Two cakes for victorious birthday captain

By Bipin Dani

Dasun Shanaka’s 32nd birthday proved lucky for him. The captain, who turned 32 on Saturday, had a good Asia Cup game against Bangladesh. He showed the value he can bring to the side by simply showing intent with 24 runs and taking three wickets (including the wicket of the opposite captain, Shakib Al Hasan) for conceding only 28 runs in 9 overs, proving the most economical Sri Lankan bowler.

On arriving at the hotel, the hotel management had kept a cake ready for the birthday boy.

Incidentally, the captain had to cut two different cakes on the day.

The team management had also ordered a cake for the captain. “All team members had gathered to wish him in the dressing room, and the cake was cut before the match”, one of the sources aware of the happenings told this reporter. The strict disciplinarian team manager, Mahinda Halangoda, does not allow the team members to apply cake to the birthday boy’s face. He doesn’t prefer the waste of the cake in this fashion.

And the captain did not forget to congratulate his teammates for the victory they brought. “Yes, captain Dasun Shanaka and head coach Chris Silverwood did express their joy and congratulate the team for the 21-run victory. The team members also greeted Sadeera Samarawickrama, who scored 93 runs with two sixes and won the Player of the Match award. Sadly, he missed a ton by seven runs. His wife was not present at the ground to cheer for him, but the birthday boy’s wife, Chevanthi Perera, did witness the team’s victory. She is one of the players’ (and support staff members’) wives staying in the team hotel.