Coach Kaluwitharana sure of Incheon gold
Sri Lanka Cricket seems to be serious in adding a Gold Medal to their trophy tally by ending up as the winners in cricket at the Asian Games 2014, in Incheon South Korea.
The Lankan ‘A’ team coach, Romesh Kaluwitharana who has been handed over the task of achieving this told the Sunday Times that this time it is nothing, but, gold.
Kaluwitharana said “we have been in training and having serious sessions and I have been given a good side that is led by the national vice captain Lahiru Thirimanne along with a good mix of players who are capable of delivering results. “
He however said “Generally my task is grooming side that will get players into the national team. At that point winning is a bonus, but not the sole criteria. But, here the challenge is different. We are travelling to these games with the intention of winning the gold.
“I hear unlike when we are on other cricket tours, the atmosphere at the games will be different. Initially the players will have to get used to the games accommodation facilities and criteria that comes along with it. Then the wickets will be very different, but, our cricketers have been in the game long enough to adapt themselves to the situation.
“You can never say, someone might come up with an unexpected whirlwind inning and take a game away from us. That is T-20 cricket. We are very mindful of that fact and alert to such situations”.
The World T-20 winners Sri Lanka has been drawn direct into the quarter finals and will play their first game with a side that qualifies from group II in the second match for the day on Tuesday.
The other teams that have been drawn into the quarters are – Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Kuwait, Nepal and China engaged in the preliminary qualifying round.
All matches at Yeonhui Cricket Ground, Incheon.
Tue Sep 30: (20 ovs)
- 06:00 IST 1st Quarter-Final – Hong Kong v TBC (Group A #1)
- 2nd Quarter-Final – Sri Lanka v TBC (Group A #2)
- 3rd Quarter-Final – Afghanistan v TBC (Group B #1)
- 4th Quarter-Final – Bangladesh v TBC (Group B #2)
Thu Oct 2
- 6:00 IST 1st Semi-Final – TBC v TBC (Winner QF1 v Winner QF3)
- 10:30 IST 2nd Semi-Final – TBC v TBC (Winner QF2 v Winner QF4)
Fri Oct 3
- 6:00 IST 3rd Place Play-off – TBC v TBC (Loser SF1 v Loser SF2)
Fri Oct 3 (20 ovs)
- 10:30 IST Final – TBC v TBC (Winner SF1 v Winner SF2)