By Dhammika Ratnaweera
In an ideal preparation ahead of the World Cup in England next summer, Sri Lanka cricket team will commence their quest to win the World Cup with forthcoming tours to New Zealand, Australi and South Africa to train themselves in similar weather and pitch conditions.
Before the departure for the first of many starting in New Zealand, Sri Lankan cricket captain was optimistic that the tours would help the team shape themselves well ahead of the World Cup but admitted that they would be tough and challenging tours given the team’s performances in the recent past “We know that playing on wickets like New Zealand, Australia and South Africa is always a big challenge. The conditions favour fast bowlers. However, we are ready to take this challenge” said Skipper Chandimal who came back to the side after missing that lasg two tests against England due to a leg injury. Chandimal further said he hoped and would work towards changing the current bad run of the team into winnings ways and that will definitely turning point to prepare themselves for the World Cup.
Apart from Sri Lanka’s poor performances, Sri Lanka had some individuals coming into form with a good show. Akila Dananjaya one of the promising cricketers for the future, who had come good in the last year, has been reported for his bowling action and is out of the squad, thus missing the necessary experience needed ahead of the big tournament.
On the other hand, Lahiru Tirimanne, who had been sidelined due to his poor form, is now recalled to the side along with Nuwan Pradeep who is struggling to make his place in the team. In all, Sri Lanka is still experimenting to find a winning combination to regain its cricketing glory.
The new selection committee headed by former paceman Asantha de Mel have appointed Dimuth Karunarathna as deputy to Chandimal explaining that Karunarathna would be a better option to lead the Sri Lankan team in the future than any of the existing lot. Apart from the vested powers on coach Chandika Hathurusinghe to act as a tour selector, Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to send Chaminda Mendis too to assist in on tour selections.
Sri Lanka will play their first tour match on 15th of December in Wellington.
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