Sri Lanka is strongest among all ICC World Cup Qualifiers:Murali

18 June 2023 06:45 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 7 Bookmark

A A A

World's legendary spinner Muthiah Muralidaran believes that his national team Sri Lanka will qualify for the forthcoming ICC World Cup.

Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, the world's leading wicket taker Muralidaran said, "I have no doubt about Sri Lankla's participation in the mega event. The reason being the Sri Lankan team is the strongest among all ten participating teams. Our team is better in all departments of the game and can beat West Indies and Zimbabwe also".

"Yes, it is true that we could not qualify automatically for the World Cup but the performance of our team has considerably increased recently and we could win the bilateral series against Afghanistan even after losing the first ODI".

However, since the end of the 2019 World Cup, Sri Lanka have won just 18 of 42 ODIs, out of which 23 were part of the World Cup Super League. Of those, they won seven.

It may, however, also be noted here that Sri Lankan had a particularly unfavourable set of fixtures for this World Cup Super League cycle. Four of the eight series they played were against the strong teams of India, New Zealand, South Africa and England. And not to forget that the matches against England and New Zealand were not in Sri Lanka.

"Even if the team loses one match, it can still qualify and I am optimistic about the Sri Lankan team", Muralitharan, the world's highest Test wicket taker, said.

Sri Lanka is placed in Group B and its opponents are : Ireland, Oman, Scotland and the UAE.

Sri Lanka will be playing its first match against the UAE team on Monday. (BIPIN DANI)

Moeen Ali fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Comments - 7

Karalasingam Sivalingam Sunday, 18 June 2023 07:26 PM

We are an emerging nation with talented players who will bring glory to our nation winning the world Cup this time.

0 0

Cricket lover Sunday, 18 June 2023 10:34 PM

Let's hope but let's have patience for their record is not very inspiring.

0 0

ranjit Monday, 19 June 2023 03:07 AM

there is a limit to our dreaming

0 0

Citizen k Sunday, 18 June 2023 09:11 PM

We know we are the strongest among world qualifiers ,what worries me is how will we perform against better teams.

0 0

Rather be weaker or ordinary qualifier and still win the actual World Cup Sunday, 18 June 2023 11:45 PM

Can't see the point of Murali talking it up. Weak or strong all team's have equal footing, and so anyone can win. And then afterwards, the winner has to compete for the real World cup. Most likely Murali is just trying attract notice for himself, yet again, rather than actually help our team.

0 0

Inshi Monday, 19 June 2023 07:53 AM

Sri Lanka must play to their true potential and win convincingly against all qualifying teams. Cricket is also a psychological game and the one that comes on top will win the trophy. Good luck Sri Lanka. You can do it!

0 0

96's Monday, 19 June 2023 04:05 PM

Hey Murli, I'm sure the boys will luv U'r optimistic comments. But can U change the awful form of the Captain? In cricket there is a famous saying, If the head is not stable, U will loose your balance and get out or fall. In simple. No doubt most o our players are built to compete World class. There are few big heads who can't seem to keep their still heads. Perhaps they need to stop taking autographs and learn to compete against their opponents.

0 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.