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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi-Vishen Halambage Row (Source: X)
Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige has finally spoken about the controversy involving young Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Notably, his comments come ahead of the Tri-Series final, where Sri Lanka A will face India A on Sunday.
Sri Lanka A secured their place in the final after defeating Afghanistan A by 103 runs. Earlier, India A had also booked their spot in the summit clash after beating Afghanistan A by 101 runs.
However, the focus has largely been on the heated exchange between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and some Sri Lankan players during a recent match in Dambulla.
What Happened During The SL A vs IND A Match?
The incident took place during a thrilling Super Over on June 15. India A needed 14 runs from the final three balls, and Sooryavanshi was at the crease. Unfortunately, he was unable to take his team to victory.
After the match ended, tensions boiled over. Sooryavanshi got involved in a heated argument with Sri Lanka A players, which reportedly ended with him pushing Vishen Halambage.
Reports also claimed that Halambage moved aggressively towards both Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and fellow Indian batter Suryansh Shedge after Sri Lanka A won the Super Over. In response, Sooryavanshi reacted before senior player Niroshan Dickwella stepped in and calmed the situation.
Following the incident, several reports suggested that Vishen Halambage had been regularly teasing and taunting Sooryavanshi throughout the Tri-Nation Series.
Also Read: BCCI Issues Statement On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Travelling With Parents For India's UK Tour
According to Cricbuzz, one of the remarks directed at the young Indian batter was, "Go home, this is not the IPL," or words to that effect.
These reports led to speculation that Sri Lanka A players had been deliberately targeting the 15-year-old throughout the tournament.
Sri Lanka Captain Denies Deliberately Targeting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
However, Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige strongly denied those claims.
Speaking before the final, Arachchige said that the team was not targeting any player and that the incident was simply the result of emotions running high during a close contest.
“The boys are not targeting anyone or anything. They are just enjoying themselves. In a close game like a Super Over, emotions come out. That’s normal," Arachchige told Sportstar.
He further added, “There are a lot of experienced players in this team. They know what to do, and they know how to play.”
Vaibhav Looking To Finish On A High
Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has had a mixed tournament so far. The young batter has scored 117 runs in four innings at an average of 29.25.
Although he has managed to get off to decent starts in most matches, he has failed to convert them into big scores. Nevertheless, Sooryavanshi still has one more opportunity to make an impact when India A take on Sri Lanka A in the final.
After the final on Sunday, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will travel to Ireland for a two-match T20I series in Belfast.
The tour, which begins on June 26, will be an important step in Sooryavanshi’s young career. Moreover, it will give him valuable exposure to international-level cricket and the chance to play alongside senior players for an extended period.
Also Read: Sri Lanka Legend, Who Met Vaibhav Sooryavanshi After Fight, Reveals What He Said
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