SL complain to ICC about green pitches, inadequate training facilities

London: Complaining of step-motherly treatment meted out to them in the ongoing World Cup, an exasperated Sri Lanka has expressed dissatisfaction at the types of pitches provided, inadequate training and transport facilities apart from below-par accommodation.

Sri Lanka team manager Ashantha de Mel has written to the ICC, stating that Sri Lanka were made to play on two green decks in Cardiff, where they lost to New Zealand before defeating Afghanistan, whereas other teams who played on same venue were provided high-scoring pitches.

De Mel said another green track awaits Sri Lanka ahead of their match against Australia on Saturday.

"This is a World Cup where the top 10 countries are taking part and I feel that all the participants should be treated equally. What we have found out is that for the four matches we have played so far at Cardiff and Bristol the ICC has prepared a green pitch, and at the same venues where the other countries have played the pitches are brown and favourable for high scoring," De Mel told Sri Lankan newspaper 'Daily News'.

The match between England and Bangladesh at Cardiff saw 666 runs being scored (England 386/6 and Bangladesh 280), while game between Australia and India at the Oval witnessed a total 668 runs on flat brown track. "The pitch being prepared for our match against Australia on Saturday here at the Oval is green. It is not (a case of) sour grapes that we are complaining but it is very unfair on the part of the ICC that they prepare one type of wicket for certain teams and another type for others," said De Mel.