Vaas sets it straight

I am also aware that there have been allegations of player misbehaviour on tour. Strangely, such allegations surface only when the team performs poorly. I can recall similar allegations made against our team when we were knocked out of the Champion’s trophy semi-finals. Writes Chaminda Vaas for The Sunday Times (LK)

Being on tour is not easy. We have to be focused on our game, we have to be in touch with our families despite time differences and we have to attend the many functions organized on our behalf. In Canberra, where there was a reception in our honour, we stood for 45 minutes signing autographs and posing for photographs without even having a soft drink-yet there were Sri Lankans who complained that we were rude and arrogant!

So, there will always be allegations, especially at a time when the team is under performing. But they will remain allegations and nothing more unless they can be proved.

I believe the Cricket Board will examine these accusations and the facts before them before deciding whether anything needs to be done about it. The boys are all aware that they are fifteen cricketers representing twenty million people and that the spotlight is on them and I am sure they have acted with a sense of responsibility.

As far as we are concerned, our next focus of attention is the tour to the West Indies where we play two tests and three one day internationals within a month. We carry happy memories of the West Indies, having reached the World Cup finals there-and we are certainly confident that we can improve on our performances Down Under.