Sri Lanka Cricket sorry after groundsmen are forced to walk away in undergarments

Dozens of villagers recruited to work at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota for Monday’s match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were seen walking away in their underclothes as local organisers refused to pay them unless uniforms were returned

Cricket authorities in Sri Lanka have apologised to stadium workers who were forced to walk away in their underwear at the completion of a game against Zimbabwe when local organisers refused to pay them unless uniforms were returned.

Sri Lanka lost the ODI series to Zimbabwe after a defeat in the fifth ODI at Hambantota. (AFP)

READ | Angelo Mathews steps down as Sri Lanka skipper after Zimbabwe series loss

Dozens of villagers recruited on a temporary basis to work at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota for Monday’s limited-overs international between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were seen walking away in their underclothes.

“It is unbelievable that officials in certain levels could even think in this manner,” Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala said. “I apologise to” the workers.

Earlier, Angelo Mathews stepped down as Sri Lanka skipper across all three formats after his team lost the ODI series against Zimbabwe 2-3. This was Sri Lanka’s first-ever loss to Zimbabwe in a bilateral series and it continued their torrid run in 2017.

Following Sri Lanka’s three-wicket loss to Zimbabwe in the final ODI at Hambantota which led to their series loss, Mathews had said that he was reconsidering his decision to be captain of Sri Lanka.