Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya on Friday denied having sought Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's intervention for his inclusion in the ODI team to the West Indies.
"It is completely false to say that I went to meet the President to seek his support to get back into the team. I cannot understand how or why a malicious story like that came up," Jayasuriya said.
"The last time I spoke to the President was before I went to Australia," he said.
However, government officials said Jayasuriya had sought an appointment earlier this week with the President but it had not taken place.
"Jayasuriya had sought a meeting with the President, but that was not for his inclusion into the side but to discuss cricket affairs in general," officials said.
The 38-year-old star cricketer, who retired from Tests a few months ago was not included in the one-day international squad to tour the West Indies following a string of poor performances which saw him score only 305 runs in his last 20 ODIs at an average of 15.25.
The former captain is, however, hopeful of bouncing back into the team as he feels he has still some cricket left in him.
"I have to focus now on the few domestic matches that are coming up and prove my worth," he said.
