Sri Lanka team returns home, chief selector blames external conspiracy for poor World Cup show

Sri Lanka's poor World Cup performance is result of "conspiracy from outside", alleges Chief Selector Pramodaya Wickramasinghe. He takes responsibility for the team's two wins in nine games, marred by injuries and mid-tournament captaincy change

Chief Selector Pramodaya Wickramasinghe on Friday (November 10) alleged that Sri Lanka's disastrous show at the ongoing ODI World Cup was a result "of a conspiracy from outside".

The Sri Lankan cricket team returned home early Friday morning from India after their five-wicket loss in the last group stage match against New Zealand in Bengaluru.

Pressed for reasons for the poor performance, Wickramasingha, a member of the World Cup-winning 1996 team, said, "Give me two days to disclose everything about it. This was the result of a conspiracy from outside."

"It is very sad, I am taking responsibility,” he told reporters at the airport.

Sri Lanka recorded their worst World Cup performance since 1992, winning only two of their nine games.

The former champions were marred by a series of injuries, warranting replacements outside the original squad. That even led to a change of captaincy mid tournament.

Their disastrous show against India, where they were all out for 56, triggered a backlash at home.