Asia Cup : Did Sri Lanka throw their match or was it complacency ?

The India-Sri Lanka game had not even finished, and a controversy was waiting to occur.

Former Pakistani players and commentators Rameez Raja and Waqar Younis blasted Sri Lanka for not beating India. They also accused Sri Lanka of favouring India to reach the final and blamed captain Mahela Jayawardene.

The game between India and Sri Lanka was to virtually decide the second team to play in the final.

India needed to win and Pakistan's fate was not in their hands. India chased down a total of over 300 quite comfortably.

Rameez Raja and Waqar Younis were quick to pounce on the fact that the Sri Lankans were not quick in the field. They also stated that Sri Lanka favoured India as their opponents in the final.

These allegations are absolutely nonsensical. Firstly, no team would like to face a stronger side in the final when they are given an option. What is the logic behind facing a stronger India than a relatively weak Pakistan ?

No smart person would want to face a deadlier opponent in a trophy winning encounter. So if Sri Lanka were given a choice, which they virtually were, they would have definitely taken Pakistan.

The commentators also accused Sri Lankans of fielding a weaker team against India on purpose.

This was completely understandable as the Lankans would not want more injured bowlers or players in the final. The fact that their best bowlers were not playing in the final, would have hurt Sri Lanka in more ways than one.

Fielding their best side would also mean that India would get a taste of the likes of Mendis, who has not faced India as of yet. In short, the Indians would be better equipped to face him having already faced him once.

These allegations levelled against the Lankans are absolutely amateurish and the commentators need to realise that professionalism and a non-biased attitude must be upheld at all times.

In the end, these comments only show that the commentators and fans are tired of the board politics played by the PCB. They are all hoping for a decent side to be picked to face world class teams like India.