Sri Lanka will enter unfamiliar territory this week as they go into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 at the First Round stage, seeking qualification for the Super 12. But having to take the long way to T20 World Cup glory could prove the perfect opportunity for a new generation of Sri Lankan stars to make their names.
It has undoubtedly been a transitional period for Sri Lanka over the past few years. Since the 2015 Cricket World Cup they’ve seen the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera retire. Given all seven features in the T20 World Cup winning side of 2014, that’s a list of departures any nation would struggle to adjust to.
This month, they have the chance to show the world that the transitional phase is coming to an end and that they are ready to conquer cricket again.
Ahead of their opening game against Namibia on 18 October, we take a look at their chances at the World Cup.
Cricket World Cup runners up in 2007 and 2011, T20 World Cup finalists in 2012 and winners in 2014, Sri Lanka have had a leaner of time of it of late. That’s why they find themselves in the First Round of the T20 World Cup rather than as automatic qualifiers for the Super 12 stage.
T20I cricket has not been kind to them lately, with the islanders suffering the most losses of any team in the shortest format of the game since the last T20 World Cup in 2016. The challenge of finding their feet at this edition has not been made easier by the year-long suspensions being served by Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka for breaching the bio-secure bubble in England.
But the absence of three suspended experienced players can be looked at as another opportunity for Sri Lanka’s youngsters to step up on the big stage and make themselves known. Indeed, some of them have already started to seize their opportunity.
There’s 24-year-old Charith Asalanka, who was Player of the Series in Sri Lanka’s recent ODI series win over South Africa. There’s Avishka Fernando, who has averaged 119.5 across Sri Lanka’s four practice matches in the lead-up to the tournament. There’s Kamindu Mendis, who can bowl with both arms and hit the ball a long way, and seamer Chamika Karunaratne who can also hit the ball a long way. There has also been the return to the fray for proven performers like Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Perera, making an experienced core alongside captain Dasun Shanaka, all-rounder Dhananjaya De Silva and speedster Dushmantha Chameera.
On top of all that, the Sri Lankans have the services of Wanindu Hasaranga, who sits second on the MRF Tyres ICC T20I bowling rankings. Hasaranga is averaging 13.15 with the ball in T20Is this year while leaking just 5.59 runs per over. There’s not a team in the world looking forward to facing him.
Quite simply, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about what this Sri Lankan team will bring to the table.
It must be remembered that the T20 World Cup has always been Sri Lanka’s happy place. Their 22 Men’s T20 World Cup match wins are the most of any nation in the tournament’s history. They have literally been the team to beat with more appearances in the Final than any nation.
The upcoming edition of the tournament in Oman and UAE is Sri Lanka’s chance to re-emerge as a T20I force to be marvelled. (ICC)