• Expresses high hopes ahead of England series, WC

Sri Lanka white-ball Captain Dasun Shanaka has expressed his excitement and high hopes ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup (WC), which the island nation will co-host with India, as well as the upcoming ODI and T20I series against England.

Speaking at the national team’s jersey launch in Colombo on Wednesday (14), the all-rounder described the tournament as a “great opportunity” and was quite optimistic that the team could improve on their previous runner-up finish.

“It’s a great opportunity for myself and I’m very much excited for a home World Cup. We know that when we last hosted a World Cup, we became Runner-Up, and hopefully this time we will win the event,” he said during the ceremony.

When asked about coping with the pressure of playing in familiar conditions, Shanaka, who has been entrusted with the reins till the conclusion of the showpiece event, stressed the importance of team composure. 

“We need to keep the changing room calm to deliver something special. We ended up with a wonderful win in the last series against Pakistan to draw 1-1, which has boosted our confidence a lot. This will help us heading into the upcoming England series and the World Cup,” he added.

The skipper also acknowledged the need to strike the right balance between pressure and enjoyment while playing at home. 

“As players, we face a lot of pressure, but at the same time, we enjoy playing in our own home conditions a lot. Pressure is always there, but we are looking forward to a wonderful World Cup ahead,” he said.

With confidence high following recent performances, Sri Lanka is preparing to make a strong impact on the world stage.

Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament with India, are in Group B with 2021 Champions Australia, Ireland, Oman, and Zimbabwe, and will start their campaign against Ireland on 8 February in Colombo. 

(JK)