‘Failures motivated us to do better’ - U-19 coach Jehan Mubarak
In a bid to leave an indelible mark on the upcoming ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, head coach Jehan Mubarak has been diligently steering the squad toward success. Despite an early exit from the Asia Cup, Mubarak remains confident in the potential of his youthful squad, emphasising the need to work on handling pressure situations.
Speaking ahead of their departure to South Africa, Mubarak acknowledged the team’s preparation, skill, and talent but stressed the importance of refining their ability to handle crucial moments on the field.
“When we started our preparations for the World Cup, our focus was to provide the players with experience and maturity,” Mubarak revealed, before the team’s departure to South Africa.
He highlighted the importance of match exposure, narrating the team’s journey from a shaky start in the UAE tri-series to a strong comeback with a successful series against Pakistan and West Indies. The Asia Cup, however, was a stumbling block. Sri Lanka, facing Bangladesh and UAE, suffered unexpected losses, leading to an unceremonious exit from the competition. Despite the setback, Mubarak expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to bounce back on the grand stage of the World Cup.
“Skill-wise and talent-wise, we are prepared. However, when it comes to handling crunch situations, we need to work a bit more. The criticism we faced after the Asia Cup will only motivate the team to perform exceptionally well in the World Cup,” Mubarak affirmed.
The sudden shift of World Cup venues from Sri Lanka to South Africa prompted the team to reassess their plans, but Mubarak expressed optimism, noting that all participating teams faced similar challenges. He urged his team to maintain a positive approach in the face of adversity.
Reflecting on the team’s journey leading up to the Asia Cup, Mubarak acknowledged the anticipation following a string of ODI victories against West Indies and Pakistan. The victories fueled expectations that Sri Lanka could emerge victorious in the Asia Cup. However, those dreams were shattered after the team’s first-round exit following defeats to hosts UAE and eventual champions Bangladesh.
“Those wins against West Indies and Pakistan were very important as we moved forward into the Asia Cup. It gave some belief and confidence about the ability of the players to compete. Otherwise, they would have gone in with a lot of doubts,” Mubarak reflected.
“We were getting those big scores, and we had a decent chance of doing well. But the setback from the Asia Cup has put us a few steps back, so we need to move forward again and get ready for the World Cup.”
Mubarak pinpointed complacency as a factor contributing to the team’s underwhelming performance in the Asia Cup, emphasising the need for a more focused and resilient approach in the upcoming World Cup.
One of the primary concerns ahead of the World Cup is the inconsistent performance of captain Sineth Jayawardena. Despite being a top order batsman, Jayawardena has only scored 195 runs in nine matches since taking over the captaincy, with a below par average of 21.66. Despite the lacklustre performance, Mubarak expressed unwavering confidence in his captain, urging him to relax and shed some of the pressure associated with leadership.
“I think he has to relax and take a little bit of the pressure off the captaincy. As captain, he is not batting as freely as we would have liked. He needs to spend more time batting and following his routine because when he spends time, he can score centuries. We need him to score runs consistently. According to me, it’s a confidence issue with him,” Mubarak emphasised.
The top order remains another area of concern for the Sri Lankan U-19 team. While Pulindu Perera has exhibited consistency, amassing 441 runs at an impressive average of 63, none of the other top order batsmen have managed to stake their claim, leading to uncertainties in the opening slots. Sharujan Shanmuganathan and Rusanda Gamage are expected to provide stability in the middle order, but the worrying factor remains the lack of fifties scored by top order batsmen in the Asia Cup.
Despite batting being considered a strength for the team, Mubarak acknowledged the need for a more ruthless approach from his batsmen, particularly in crucial situations.
“Batting is our strength, but it is also a cause for concern for them. I urge the batsmen to be ruthless,” Mubarak asserted.
In terms of players to watch, Mubarak singled out Pulindu Perera, Malsha
Tharupathi, Garuka Sanketh, and Vishwa Lahiru as the ones to keep an eye on during the World Cup. He underlined the importance of these players in steering the team to success in South Africa.
Sanketh is considered the ‘X’ factor player with his sling-arm action. He has taken 20 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 24.10. Mubarak believes that the 18-year-old has a bright future ahead of him. He also said that Sanketh’s workload should be monitored frequently as he moves forward in his career.
With an ambitious target in mind, Mubarak declared their intention to qualify for the semi-finals.
“The players are mentally ready to face the conditions in South Africa. We will prepare ourselves one game at a time. Preparation-wise, we have done our best in a short time,” he added.
Sri Lanka finds themselves placed in Group ‘C’ alongside Australia, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in the preliminary stages of the World Cup. As the team gears up for the challenge, memories of a runners-up finish 24 years ago linger, and this time, they aspire to etch their name in history as they embark on a journey to make the 2024 World Cup an outing to remember for Sri Lankan cricket.
The selection process saw a pool of 30 players from the provincial system being narrowed down to a final squad of 18, including eight players from outstations. Mubarak highlighted the experience gained by most squad members, having played at least 15 Youth ODIs, with five already making their mark in domestic cricket. With at least 15 youth ODIs and practice matches under their belt, the squad appears poised for the upcoming challenge in South Africa.