In what might seem like a bizarre move, the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka, Dayasiri Jayasekara, has decided to intervene with the squad selection of the team for their ODI series in India. Apparently, he didn’t like the choice of players that were headed to India.

A total of 9 players were being sent to India for their ODI series against the nation. They were already at the airport late night on Monday, but were called back on behalf of Jayasekara, said a player to AFP on condition of anonymity.

This might come as a surprise to many, but according to a law enforced in 1973, the Sports Minister of the country has the right to change the squad before they go to compete if he or she so likes. The 9 players consisted of Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chathuranga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep that were led by captain Thisara Perera.

According to sources close to the minister, Jayasekara was infuriated with the fact that the team had been cleared to go to India without his approval. He also is said to not be happy with the selection of at least a couple of players, whose names haven’t been mentioned.

At this point of time, it can’t be said with assurance whether this news is true or not, but if it is, then it would be quite astonishing use of power to say the least. For Sri Lanka, after the mauling they have been receiving from India in this Test series, this would be the last thing that they would want.