Wikipedia

Pramodya Wickramasinghe

Wickramasinghe Gallage Pramodya (born August 14, 1971), commonly known as Pramodya Wickramasinghe, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer.[1] He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm-fast bowler. He was regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in 1990s.[2] He was a member of 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team.[3] He is the former national chief selector of both Sri Lanka men's and women's cricket teams.[4]

Pramodya Wickramasinghe
ප්‍රමෝද්‍ය වික්‍රමසිංහ
Personal information
Full name
Gallage Pramodya Wickramasinghe
BornAugust 14, 1971 (1971-08-14) (age 53)
Matara, Ceylon
NicknameWicky
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 51)12 December 1991 v Pakistan
Last Test20 January 2001 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 64)31 December 1990 v Bangladesh
Last ODI7 July 2002 v England
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI
Matches 40 134
Runs scored 555 344
Batting average 9.40 8.59
100s/50s 0/1 0/0
Top score 51 32
Balls bowled 7,260 5,720
Wickets 85 109
Bowling average 41.87 39.64
5 wickets in innings 3 0
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 6/60 4/48
Catches/stumpings 18/– 26/–
Medal record
Men's Cricket
Representing  Sri Lanka
ICC Cricket World Cup
Winner 1996 India-Pakistan-Sri Lanka
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 9 February 2017

Domestic career

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Gentle in pace, but deadly in accuracy, he played for Sinhalese Sports Club in club cricket competitions.[5] He made his first-class debut in 1988 playing for Sinhalese Sports Club. He became internationally known in 1989 after the Youth Asia Cup Championship, and toured England with the Sri Lanka B team in 1991.[6] In November that year, he became the first bowler in Sri Lankan domestic cricket to take all ten wickets in a single innings, finishing with 10 for 41 against Kalutara Physical Culture Club in Colombo.[7][8]

International career

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Pramodya made his ODI debut on 31 December 1990 at the 1990–91 Asia Cup against Bangladesh.[9] He made his test debut on 12 December 1991 against Pakistan.[10] He played a key role in Sri Lanka's first ever three match test series win in away condition during the tour of Pakistan in 1995-96.[11] During the series he picked up eight wickets as Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan 2–1 to secure their first test series win against Pakistan in Pakistan.[12]

He represented Sri Lanka in the 1992, 1996 and 1999 World Cup tournaments, where he played as the strike bowler of the team along with newcomer Chaminda Vaas. He featured in four matches including the quarterfinal, semifinal and final of the 1996 World Cup campaign for Sri Lanka where it won the trophy for the first time.[13] However, he could not make any major impact during the 1996 Wills Cricket World Cup and ended the tournament without taking a wicket.[14][15] He was also a member of the Sri Lankan team during the inaugural edition of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in 1998 where Sri Lanka reached semifinals. He took his 100th ODI wicket in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 1999 by dismissing Andy Flower.

Though playing steadily from then on until 2000, he found himself in need of a shoulder operation in Australia in 2000 which more-or-less ended his career, as from then on he found it difficult to find a place for himself within the side. He made a comeback return to national team in 2002 during the 2002 NatWest Series after a gap of two years following his recovery from shoulder operation.[16] However, he struggled against England and India during the NatWest Series and was dropped from the team permanently.

Chief selector

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He became the President of Sri Lanka Cricket Association and later joined the Sri Lankan national selection committee in 2004 which was headed by Ashantha de Mel.[17][18] He was also included in the newly appointed selection panel headed by Sanath Jayasuriya in 2013.[19] In December 2020, he was also included in the seven member selection panel led by Ashantha de Mel.[20][21] On 8 April 2021, he was appointed as the chairman of national selection committee by the Sri Lanka Cricket on the recommendation of sports minister Namal Rajapaksa replacing Ashantha de Mel.[22][23][24]

Controversies

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In 2017, he was reported to have made corruption and match fixing allegations against some of the national cricketers such as Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal following the ODI series defeat against Zimbabwe at home.[25][26] However, Pramodya insisted that he had not made such allegations against the cricketers and he clarified that he blamed only the team selection strategy.[27][28] The Criminal Investigation Department also inquired the defamation petition signed by 40 national cricketers against Pramodya over his remarks.[29] In addition, the International Cricket Council also conducted a corruption investigation based on the claims of Pramodya.[30]

After becoming the chairman of national selection committee in April 2021, he controversially sacked senior players from the national team in limited overs international matches with the intention of grooming youngsters targeting the 2023 Cricket World Cup.[31][32] Following the implementation of his youth policy, senior cricketers Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera threatened to quit international cricket. However, his move was backfired with horrendous performances by the national team in the tours of Bangladesh and England.[33][34][35]

References

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  1. ^ "Pramodya Wickramasinghe profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  2. ^ Lalotra, Gautam (4 July 2018). "Top 10 Fast Bowlers in ODI cricket during the 1990s". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  3. ^ "'1996' – a dream year overall". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Pramodya Wickramasinghe to head Sri Lanka men's and women's selection committee". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Pramodya Wickramasinghe: Six facts about the Sri Lankan fast bowler". Cricket Country. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Pramodya Wickramasinghe Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & Stats". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  7. ^ Waters, Chris (2014). 10 for 10: Hedley Verity and the Story of Cricket’s Greatest Bowling Feat. A&C Black. p. 215. ISBN 9781472908919. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Sinhalese Sports Club v Kalutara Physical Culture Centre". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Full Scorecard of Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 3rd Match 1990/91 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Full Scorecard of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 1st Test 1991/92 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in Sialkot to win their first-ever 3-match Test series away from home". Cricket Country. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Sri Lanka in Pakistan Test Series, 1995/96 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  13. ^ Doshi, Pratik (17 September 2018). "Sri Lanka of the 1996 World Cup: Tribute to the side that revolutionized cricket". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Pramodya Wickramasinghe: Sri Lanka's resourceful medium pacer of the 90s". Cricket Country. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  15. ^ "More numbers, from readers". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  16. ^ "NatWest Series June-July 2002 - Sri Lanka Squad". static.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Sri Lanka Cricketers' Association announce new awards". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Ashantha de Mel to head selection panel". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Jayasuriya named chairman of selectors". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  20. ^ Sportstar, Team. "Ashantha de Mel named chairman of national selection committee in SLC". Sportstar. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Pramodya likely to be the fourth selector". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  22. ^ Welagedara, Indika. "Pramodya to be new Chief Selector?". Daily News. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  23. ^ "PRAMODYA WICKRAMASINGHE TO REPLACE DE MEL?". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Sri Lanka Cricket appoints new Selection Committee". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  25. ^ Omnisport (22 September 2017). "Sri Lanka cricketers call for probe into Wickramasinghe allegations". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  26. ^ "ICC launches corruption probe in Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Pramodya Wickramasinghe denies rumours of manufacturing fixing allegations against Sri Lankan players". Cricket Country. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  28. ^ Ellis, Brett (24 September 2017). "I didn't make allegations against players, says Pramodya Wickramasinghe". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  29. ^ "CID to check petition of the Sri Lankan players on allegations made by Pramodya Wickramasinghe". CricTracker. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  30. ^ "ICC begins Sri Lanka investigation". BBC Sport. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Pramodya cracks whip as selectors look to 2023 World Cup". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  32. ^ "We are playing according to the head coach's plans, says chief selector | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  33. ^ Sanjeewa, Kanishka (1 June 2021). "Selection policy worked in Bangladesh – Pramodya Wickramasinghe". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  34. ^ "New concerns arise after batting debacle in Bangladesh". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Pramodya answers his critics – Somebody had to make that move". Island Cricket. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
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