Interview with Kumar Sangakkara
View(s):Kavya Seneviratne
Q: What did you feel when you were invited to speak at the Oxford Union?
A: My initial reaction was “No”. However, as I thought about it and after discussing it with my father and my friend Charlie, we realized it was something we can actually do.
So I started working on it and the last sentence was finished 1,1/2 hours before my speech. The lesson I learnt from this is that we should not allow fear or anxiety to stop us from doing something. If you think through something well and prepare thoroughly, you can do a lot of things you think you can’t.
Ateeq Roomy
Q: What type of cricket matches do you like most?
A: I enjoy all three types but I like to play test cricket. It is really challenging, because you need to really score runs, stay in the wicket and continue for five days. For watching, I’d rather watch test cricket on the grounds and not on TV. T20 or One Day matches I can watch on TV.
Abdullah Riyaz
Q: Will you become a politician like Arjuna Ranatunge and Sanath Jayasuriya?
A: No. There are two things here. Actually I don’t want to become a politician. Abdullah, this ‘like’ part is not good. Try always to be yourself. I would like to be Kumar and you should be Abdullah.
Nihal Paranagama
Q: Do you think reading is a good habit to start from childhood rather than watching TV?
A: You can watch TV and learn from it but not too much. I would go for more reading, which teaches you to think.
I love reading.
Zacky Ahmad Zarook
Q: Can you advise how to balance studies and sports?
A: It’s a good question. You should allocate time to sports but the balance should be a bit more to studies. When you play pay more concentration on it and at home balance your studies. When you grow, give priority to the side you are best at.
Fathima Hamdha
Q: Do you have any idea to become a commentator in future?
A: Maybe once in a while but I don’t want to be as a professional.
Zuha and Umar Usman
Q: Which team or bowler do you find difficult to play or bat?
A: All bowlers are difficult as well as all teams. In the early days of my career, I feared to play all bowlers. But when I played more I got confidence and learnt a lot.
Shaheera Samad
Q: Why did you quit from your captaincy after the 2011 ICC World Cup?
A: You can’t do something forever. Someone else must have a chance to take over and build up.
Sahan Obeysekara
Q: When you were a child was your ambition to be a cricketer?
A: No. it happened by accident. I was not very good at cricket at school. I had two ambitions, to be a pilot and to join the army. But I worked hard at cricket.
Pravena Paheerathan
Q: Like I am a fan of you, who are you a fan of?
A: I’m a fan of a variety of people. If it is cricket, I think I am a fan of the 1996 World Cup Cricket Team. I also admire
Brian Lara. There are many more music artistes, athletes, leaders and celebrities I like. If I were to tell you that now it’ll take days.
Zuha and Umar Usman
Q: Which team or bowler do you find difficult to play or bat?
A: All bowlers are difficult as well as all teams. In the early days of my career, I feared to play all bowlers. But when I played more I got confidence and learnt a lot.
Mariam Imtiaz
Q: Growing up in Kandy, did you ever dream of going into Peradeniya University?
A: I dreamt of university, yes, but not specifically of Peradeniya. My parents and a sister were at Peradeniya University. They always spoke of their memories. Since there was no Law Faculty at Peradeniya, I had to come to Colombo. You make new friends for life at university.
Shaafa Halaldeen
Q: Who was your role model as a child?
A: Growing up I had lots of role models. Looking back, my parents were my first role models.
Senul Samarasekera
Q: What do you feel when you get out by your own mistakes?
A: Actually nobody can be perfect in cricket. Everybody makes mistakes. It is important to learn from your mistakes and correct them.
Sasindu Videsh
Q: Do you prefer being a cricketer or a lawyer?
A: Definitely a cricketer now! But I will have to stop soon though and so I can continue law studies.
Anul Dheerasinghe
Q: What is the success behind your success in cricket?
A: Luck I think. Parents, the foundation they gave. My cricket coach Mr. BertyWijesinghe, learnt cricket by reading and hard work.
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