Time is running out for Sri Lanka
Rex Clementine
at Suriyawewa
There’s not much time left before the Sri Lankan team takes flight to Harare for the World Cup qualifiers, but they are confronted with quite a few problems. The three match ODI series against Afghanistan, arranged by SLC to help players prepare for the qualifiers, didn’t start off well as the team suffered a six-wicket defeat on Friday. The old problems resurfaced as the top order collapsed and usual suspect Lahiru Kumara left the field with a hamstring niggle.
Kumara has been a disappointment having broken down time and again without completing his overs. It happened at the Gabba, at Centurion, at Pallekele and now Suriyawewa and that’s what you can remember. Don’t know how many other times he has gone off half-way through the innings.
What is it with fast bowlers and injuries. Last year’s T-20 World Cup was a joke with a player down after every game and the selectors in their wisdom even retained one of those players without sending him home. What happened after that is history.
In Kumara’s case, you can not complain that there’s been too much cricket because this is the first game of the series. His fitness must be assessed before he comes in for a series and the team was made to feel the pinch with a bowler short as Afghanistan chased down the target without much trouble. It seems that the recalling of seniors Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne hasn’t worked. But at least Sri Lanka were able to bat out their 50 overs. Although neither batsman contributed significantly, their experience is vital going into the qualifiers.
Afghanistan are no more pushovers. They have three bowlers amongst the top ten ranked in ICC ODI rankings. Plus, there’s chinaman bowler Noor Ahmad, who is a crafty customer.
Ibrahim Zadran is proving to be a star in the making. The opening batsman nearly posted his fourth hundred in nine games on Friday. Sri Lanka shouldn’t be in the qualifiers in the first place. But they got their act wrong and now they are left with Hobson’s choice but to go to Zimbabwe.
There are a few players who need to step up and contribute. Captain Dasun Shanaka and deputy Kusal Mendis haven’t done much. It’s time Sri Lanka think of Sadeera Samarawickrama to hand the wicketkeeping gloves. Matheesha Pathirana was bit of a disappointment after the highs of IPL, but Sri Lanka need to keep backing him and it’s only a matter of time before he comes good.
