Struggling SL gets pep talk from Sanga
New Sri Lanka Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne said his struggling side has received timely advice from former greats including Kumar Sangakkara ahead of the World Cup opener against New Zealand which will be played in Cardiff,
Wales today.
“Sanga came and gave us some words of advice which was really helpful, he did really well in the last World Cup so it was useful to hear how he prepared, mentally and everything else,” he said yesterday.
“Arjuna Ranatunga who lifted the World Cup in 1996, spoke to us and gave us advice before we left Sri Lanka.”
“That is the sort of thing we need to be courageous, past cricketers coming in and helping us. Mahela (Jayawardene) is also here and we hope he will come and talk to us as soon as possible.”
Karunaratne realises that he has a daunting task ahead. “It is not easy when you don’t know the players and they haven’t played a single game in a long time. Even me, I came back into the side after four years so it is not easy.”
“But if you get a chance you need to prove yourself. Every time you need to be hungry. Those new players who want to do well, they want to perform to stay in the team.”
“I also have some experienced guys that have played World Cups before and they are key if you want to do well, you need those kind of players.”
(Agencies)