By Leonard Ratnayake
Newly appointed Sri Lanka cricket captain Kusal Janith Perera speaking to the press first time after his appointment as captain said that he looks forward to full commitment from all the players in the squad to make a winning team for Sri Lankan cricket.
30-year-old Perera was appointed captain for the One-Day International cricket team by a new selection committee headed by former fast bowler Pramodya Wickremesinghe ahead of the upcoming tour to Bangladesh. Promising young batsman Kusal Mendis was named his deputy. Both Perera and Mendis were not in the team for the last ODI series with the new captain failing the fitness test and his deputy being out of form.
However, the selection committee explained that their decisions were based on a long term plan towards building a solid team for the next world cup in 2023. 33-year-old Dimuth Karunaratne, who led the team for the last world cup in England was sacked along with a few senior players like Dinesh Chandimal 31, Thisara Perera 32 and Angelo Mathews 33 were dropped as the selectors named a young and experimental squad for the Bangladesh tour.
New captain Kusal Perera said that he hopes to create a winning culture in Sri Lanka cricket and would certainly need the assistance of the senior players for this purpose. “The senior players have been rested for the next tour, but selectors might include them for the future tours, where their service would be necessary.”
Asked about who would be his key players to rebuild a winning team, Kusal Janith Perera said that he does not look at any individual as a special player but would however like to see everyone contributing their best towards the team. “We are all professional cricketers, and it is up to each and every individual in the squad to work hard on the improvement of their sport” said an ascertaining KJP, who said that it is up to everyone of them to spot their mistakes and work closely with the coaches to correct them to make their contribution to the team.
He said that it is important that all the players give their best towards the success of the team and they should be concentrating on playing their own brand of cricket fearlessly. “I personally believe playing -fearless cricket- would be key for a turnaround towards success”, a type of cricket he said he personally enjoyed playing and was key for his success.
Be the first to comment