Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka) pre-match press conference transcript: T20 World Cup 2022

Q. You’ve been here in Australia for about two weeks now. How have been the preparations and how are you looking forward for tomorrow’s game?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: It’s been quite well to see the trial run for one week to train ourselves. It’s just to be more acclimatized and the weather has been the same. It’s quite different than the Sri Lankan weather, but we are prepared and looking forward to the match tomorrow.

Q. You are two teams that come from very warm countries, and it’s not warm out there. Has that been a problem in your preparation?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: It’s much chillier than we expected it to be, but we can’t control things which we can’t control. We are getting used to it, and hopefully it will not harm us or will not be too bad for us when out on the field.

We’ve gotten used to it, it’s just a bit difficult when you feel the ball. That’s about it. But other than that, I think the team is prepared to face it.

Q. These conditions, how do you think your team suits Australian conditions in T20?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: Geelong compared to all the other venues that we have played before, it’s quite similar to Sri Lanka. I think we are quite prepared, and it’s just a matter of time until the games now.

Q. We know you don’t have much to say about selections, but now that Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara are both coming back to the side and we’ve got a couple of past bowlers who have done pretty well in Asia Cup, how is the bowling combination going to be at the moment?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: As far as I know, it was an event situation to promote because of course he has done well, but my — like Dushmantha Chameera is our main fast bowler. I have no idea what the team would be, but what I would feel is like automatic selection would be Dushmantha hit off Pramod because of his experience and what he has done for the country before.

I am sure the boys who will be left out will not be — they will be more experienced, and yeah, for me, it’s just for me I feel like Dushmantha will automatically be in the side.

Q. Would you be able to give us an update on Dilshan Madushanka?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: I honestly have no idea because of as I walked in the dressing room, I heard that he walked into the dressing room with difficulty with his hip, but I honestly have no idea what’s going on there.

Q. Do you think you are in an easier group in the first round?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: I don’t think there’s an easy group in the World Cup, so whether you go into Group A or Group B I think it would be similar, but the only advantage that we have is playing Australia and England is that our bowling unit is quite strong, so if we can get the runs on the board, any opposition would be — we could control them. It’s just a matter of runs that we get on the board, but we would not take a single side lightly.

Q. You haven’t played any international since the Asia Cup. There have been a lot of countries who had some T20 coming in. Your thoughts on that?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: True enough, but before the Asia Cup I think we had so much cricket going on and the boys needed a rest, as well. Coming into a big tournament like this, we need to be prepared, so of course we would have missed the opportunity of playing international cricket, but sometimes it happens with the coordination between the cricket boards, as well. But we are quite happy with how we have prepared, and it’s just a matter of time until we face the first ball against Namibia.

Q. During the Asia Cup you had a personal goal to become the highest runs scorer. Is there any personal goal in this tournament?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: Of course, yeah, I think as individuals we all have personal goals, and for me, I’m preparing how I want to become the Man of the Series in this World Cup. It will all come with the hard work that we’ve put in. Hopefully I’ll be able to achieve that.