If Wanindu Hasaranga’s team gets off to a good start and picks up the momentum, they will be tough to stop in the T20 World Cup.
A decade on from the ICC T20 World Cup-winning campaign led by the outgoing golden generation, Sri Lanka’s next generation of cricketers now has the chance to make history by bringing home another trophy for the country.
In 2014, Sri Lankan legends Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Rashid Malinga led their side to a comeback victory over favourites India in the T20 World Cup final in Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka, currently led by prolific all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, may not be the outright favourites to win the tournament, but former player Farveez Maharoof believes the country’s recent form cannot be ignored ahead of the ongoing T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States.
“Sri Lanka have had some impressive wins against Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. [in recent series]”It will resonate with the players,” Maharoof told Al Jazeera, before acknowledging that the country’s poor performance in the last T20 World Cup “will resonate with the players”.
The island nation was once considered a powerhouse in the tournament’s history, and rightly so, having reached the final in 2009, the semi-final in 2010 and the national final in 2012 before lifting the trophy in 2014.
However, since their historic six-wicket win against India in April 2014, Sri Lanka Lions have failed to reach the knockout stages of the tournament.
“They’re hard to stop.”
Hasaranga’s side will be looking to bounce back when the tournament begins against South Africa in New York on Monday and Maharoof expects his team to perform well despite being in a tough group.
Sri Lanka’s Group D, the so-called Group of Death, also includes South Africa, Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Nepal.
“Hasaranga has always led from the front in pressure situations and that is the hallmark of a good leader,” Maharoof, who also doubled as an all-rounder, said about the current captain.
“I think Hasaranga is a positive, aggressive team man – exactly the qualities you want in a T20 captain.”
The 26-year-old skipper took over the reins from Dasun Shanaka in December last year and has guided Sri Lanka to five wins from seven matches and will benefit from the presence of experienced all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who was a key member of the 2014 title-winning team.
Maharoof believes Mathews’ “wealth of experience and years of international cricket” is exactly what Hasaranga needs as a young leader.
“Hasaranga is surrounded by quality players,” he said.
Sri Lanka have fielded a spin-heavy squad but with slow bowlers playing a key role on pitches in the US and West Indies, Maharoof believes his side are well-prepared.
He called them the “dark horses” of the tournament.
“This Sri Lankan team has the ability to go all the way to the end. T20 cricket is all about momentum and if the Sri Lankan team gets off to a good start and gains momentum then [in the World Cup]it will be hard to stop them.”
Maharoof has three Sri Lankan players to watch
Hasanranga: “The captain will be a very important player who can play the role of a floater in the batting order and provide flexibility. He will attack with the ball and try to take wickets in four overs. If Hasaranga performs well in the World Cup, Sri Lanka will also have a good World Cup.”
Kusal Mendis: “If he performs well at the top [batting] If you disturb his order he can become brutal.”
Dushmanta Chameera: “Chameera has just won the Indian Premier League with Kolkata Knight Riders and his confidence is sky high. If he stays fit and finds the right rhythm, Chameera will be a bowler to watch.”
