Sri Lanka could be one of the greatest teams - Sobers

Visiting former West Indian cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers yesterday said the status of the Sri Lankan cricket team is going to get better and it would eventually become one of the greatest teams in the world.

He made these remarks when he met former cricket captain and Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga at the Ministry.

Sir Garry, who is in the island for the Sri Lanka-West Indies series named after him and former Sri Lankan Cricketer Michael Tissera which Sri Lanka won yesterday, paid a visit to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping administered by Mr. Ranatunga.

“Sri Lankans are proud and speak highly of how great previous Lankan cricketers are. Today too, you have a great team which is a force to be reckoned with and Sri Lankan Cricket has a great future ahead. Sri Lanka has produced great players and with the enormous backing of the entire country, the team will become one of the best teams in the world,” he said.

Reminiscing about his coaching period in Sri Lanka, Sir Garry said Sri Lankan players had tremendous ability and a profound knowledge of technical aspects of the game.

He recalled how talented Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Roy Dias and Dulip Mendis were, and how he brainwashed Sri Lankan players to play fast-bowling, which was disliked by many cricketers.

“We simply laid the foundation for the team back then in 1993. Before I left Sri Lanka, I said that they would become one of the greatest cricket players by 10 years. And it was proved when they won the 1996 cricket world cup,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said Sir Garry was one of the most special people in his life recalling how Sir Garry made the then Cricket Selection Committee to appoint him to the team.

“I was on the verge of pulling out of the team in 1993 before the Australian tour. It was Sir Garfield who gave me the opportunity. He was there for us when there was no one. I’m so glad to meet him today after so many years,” he said. (Indika Sri Aravinda)