Lankan team leaves for UAE in search of glory
Sri Lankan cricket team for the Asia Cup T 20 cricket tournament before their departure to UAE (pix courtesy SLC)
We are ready to take on Asia Cup T-20 Cricket tournament and my team is in good shape to take this challenge, said Sri Lanka cricket team head coach Chris Silverwood at the interview before the Sri Lankan cricket team’s departure from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headquarters yesterday.
“We have a good team which led by experienced Dasun Shanaka and all players worked hard to prepare for this Asia Cup, said former England coach Silverwood. Actually T-20 cricket is unpredictable game, the team who perform well can win the game and the team who do less mistakes can win. We have to plan well and all six teams are very strong. Even the first game against Afghanistan we have to pose a good challenge and winning the first game is more important to go forward,” added Silverwood.
Actually we had experienced pacemen like Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha and Binura Fernando and both Binura and Chameera are white ball experts but all three players couldn’t play this match due to injuries and now we have to play with young pacemen like Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara and Promod Madushan. Madushanka and Matheesha have good potential while they were really bowled well during the recently concluded SLC
Sri Lankan cricket head coach Chris Silverwood and fast bowling coach Dharshana Gamage near the team bus in front of the SLC headquarters. before their departure .
invitational T-20 league tournament. I was not here to see that tournament as I was away in England with my family for holidays. But I was very keen to followup that tournament to get good knowledge about our players before the Asia Cup. I came here two days before on last Monday and had few training sessions with the team,” said Silverwood. “I was in Dubai and Sharjah with the England team during last T-20 World Cup and I have good knowledge about the wickets and it is mostly the flat wickets very suite for batsmen and bowlers have to do decent job at this T-20 tournament. My Assistant coach Naveed Nawaz and two specialized coaches Dharshana Gamage (fast bowling ) and Piyal Wijethunga (spin bowling) presently doing wonderful job while SLC always doing a fine job and now this is my second home,” said Chris Silverwood.
Naveed Nawaz the Assistant coach as well as batting specialized coach who was out of the training due to his injury during the last Pakistan Test series at Galle said he is well recovered from the injury while I was doing training session at Galle. I was never met with this type of injury during my cricket career but everything is all right and looking forward to do well with the team. Nawaz the former National player who was the Bangladesh under 19 World Cup winning coach said the players have good commitment and preparation is very important to play this Asia Cup.
Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka said the team is well balanced and hope to make good challenge at this tournament.”We missed several experienced bowlers but young bowlers are also in good touch to face this challenge,” said skipper Dasun Shanaka.
Sri Lankan deputy Skipper Charith Asalanka who was tested positive for Covid-19 and well recovered after isolation period said my role is very heavy but doing a job as a deputy skipper is not a big pressure for me. “I missed two matches at the last T-20 invitational cricket tournament while my team SLC Blues ended as runners up. I think SLC gave good preparation during this tournament and we are very keen to take part this Asia Cup. I knew T-20 cricket is very competitive but our team had good preparation and ready to play. I don’t care my batting position and any position I always like to play for my team and the country,” added Charith Asalanka.
The most energetic all rounder Chamika Karunaratne (Unanduwa) said this Asia Cup is good preparation for the T-20 World Cup.”I knew I have to bat very crucial stages at number 7-8 position but I always ready to take that challenge. I knew all opponent teams are focusing our team during this tournament but that is no pressure for us,” added Chamika Karunaratne.
The champion leggie Wanidu Hasaranga is ready to bowl his best during this tournament. “I used to ball my normal way and making more dot balls and bowl good line and length as usual. I knew most of the team focused on my bowling but that is not a pressure and my role is to get wickets,” said Wanidu Hasaranga.
The dashing stroke player Bhanuka Rajapaksha said I am very keen to play this tournament. “We are in good shape to play T-20 cricket. Especially I also have to make additional role as reserve wicket keeper of the side but that is nothing new and I used to do that role earlier. Sharjah and Dubai are two very famous grounds for this T-20 format and we’re ready to play and my previous experience with playing this same two venues is an added benefit,” said Bhanuka Rajapaksha .
Sri Lankan team led by Dasun Shanaka posed to get official team picture yesterday evening at the SSC grounds and then moved to team bus to Katunayake Airport. They have two day training sessions before the first matches in Dubai and scheduled to be played the first match against Afghanistan on 27 at the Dubai Stadium.
