Sri Lanka coach Paul Farbrace says that as winning becomes a habit his charges has real belief that they could win big games, hence they are heading to the ICC World T20 in a buoyant frame of mind.
Speaking to ‘Ceylon Today on the eve of the team’s departure to Bangladesh ahead of the marquee tournament there, the Sri Lanka coach said that T20 cricket was all about belief and going out and playing with absolute freedom and confidence.
“If you play that way you will have a chance of winning your games,” Farbrace, 46, said having overseen Sri Lanka’s memorable 5-wicket win over Pakistan in the 2014 Asia Cup final in Mirpur in early March, which was Sri Lanka’s fifth Asia Cup title overall.
“We now expect to be involved in big games and finals and that is what Sri Lanka has been used to doing in the past. Yes it is true that Sri Lanka has had a few slip up’s in finals in the most recent past, but then that is part and parcel of the game. But, the Asia Cup triumph has instilled that belief in the boys that they could yet get over the line when it comes to the crunch, and I think that is a real positive that the team would take to the upcoming ICC T20 in Bangladesh.”
But, he warned that it was important that his charges do not get carried away with the heady success that they’ve had in the recent past in Bangladesh.
He said they will need to start from scratch in the ICC World T20, as it was a new tournament and harping on the past will not necessarily assure them success.
“The key is we have a good balance in our squad. Very good spinners, excellent batters and a very good seam attack so we are very well covered,” continued the Englishman who took over the Sri Lanka coaching stint on a full-time basis on Jan 1, 2014 having previously been assistant coach to Trevor Bayliss.
“T20 is very different from the point of view that three overs of one star player from any team could change a game at the blink of an eye.”
Farbrace who has had coaching stints at Kent and Yorkshire remarked that Sri Lanka being the No 1 team in T20 cricket in the ICC rankings, most teams would naturally target the island-nation in the showpiece event set to kick off shortly in Bangladesh.
Asked whether Sri Lanka captain in T20 cricket Dinesh Chandimal was under pressure to justify his place, in the side following a spate of below-par turns with the bat in the recent past, Farbrace was at a loss to fathom, as to why the critics were baying for the youngster’s blood.
“He (Chandimal) is under pressure the same as any other cricketer who plays for their country is under pressure” opined the Englishman.
“When you represent your country, you are under pressure each time you take to the paddock. Chandimal is aware what it means to be the captain of the Sri Lanka team and do not forget the fact that he is still a young man who is finding his feet in international cricket. He could still be one of the stars of the ICC World T20. He is got good technique, he is a hard-worker and he is a very special talent. He will play for Sri Lanka for the next 10 to 15 years and I have got no doubt about that.”
Farbrace was of the view if veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan is ruled unfit for the ICC World T20 then Sri Lanka has resources to make up for the explosive opener’s absence as was proved during the Asia Cup with the emergence of left-hander Lahiru Tirimanne.
“No player is guaranteed a place in the side. Whether it is a junior or a senior player it is all about performance,” observed the soft-spoken Sri Lanka coach.
He noted that it basically comes down to winning six games on the trot if the ICC World T20 title is to be lifted looking at the format of the competition and that he will be massively disappointed if Sri Lanka did not feature in the final round of the ICC T20.
