Confident Sri Lanka eye first T20 series win in 30 months
The two skippers -- Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka and Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe -- with the trophy ahead of today’s first game
Under the new leadership of the all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka will aim for their first T20i bilateral series win against Zimbabwe in the first of the three-match T20i series at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo today. Sri Lanka last won a bilateral series in the shortest format against India in July 2021, claiming a 2-1 win after losing the first game.
Despite winning 14 games in 28 matches since, including the 2022 Asia Cup, with an unbeaten record of five wins, the island nation is yet to secure a bilateral series win in nearly 30 months.
The incoming skipper Hasaranga aims to change the fortunes of the T20i side, replacing former white-ball captain Dasun Shanaka. This will be Hasaranga’s first game as captain, and many will rely heavily on his performance as an all-rounder.
The new T20i skipper showcased his prowess with a performance of 7 for 19 in the third and final ODI game against Zimbabwe, where they were dismissed for 96 runs. Hasaranga’s return to the ODI side provided a much-needed boost and solace after a washed-out game and an unimpressive 2-wicket win in a low-scoring match.
It will be interesting to see how the islanders approach their challenge in the three-match T20i series. Sri Lanka, currently placed eighth in ICC T20i rankings, last won a T20i game on April 2, 2023, against New Zealand. Hasaranga has a point to prove as the new skipper, aiming to improve Sri Lanka’s standings against the 13th seed team from Africa.
Zimbabwe had a positive start in 2023, defeating Ireland 3-2, but faced unexpected defeats against Uganda and Namibia, as well as a series loss to Ireland.
The new Sri Lanka T20i skipper, Hasaranga, will lead a team blend with youth and experience. Former skipper Angelo Mathews returns to play his first T20I in nearly three years. Hasaranga believes having senior players is crucial as the World T20 tournament is only five months away. The squad also includes batters Kusal Perera, newly appointed Test skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, spinner Akila Dananjaya, sling-arm bowler Nuwan Thushara, and batting all-rounder Kamindu Mendis.
Opener Avishka Fernando, top-order batters Nuwanidu Fernando and Janith Liyanage, have been omitted from the T20 squad. Going out from the ODI squad are Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, and Jeffrey Vandersay, while opener Pathum Nissanka is subject to fitness concerns.
Zimbabwe will be led by batting all-rounder Sikandar Raza, with a squad similar to the one that played in the ODIs. The three-match T20i series will be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium starting today, with the remaining matches scheduled for January 16 and 18.
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Hasaranga outlines importance of more focus on fielding
Sri Lanka’s new T20 skipper Wanindu Hasaranga underscores the vital importance of elevating fielding standards as they gear up for the this year’s T20 World Cup in USA and West Indies. Hasaranga perceives fielding as the focal point for improvement, deeming it the most straightforward avenue to enhance the team’s cricketing prowess.
With three series lined up prior to the World Cup, the team is dedicated to maximising these opportunities to boost their performance across all aspects of the game.
“We have another five months for the World Cup. That’s our main focus,” he said at the pre-match press conference head of the three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe.
“The main area we need to improve is fielding. Fielding is the easiest way we can improve our cricket. We have three series before the World Cup and we intend to play one more series. We need to build up during those four series before the World Cup”.
He urged every player to contribute towards raising the standard of fielding, recognising its critical role in achieving success in matches, particularly in the T20 format.
“No matter how well you bat or bowl if you don’t field well you will flop. We saw some improvement in the recent ODI series but we can do better. I am hoping for everyone to contribute to lift the fielding up,” he said, adding that the players have to be sharp on the field.
The new cricket selectors led by Upul Tharanga got a mix of young and experienced under him to challenge the Zimbabwean cricketers, who conceded the ODI series 2-0 to Sri Lanka.
“We have a very good group of players. Nice mixture of youth and experience,” he said.
Speaking of his captaincy, Hasaranga said he will not put excessive pressure on himself.
“I am not going to put too much pressure being a captain. I need to contribute to the team as a bowler and with the bat,” Hasaranga who, is just short of nine wickets to 100 T20 international wickets, said.
| Raza’s Zimbabwe willing to bounce back after heartbreak defeat against Uganda | |
 Richard Ngarava In the aftermath of a heartbreaking loss to Uganda that cost them a spot in the T20 World Cup, the Zimbabwe cricket team is gearing up for redemption as they face Sri Lanka in an upcoming T20 series. “It’s really heartbreaking not just for me and cricketers but for the whole nation as well,” Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza said of missing out on a place at this year’s T20 World Cup. “It has been a very tough period for us. We are desperately trying to turn things around. I think you needed that desperation to turn things around. You just expect what fate has to be for you. But having said that we have learned a lot of lessons and hopefully we will make Zimbabwe cricket great again”. With the addition of the experienced Sean Williams to the squad, the team hopes to bring stability and confidence to their batting lineup. The captain emphasised the need for the young squad to focus on playing the ball rather than being overly concerned about the reputation of the bowler. “We are very confident,” he said of the series ahead. “Confidence comes from preparation. We are well prepared. Most result oriented sports is such the process is not seen. Whatever the results maybe, we will be confident. We are here to beat The captain also singled out Richard Ngarava as a player to watch, describing him as a work in progress who is heading in the right direction. Ngarava’s dedication and hard work are starting to yield results, and the team anticipates his continued growth as a key asset in the years to come. “One guy to watch out is Richard (Ngarava). He is not the finish product yet. He is going in the right direction and we will be taking about him a lot in years to come. He has started to reap rewards of all the hard work he has put in before,” he added. |