The pace duo Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara were a part of our camp at Pallekele and they both managed to complete their bowling quotas without an issue. I think they’re well prepared ahead of the World Cup,” said Sri Lanka T20 skipper Dasun Shanaka before the team’s departure on Sunday night.
The four-day training session last week focused on developing their skills while the extra days before joining the ICC-sponsored World Cup programme will help players to acclimatise to conditions. Two warm-up games against Zimbabwe on October 10 and Ireland on October 13 will give the advantage to adjust to the conditions and three qualifying round matches at Geelong will give valuable match exposure before the Super 12 tournament.
Dasun Shanaka said after the Asia Cup victory in Dubai the team has made changes. The Asia cup victory is now part of history and we have to get ready for the T 20 World Cup.
In the training camp at Pallekele, every player put in a good effort. I was worried that there would be some guys who’d be a bit relaxed after winning the Asia Cup, but it wasn’t like that,” he said.
“Everyone practiced with even more intensity than usual, and I’m confident that we can put up good performances at the World Cup.
The skipper further added, ”If we make the right decisions on the day and execute our plans, I’m certain we can come out victorious. The confidence level is definitely higher than at the last World Cup but my concern has always been the process. Even at the last World Cup, I felt we had the talent to at least make the semi-finals. The important thing is your ability to play and deliver on the day,” he said.
Actually, the team process compared to the last T20 World Cup is different. Not like last time we are very familiar after playing each other while the players have maintained good physical and mental fitness. Two foreign fielding coaches from the Netherlands (Anton Roux) and New Zealand Physiotherapist are working hard with the players well supported by head coach Chris Silverwood and Assistant coach Naveed Nawaz. All are very supportive and Silverwood is a good motivator and players are very close to him.
The skipper Dasun Shanaka further reminded _ “We’ll play match scenarios amongst ourselves before that to make sure we can control the environment that we’re training in. We’re actually very specific about what we’re trying to train. For example, we did a Super Over up in Kandy, which is all in good fun, but it highlights where it can be a bit chaotic in the Super Over. It happens very quickly, and we have to make sure we keep a level head.” The atmosphere of the dressing room and off the field give much-needed confidence.
Sri Lankan cricket team with the supportive staff visited Dalada Maligawa in Kandy to pay homage to Load Buddha’s sacred Tooth relic after the Pallekele training period and Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara received the team. After the team came back to Colombo on Friday the MAS Holdings arranged the T -20 Jersey launching ceremony and MAS Holdings Chairman Mahesh Amalean and CEO of MAS Active Chelan Goonetilleke presented the Jersey to SLC President Shammi Silva and Skipper Dasun Shanaka. After this launching ceremony, Moose clothing the Sri Lanka team’s official clothing partner launched the team song by Bathiya and Santhush Weeraman at a musical party at Moose Clothing premises at Ja-Ela.
The Sri Lanka team left for Melbourne on Sunday night after posing for an official team photo at the SSC grounds just before the departure from SLC Headquarters.
