‘Internal politics’ has put Sri Lanka cricket in "crisis": Sports Minister

New Delhi: Sri Lanka``s Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has slammed the national cricket team for their poor performances, insisting that the sport in the country was in "crisis".

"The Sri Lanka cricket team is in a crisis situation. It is very unfortunate. The team is not clicking together off-field and it has shown in the results on the field," The Age quoted Aluthgamage, as saying. He said that he would personally meet the players when they return later this month from their tour of South Africa, and give them advice over the issue. "Once the team returns, I plan to meet them. I feel there is a lot of internal politics within the team that is spilling over to the cricket pitch," Aluthgamage added. Since the retirement of bowling star Muttiah Muralidaran in July 2010, Sri Lanka has won only one Test match, though it did reach the final of the One-Day World Cup last year. Sri Lanka will now play five one-day internationals in South Africa starting tomorrow, before heading for a tri-series tournament in Australia, which also includes India. ANI