "We believe that if you are afraid of losing, you can never have a winning team." While accepting and agreeing the team slip-ups and challenges faced during the recent test series, the Sri Lanka captain remained confident regarding the white-ball challenge asserting that the team will give their best to secure a win for the country. The Sri Lankans will have an opportunity to bounce back in the shorter formats of the game when they take on the Proteas in three T20Is followed by five ODIs beginning January 20 at the Centurion. (ANI)