T20-League governing council last week decided to withdraw top Sri Lankan players from all the Chennai matches after intense political pressure from Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa as she refused to host them in view of the prevailing anti-Sinhalese sentiments in the state.
When asked at an event in Hyderabad, how politics has affected the participation of Sri Lankan players in Chennai, he replied, "Politics in this case has restricted our presence, our belief to play in every part of India. But I don't think, sports and the spirit of cricket is ever going to be curtailed by such prejudice."
"The buildup has been different and difficult for Sri Lankan players. But at the end of the day they are here to play T20-League. The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has made it clear that no Sri Lankan players will be (playing) in Chennai," Sangakkara said. He also mentioned that "India is much more than Chennai and Tamil Nadu and I think the rest of India has been very welcoming of us".
"We are here to play cricket representing Sri Lanka and also on behalf of our franchisee."
Arjuna Ranatunga had asked the Sri Lankan players to opt out of the tournament over this matter, when queried about Ranatunga's stance, Sangakkara replied, "It's been a divisive issue back home as well. But this is not a nation-vs-nation issue. It's only a state issue...and I don't think it is the entire state (Tamil Nadu). So, we just got to put it in right perspective."
He further added, "Foreign policies are not going to be dictated by that and had it been a nation-vs-nation issue then Sri Lankan players would not have been here."
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