The Sri Lankan cricket team eagerly prepares to compete in the highly anticipated T20 World Cup tournament with great determination and focus.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has emphasised their commitment to assembling a formidable team for the competition.
Additionally, Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of the Sri Lanka T20 team, has conveyed his belief in the team’s readiness and capability to perform at a high level in the upcoming tournament.
Skipper Vanidu is in a winning mood
As the appointed captain, I have graciously accepted the team the cricket selection committee chose.
I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to lead these talented players. As we prepare for the upcoming World Cup, I am filled with excitement and confidence in our team’s abilities.
Our early arrival in America, 10 days before the tournament, will allow us to adapt to the unique pitches. We must meticulously analyse the statistics from last year’s matches to gain insights into the conditions we will encounter.
As a cap, I am filled with optimism for our team, given the exceptional performances of our players in the past three tournaments.
This year, we hold great expectations for our team’s success. Vanindu conveyed these sentiments to the media, emphasising the unity and camaraderie that binds our team together.
The Sri Lankan team meets the President
The Sri Lankan cricket team, which is leaving the island to participate in the Twenty20 World Cup cricket tournament, recently (13) also took steps to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The team, consisting of 15 players led by Vanindu Hasaranga, had a friendly conversation with the President, expressing their utmost respect and admiration for him.
The President, in turn, encouraged the players and congratulated them for achieving a great victory, instilling a sense of national pride in the audience.
Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee Chairman’s expectation
The Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee, Upul Tharanga, has expressed his confidence in the team selected for the upcoming tournament in America and the West Indies from June 1st to June 29th.
Tharanga’s high expectations for the team were evident during a press conference convened to unveil the World Cup squad, where he shared his belief in the team’s potential to perform exceptionally well in the tournament.
In discussing the playing conditions, Tharanga highlighted that the pitches in America, particularly in New York and Dallas, are characterised by their slow nature, attributed to their dropping pitches.
Anticipating similar conditions in the West Indies, the committee is contemplating the inclusion of three spinners in the squad to capitalise on the favourable conditions for spin bowlers.
Additionally, Tharanga underscored the potential strategy of opting for spinning all-rounders over fast-bowling all-rounders, enhancing the team’s batting prowess.
Kusal Janith is out of the squad… the worry of cricket fans
The decision to exclude the rapid batter Kusal Janith Perera from the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup has not been without its share of controversy.
Known as ‘Podi Sana’ due to his batting style resembling that of veteran player Sanath Jayasuriya, the 33-year-old’s omission has raised significant questions about the future of his career and the team’s strategy.
Kusal Janith Perera made his T20I debut on January 26th 2013, against Australia at Sydney Stadium.
In 66 T20 matches, he has demonstrated his prowess by amassing 1677 runs in 65 innings, including 13 fifties with a highest score of 84.
Additionally, he has struck 55 sixes and 155 fours, showcasing a formidable strike rate of 130.40 and an average of 26.61 runs per inning.
A statement from the selection committee about merit
When journalists were questioned about the omission of Kusal Janith Perera from the Sri Lanka squad, Cricket Selection Committee Chairperson Upul Tharanga explained that they had considered including Kusal until the final moments before the squad announcement.
Tharanga pointed out that Kusal had not performed well in matches in Sri Lanka and stressed that the decisions made by the coach and captain held more weight than those made by the selection committee.
He emphasised the importance of considering the perspectives of the coach and captain in the decision-making process.
Tharanga also mentioned that the final squad was determined after thorough discussions with the coach and captain, expressing regret that Kusal Janith could not join the team.
This reassurance about the thorough selection process should instil confidence in the audience about the team’s decisions.
