Sri Lanka Men’s cricket team led by talented left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne will take part in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. The 18-member tour party will depart from Sri Lanka on the 23rd of September in hunt of an elusive gold medal for the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ . It has been 12-long years since Sri Lanka last won a Gold in the Asian games.
Cricket became a medal sport in the Asian Games during the previous edition in China where Bangladesh won the gold medal while Afghanistan and Pakistan took home the silver and bronze medals respectively while the Sri Lankans fielded an understrength team and had to be satisfied with the 4th position.
The matches will be played as T20 games and Sri Lanka will play their 1st game on the 30th of September against China, Malaysia or host South Korea in the 2nd quarter-final.
Sri Lanka has named a strong squad of 15 players including 11 players who have represented the country in international matches. India and Pakistan will not be participating and Sri Lanka will face stiff competition from Bangladesh and Afghanistan for the gold medal as they have named their best squads.
Skipper Lahiru Thirimanne together with Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga and Ashan Priyanjan will have to play a pivotal role with the bat while Dilhara Lokuhettige, Kosala Kulasekara and Chathuranga De Silva will be the bowling all-rounders of the side and their impetus will be vital for the islanders. Young performers such as Shehan Jayasooriya and Chathuranga Kumara will have to give their best shot at the chance they have been given.
Lahiru Thirimanne who has been short of runs recently spoke to www.thepapare.com on his side, “I have been given a very good balanced squad of a mix of youth and experience in all departments. Our biggest challenge will be the Bangladesh team but our main target is to win the gold medal. “
The Sri Lanka team will be coached by world-cup winning wicket-keeper batsman and a well reputed coach in domestic circuits, Romesh Kaluwitharana. He is the present ‘A’ team coach and he expressed his views on the experience of coaching the team to Asian Games and the team’s preparations, “My role as the ‘A’ team coach is to input good talent into the national team but this instance it is different as we will have to play to win the tournament and win a medal. If we play well, I am certainly sure that we can bring back a gold medal. T20 is an unpredictable game as any team can be lethal on their given day. We have prepared well playing 8 matches during the last couple of weeks. “
Reports have confirmed that the pitches will be slow and low in Korea and the spinners will be the key in Sri Lanka’s success. All-rounder Jeewan Mendis will join the team before start of the campaign after he finishes his stint with the Barbados Tridents in CLT20 in India and his expertise will no doubt add value to the Lankan outfit.
Sri Lanka Men’s team will be managed by veteran administrator Jayantha Senevirathne and he gave his exclusive opinion to www.thepapare.com of the team he will have a keen eye on, “last time we sent a development squad but this time around we have selected a balanced squad comprised of many players currently in the Sri Lanka fold. Key players will be skipper Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan, Kithruwan Vithanage and Chathuranga De Silva as they are in very good form. Most probably we will meet Bangladesh in the semi-final stage so it will not be an easy task. It will be a maximum of 3 matches and we are buoyant on winning all 3 games and bring back glory to our country.”
Full Squad:
Lahiru Thirimanne (captain)
Upul Tharanga
Kithruwan Vithanage
Dinesh Chandimal
Ashan Priyanjan
Shehan Jayasooriya
Asela Gooneratne
Alankara Asanka Silva
Kosala Kulasekara
Dilhara Lokuhettige
Chathuranga Kumara
Isuru Udana
Chathuranga de Silva
Jeewan Mendis
Ramith Rambukwella
Jayantha Seneviratne (Manager)
Romesh Kaluwitharana (Head Coach)
Champaka Ramanayaka (Fast Bowling Coach)
