Duleep Mendis was Sri Lanka’s manager when they won the ODI World Cup in 1996. 

Before the competition, though, few had given the Arjuna Ranatunga-led side any chance of lifting the Cup. But, Mendis had full faith.

“Being the manager of that team, I was asked by many as to who would win the World Cup. I had confidently said, ‘Sri Lanka’.”

“Many had laughed it off. But, I knew what that side was made of. And then, we all know what transpired,” the former Sri Lankan captain, currently head coach of Oman –  one of the participants of this Asia Cup – told The Telegraph from Abu Dhabi.

Sri Lanka’s overall success in the Asia Cup is enviable. Compared to India’s eight, the islanders have triumphed six times in the competition.

Lately, their success in international cricket has been far and few between. 

They won the continental showpiece in 2022, but it was more like a flash in the pan. 

Even Zimbabwe made Sri Lanka stretch in the latter’s 2-1 victory in the T20I series, which ended in Harare on Sunday (7).

The current squad, captained by Charith Asalanka, does comprise effective spinners like Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage, all of whom can trouble any opposition. 

However, the man who could engineer Sri Lanka’s turnaround is head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, believes Mendis.

“Sanath is the best in the trade. He knows what he’s doing, so the players too can’t get a better person to be guided,” the 73-year-old ex-chief selector of SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket), who played 24 Tests and 79 ODIs.  

(Agencies)