The Champions Trophy is in full swing in Pakistan and Dubai, and for Sri Lankan fans, it feels like watching a grand party from outside the gates – painful, frustrating, and downright disheartening. The cold, hard truth? We didn’t make the cut.
Only the top eight teams from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 earned a ticket to the tournament, and Sri Lanka, finishing a forgettable ninth were left stranded.
This marks the first time Sri Lanka has missed an ICC men’s event since the legendary Anura Tennakoon led the side in the inaugural Cricket World Cup in England back in 1975. For a nation that prides itself on its cricketing heritage, this is nothing short of a wake-up call.
The warning signs were flashing like a malfunctioning scoreboard. Sri Lanka had already been forced into the indignity of playing qualification tournaments, a stark contrast to our golden years when we waltzed into ICC events as automatic contenders.
Adding insult to injury, we are not alone in this setback – West Indies, another former World Cup-winning juggernaut, also failed to make the Champions Trophy cut. However, if Sri Lanka’s decline has been frustrating, the Windies’ downward spiral has been nothing short of a freefall. They have now missed multiple ICC events in the past five years, a fate we must ensure does not befall us.
Thankfully, Sri Lanka didn’t wallow in self-pity for too long. Instead, they dusted themselves off and went about setting things right. Since the World Cup debacle, they have scalped world No. 1 India and world No. 2 Australia in ODI cricket – no mean feat. Maheesh Theekshana has ascended to the pinnacle of ODI bowling rankings, while several Sri Lankan batters now find themselves rubbing shoulders with the best in the world. There were four Sri Lankans in the ICC Team of the Year announced for 2024.
These are promising signs, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that cricket is a game of momentum. One must learn from past mistakes and never let complacency creep in.
Cricket is no longer an exclusive club where only a handful of nations dominate. The game’s landscape has changed dramatically. Zimbabwe, once a formidable side, has lost its footing. Kenya, the fairytale semi-finalists of the 2003 World Cup, have all but disappeared. Meanwhile, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have barged their way into the upper echelons, proving that grit and determination can shake up the status quo.
The so-called minnows are no longer mere pushovers. Netherlands, Ireland, Nepal, and Scotland are making bigger teams sweat. Uganda, in particular, has turned heads with its recent performances. The message is clear: no team can afford to rest on past glories. You either evolve, or you become obsolete.
Sri Lanka’s Champions Trophy snub was a bitter pill to swallow, made even more painful by the manner in which it unfolded. Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ended the World Cup on four points, but the dreaded Net Run Rate – the cricketing equivalent of goal difference in football – favoured Bangladesh, sealing Sri Lanka’s fate. A matter of decimal points proved the difference between boarding the flight to Pakistan and watching from home.
But let’s be honest – Sri Lanka only have themselves to blame. Batting collapses, inconsistent selections, injuries, and shockingly poor fielding were all red flags leading up to the 2023 World Cup. These problems were ignored for far too long, and, much like a misjudged reverse sweep, they came back to haunt us at the worst possible moment.
Fielding, in particular, was an eyesore. Once the best fielding unit in Asia, Sri Lanka dropped catches as if they were handling bars of soap. The result? They were infamously dubbed the worst fielding side of the tournament. Case in point: against Pakistan in Hyderabad, Sri Lanka posted a commanding 344 – a score that should have been enough to secure victory. Instead, butterfingered fielding gifted Pakistan reprieves and they chased it down with ten balls to spare.
The good news? Sri Lanka has recognized its flaws and taken corrective measures. The batting unit is finally showing some backbone, the bowling attack has remained largely intact, and, most importantly, the fielding has improved by leaps and bounds. Players appear fitter, sharper, and more disciplined – a stark contrast to the lethargic performances of 2023.
While missing the Champions Trophy is a stinging blow, it could also be the slap in the face that Sri Lankan cricket needed. Sometimes, failure is the best motivator. If this setback fuels a hunger for consistency and excellence, perhaps—just perhaps—Sri Lanka will return stronger, wiser, and more formidable than ever.
Because in cricket, as in life, you are only as good as your last innings. Sri Lanka’s next big test awaits, and the only way forward is to play with the hunger of underdogs and the heart of champions.
