Not since 2005 have New Zealand lost four consecutive ODIs at home
Sri Lankan cricket is in the middle one of its lowest points with a corruption scandal rocking the country.
But it's getting worse.
As controversy seems to breed controversy, the Sri Lankan ODI side is in disarray after the wife of ODI skipper Lasith Malinga dropped a bombshell that's tearing the team apart.
Malinga's wife, Tanya, has alleged star allrounder Thisara Perera asked the Sri Lankan sports minister for help to secure his place in the ODI side earlier this month.
Perera hit back, highlighting his recent ODI record for Sri Lanka, and slamming Malinga's wife for destroying the dressing room in a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva.
"When these kinds of accusations are made by the incumbent captain's wife on social media, it is hard to prevent the general public from believing and further slandering me in various ways," the letter read in an excerpt on ESPN's Cricinfo.
Thisara Perera has hit back against allegations launched by a teammate's wife. Photo / Getty Images
"There has been a general sense of unease in the dressing room ever since [the Facebook post] and to be honest the environment was rather unpleasant for the youngsters especially when two senior players were not on the same page. We cannot play as a team with friction.
"The leadership's role is to create stability and unity within the team even before one could start with a game plan. In this instant I regret to say we had none of the above."
In 20 ODIs since the start of 2018, Perera has scored 639 runs at an average of 42.60, including his maiden ODI century and three 50s. He has also taken 27 wickets at an average of 25.
He called on Sri Lankan cricket's governing body to intervene, just months out from the start of the World Cup in May.
"We are at the verge of the World Cup. Our focus and attention should be on performing well at it instead of bickering over social media on pointless issues. This team is in dire need of steady leadership and guidance. Importantly, an environment of unity is needed. These issues need rectifying ahead of the World Cup. The leadership and seniors of the team must set the example for this," he wrote.
"We have become the laughing stock of a whole country all because of one person's personal vendetta. This is not something to be taken lightly, especially at a time like this. I humbly request SLC to intervene and help us overcome our difference and move forward with a renewed confidence and sense of unity."
Malinga was made the limited-overs skipper for Sri Lanka ahead of January's ODI series in New Zealand, taking the T20 reigns from Perera and ODI captaincy from Dinesh Chandimal.
Sri Lanka lost all their white-ball games at the back end of the New Zealand tour.
Sri Lankan cricket legend was fed up with the social media antics.
SL players should have been banned from social media long ago !!!!
Sri Lanka are, perhaps, the only nation who can lay claim to having endured a more difficult 12 months than Australia.
The ICC confirmed this week it had received new information in an investigation into corruption in the sport in the country, as a 15-day amnesty on those reporting nears completion.
Former captain and selector Sanath Jayasuriya was charged by the ICC last October for refusing to co-operate with the sport's anti-corruption unit.
Former quick and ex-bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa was also suspended last year by Sri Lankan Cricket over match-fixing allegations.
Sri Lanka's tour took a hit before it even started when Angelo Mathews was ruled out with a hamstring injury, while quicks Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera have joined him at home with injuries after the Gabba loss.
Sri Lanka's troubled tour of Australia has taken another hit with coach Chandika Hathurusingha removed from the team's selection panel.
Lasith Malinga. Photo / Getty Images
Still reeling from a home test series loss to England and a belting in New Zealand on this trip, Hathurusingha's removal comes after their loss by an innings and 140 runs to Australia at the Gabba.
Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the move in a statement before the Canberra Test, which starts on Friday.
"Team selection while the team is on tour shall be made by a committee comprising of team manager and captain in consultation with the national selection committee," the statement read.
"This decision was taken under the instructions of the Ministry of Sports in consideration of the need to form an effective and transparent selection mechanism while the team is on tour."
Sri Lanka's bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake tried to put a positive spin on the latest disaster for the side.
"It's been a tough tour for us, we knew it would be before we embarked on it," he said.
"The saying goes that when someone is down they are the strongest."
