ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Namibia test first up for Sri Lanka

By Champika Fernando in Abu Dhabi

Former captains Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera will today be watching their countrymen aim for a perfect start to their T20 World Cup campaign against Namibia at the qualifiers in Abu Dhabi from the comfort of their homes.

Both have been part of the national team for over a decade before a new selection policy cut short their T20 careers. Even though Perera was part of the T20 plan, at least for this year’s World Cup, he made a premature exit from the international game while Mathews, disillusioned by recent developments, stayed off.

Ideally, both should have been in the UAE given their experience. Sri Lanka is hoping to avoid a first-round exit from a tournament they have had great success in the past. Even at their worst, they are touted as a strong contender to go through to the next round along with Ireland, another full member that’s playing a tough qualifying round.

Sri Lanka were the 2014 champions and the runners-up two years before that, in 2012, but what transpired thereafter is beyond imagination. With experience deeply lacking in the side, Sri Lanka hopes to begin a new journey where youngsters will rise to the occasion and keep winning matches.

The build-up has been good, so to say. They were beaten soundly by South Africa at home in their last international game but were better in their four practice games against Oman (two), Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea.
Batting at the top remains a worry.  With Pathum Nissanka scoring a half-century in the last practice game, the opening conundrum may have been solved but number 3 has been an eternal issue for Sri Lanka. But coach Mickey Arthur said this, too, has been sorted out as Sri Lanka look to give their best shot at qualifying for the main draw.

“Yes, we have sorted out the No 3 position,” Arthur said at the pre-match press conference yesterday. The choice is between Dinesh Chandimal and Charith Asalanka and team sources say the scale is weighing heavily in Chandimal’s favour.

Apart from this slot, Sri Lanka are very much settled with the playing XI. Arthur said that Mahela Jayawardena’s appointment as a consultant to the team made a massive difference in terms of finalising the team. Jayawardena was key in bringing Avishka Fernando in at number 4, a position he seems to have grabbed with both hands, scoring three half-centuries in four innings.

“Avishka has done exceptionally well,” Arthur said. “We had a bit of a brainstorming session where Mahela came up with a plan. He had us look at some stats which he sent to Dasun and me and it was pretty clear that Avishka is a good fit for No 4 and he will bat at four tomorrow, definitely. We got a plan for number three and we are very settled at number three. We made the decision today.”

“Once Avishka gets in, and after about 15 balls he strikes at 160 (strike rate),” he continued. “So, when he comes at number four, generally the field is back, which allows him to rotate the strike and get into his innings. Once he gets in, he is almost unstoppable. That was the thinking behind it. We tried and it worked and hope it will continue tomorrow.”

In bowling, Sri Lanka are pretty comfortable. Wrist-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is one of the best in the world currently. The pace bowling, too, is impressive with Dushmantha Chameera leading the pack which includes Lahiru Kumara and Chamika Karunaratne and, if the Sri Lankan batters get runs, they will offer a real challenge to any team.

Namibia, on the other hand, is returning to the World Cup after 18 years, having competed in the 50-over World Cup in 2003.  They have done well in the recent past and will look to give a good fight against Sri Lanka. Their skipper Gerhard Erasmus says the pressure is on Sri Lanka as they come to the tournament as one of the associates.