The Sanath Jayasuriya-led Sri Lankan national selection panel has stepped down. The committee has decided to give up after the completion of India’s tour of Sri Lanka on September 6.The five selectors, led by former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, handed a joint letter of resignation to Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, a ministry official told AFP.

"The selection panel felt they should step down, allowing the board to appoint a fresh set of selectors in view of the criticism and the crowd reaction on Sunday," a source close to Jayasuriya told AFP.

The announcement came a couple of days after the hosts conceded the five-match series 0-3. The Dinesh Chandimal-led Test team was also whitewashed 0-3 in the Test series.

"Sri Lanka Cricket chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya, as well as committee members Ranjith Madurasinghe, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Asanka Gurusinha and Eric Upashantha, have decided to resign,” said the Sri Lankan sports ministry. “A combined letter bearing the names of the above committee has conveyed this decision to sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. According to the letter, their tenure will end onSeptember 7.”

The panel, serving a six-month extension period since July this year, took the decision after witnessing the crowd’s reaction during Sri Lanka’s third One-Day International at Pallekele International Stadiumon Sunday. Fans started throwing bottles on to the playing area to express their anguish as India were cruising to a series-clinching win.

They have also been beset by injury, with batsman Dinesh Chandimal ruled out of the remaining ODIs with a thumb injury and Chamara Kapugedara also likely to miss the matches. Sri Lanka will play the remaining two ODI matches against India this Thursday and Sunday, and a one-off Twenty20 match against the visitors on September 6.