All is not lost for Sri Lanka youth cricketers – Coach Gunawardene
Sri Lanka were beaten comprehensively by 9 wickets as India grabbed the Under-19 Asia Cup for the seventh occasion in Dubai on Friday, but Head Coach Avishka Gunawardene believes it’s not at all the end of the road for the Lankan youth side.
After having won all games in the concluded regional cricket competition among youth teams, Sri Lanka lost total grip of the crucial final game only to be defeated by an Indian side for the fifth time. Sri Lanka had reached the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup in 1989, 2003, 2016, 2018 and lastly on the final day of 2021, and at all the meetings were against India, who emerged eventual winners.
Unlike the previous occasions, the defeat was a hard pill to swallow, as the Lankan youth had performed extraordinarily through the campaign to reach the final. Yet, they were restricted to a meagre total of 106 for 9 wickets, and India raced to reach the target losing just one wicket.
“Yes, we are disappointed to lose a game and above all when it was a final. The boys felt it, everyone in the dressing room including me, felt it. We need to put this aside, learn from it and make sure we don’t repeat the same mistakes in the future, especially with the ICC Under-19 World Cup around the corner,” Gunawardene told the Sunday Times after Friday’s defeat.
Sri Lanka started off their Asia Cup campaign with a massive 274-run win against minnows Kuwait, after posting 323 for 5 and bundling the opponents to 49. They repeated the run feat by posting 322 for 4 against Nepal, who were bundled out for 262 in order to record a 60-run win. Their group game against Bangladesh was called off after a COVID-19 alert and when the game was halted Sri Lanka were 129 for 4 in 32.4 overs, where their batting started to indicate issues.
However Sri Lanka reached the semi-finals from Group ‘B’ alongside Bangladesh and met Pakistan, the Group ‘A’ leaders on Tuesday. They probably had the scare of an exit after being bundled out for 147 batting first, but a neat bowling and fielding display helped them to beat the tournament favourites by 22 runs. Pakistan were shot out for 125. And the unexpected occurred when the Sri Lankan youth were totally outdone by India in the final.
“The final I suppose, was a tough day at office. It was one of those days that things didn’t go our way. Then again we knew India is a good side, they clearly outplayed us in the final. It’s one of those days we failed, we must take the lessons from it and take a leaf of how India played, mainly their batting, and move on. Overall the Asia Cup campaign went pretty well, it’s just the final that we lost. According to everyone Pakistan was the best side, and we beat them. That’s a positive sign,” Gunawardene stated assessing the final.
For the record, Sri Lanka had played 15 games up to the Asia Cup final during the past three to four months and have won 11 games out of the lot. This includes a 5-0 whitewash against current Youth World Cup title holders Bangladesh, and a 3-2 series win against England.
But the Asia Cup was a different outing, with Sri Lanka having the daunting task of playing five games within a phase of nine days, including a semi-final and a final within a day. The other finalist and Asia Cup winners, India too had to face the same packed schedule but eventually they became the best out of the lot.
“The boys were little fatigued, playing five games within just nine days and with a lot of travelling. That also kind of a setback. They had to play a semi-final and the very next day straight to the final. But these are not excuses, these are matters we need to adjust into and make ourselves ready to face such challenges in the future,” Gunawardene explained, while pinning hopes of putting up a better show at the upcoming Under-19 World Cup which will be staged in West Indies from January 15 to February 5.
“I don’t think we have much to worry about. It’s about getting the ideal combinations right, learning by assessing the opposition and conditions and setting things straight for the World Cup. We must give the mind and body a little rest and start all afresh aiming the biggest show of all.”