New concerns after SL Emerging team's collapse in Bangladesh
When Sri Lanka departed to Bangladesh for the Emerging Asia Cup, there was much expectation that Sri Lanka would be able to defend the ultimate prize. Despite all expectations, they were not able to deliver the goods at the appropriate time.
Leading up to the tournament, they won the bilateral series played in Bangladesh, which was thought to be a confidence booster for them.
Throughout the tournament, the Lankans had their chances in all 3 matches, but couldn’t capitalise on those opportunities
After being knocked out from the tournament, head coach Chaminda Vaas expressed his thoughts about his team’s performance in the tournament.
“Well! It was a very poor performance. We gifted our wickets away. We did not show our capabilities and we failed to take the fight to the opposition. That’s what disappoints me the most,” a dejected Vaas told the Sunday Times.
He lamented the lack of application during pressure situations and highlighted the fact that, the game has gone into another level. The players have to be smart enough to understand that cricket is a professional sport.
He also highlighted the need to adjust their game plan according to different pitches and conditions. On the other hand, the bowlers did provide a glimmer of hope throughout the series.
Asitha Fernando and Kalana Perera were the standouts with the ball. Asitha Fernando managed to claim 4 wickets, while Kalana also took 4 wickets in the tournament.
Despite the fast bowlers being the shining light of the tournament, the former fast bowler was critical of the fact that the bowlers were not up to the mark. He also noted that the importance of being consistent in their line and length, and sticking to their game plan throughout the tournament.
He also noted that there should be a change in their mindset. Throughout the tournament, they had their chances, but failed to ride upon the pressure created during all 3 games.
There were a lot of expectations from ambidextrous all-rounder Kamindu Mendis, but he couldn’t live up to them, as he just managed a solitary half- century in the tournament. Despite having a poor tournament, his head coach hopes he will bounce back.
“As I always said, when you are in the Emerging, you can make mistakes, but for Kamindu, it is not an excuse. He has played for the National team and we expect him to take his game to the next level and be an example to the youngsters. He belongs to the future of Sri Lanka cricket. He is an exceptional talent and I believe he has a great future ahead of him,” Vaas noted
Batting was a major cause for concern throughout the tournament. Apart from the captain, the other batsmen failed to score a substantial amount of runs. Captain Charith Asalanka was the leading run scorer for Sri Lanka, totaling 166 runs at an average of 55.3.
Moving forward, he believes that Sri Lanka cricket has a lot of thinking to do, as the players in the Emerging team are contenders for the National Team. He also said they need to reassess each player’s performances, before they give their consent to play in the National team.
“We need to reassess our plans as we move forward. The players need to take responsibility. In International cricket, consistency is the essence of a team’s success. If this trend continues, we will not be able to compete at International level. I hope the players will learn from this debacle and play the brand of cricket that we are known for,” Vaas concluded
The Emerging team will have only a short rest, as they prepare to represent Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games this year, to be held in Nepal from December 1-10.