2014 World T20 Preview: Sri Lanka

Here in this article we preview the Sri Lanka Team’s chances in the 2014 World T20.

Sri Lankan Cricket team are closely following the footsteps of the South African Cricket team. The Sri Lankans came out of nowhere to challenge the South Africans a good run for the money for the Chokers tag. Sri Lanka have been consistently reaching the finals of some major tournaments just to come second. Sri Lanka has reached the semi-finals for the thrice in four World T20’s. This time they will look to go a step or two further and win the tournament for their country. They have a pretty strong side and they had spent the past two months in Bangladesh and had a great run in the series against Bangladesh and the Asia Cup. Let us take a look at what Sri Lanka have in store for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

Squad:

Captain: Dinesh Chandimal

Coach: Graham Ford

Batsmen:

•          Kusal Perera
•          Tillakratne Dilshan
•          Mahela Jayawardene
•          Dinesh Chandimal
•          Lahiru Thirimanne

Bowlers:

•          Nuwan Kulasekara
•          Lasith Malinga
•          Ajantha Mendis
•          Sachitra Senenayake
•          Rangana Herath
•          Suranga Lakmal

All-Rounders:

•          Angelo Mathews
•          Thisara Perera
•          Seekuge Prasanna

Wicket Keepers:

•          Kumar Sangakkara

Tillakratne Dilshan will be itching to get some runs under his belt after being out of Sri Lanka’s recent tour of Bangladesh and Asia Cup. He will open the innings with the so called Xerox copy of Sanath Jayasuriya, Kusal Perera. Kusal is known to take advantage of the power-play overs and score runs at a quick rate in the field restriction overs. It will allow Dilshan to take his time and play a long innings. Then there is the experienced duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who have scored tons of runs for their team over the years. Sangakkara, in particular is in a rich vein of form off late and he will look to continue his good work in the World T20 as well. Mahela Jayawardene, on the other hand is striving hard for runs and he will be hoping to come good once the tournament begins in a week’s time. He was made to pen the innings in the previous two editions of World T20 and now he is back to the place where he normally belongs. Skipper Dinesh Chandimal keeps the scorecard ticking and the All-Round duo of Mathews and Thisara Perera will capitalise towards the end of the innings. Perera will take the role of a finisher and he is capable taking his team home while chasing a huge run rate at the end. Their bowling too looks settled with Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara being their front line seamers. Kulasekara will look to make amends with the new ball as he can swing the ball both ways. Malinga, on the other hand is a versatile bowler who has some variations in his armoury and can be destructive at the death overs. The spinners in the side Sachitra Senanayake and Ajantha Mendis holds key in the middle overs. Many batsmen are yet to figure out the mystery of Mendis. Thisara Perera, Mathews and Dilshan team together to complete the quota of the fifth bowler. Sri Lanka has a variety of options in batting as well as bowling and this makes them a team to watch out for in the tournament.

Possible Playing XI:  Tillakratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachitra Senenayake, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis.

Schedule:

Date	Against	Venue
22-3-2014	South Africa	Chittagong
24-3-2014	Qualifier	Chittagong
27-3-2014	England	Chittagong
31-3-2014	New Zealand	Chittagong
3-4-2014 & 4-4-2014	Semi-Finals	Mirpur
6-4-2014	Finals	Mirpur