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As Sri Lanka started off their week-long training camp ahead of the Nidahas Trophy in Colombo, former captain Mahela Jayawardene was present for the session. Jayawardene, under whom Sri Lanka reached the ICC World T20 final in 2012, has expertise in the shortest format of the game as he coaches Mumbai Indians currently. Having started off the session with a 15-minute pep talk, the former skipper was seen speaking to Sri Lankan players on match situations. However, what was supposed to be a two-hour training session, abruptly ended after only 60 minutes due to rain.
"We asked Mahela whether he could come along and help us and he generously accepted the request. He has got enough experience both playing T20 cricket and coaching in T20 cricket. You cannot ask anyone better than him. Down the line we will be using some of the other ex-players as well," Sri Lanka's Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha told Cricbuzz.
"Today Mahela was talking to the boys about how they should go about playing T20 cricket. Not much technical part of it, but just giving them some confidence and speaking on how they should go about playing the first six overs and stuff like that," Gurusinha explained.
Sri Lanka's selectors had made some big calls finalizing the 15-member squad for the tournament and one of those was axing the popular Niroshan Dickwella, who had emerged as the team's wicketkeeper across all formats of the game last year.
"The good thing for Sri Lankan cricket is that players who are putting pressure on both the batters and bowlers. That will bring the best out of lot of players. We wanted to create that competitive environment. Sad to see Dicka going out, but he is very much in our plans. He is a young chap and it was a tough call but with Kusal Janith Perera coming in and according to coach's strategy we had to balance the side," Gurusinha noted.
Gurusinha is part of the five-member selection panel along with head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and explained why fast bowler Lasith Malinga was unable to earn a recall to the side despite impressive performances in domestic cricket.
"Yes, he has played three games in the last five days, but if you take the last two months, he has not played a lot of cricket. When the side is doing well, you want to do minimum changes. Suranga Lakmal was obviously rested in Bangladesh and Nuwan Pradeep was going to come back after injury. So we are trying to keep that consistency with selections. When Suranga and Nuwan came back into the side, it was tough for Lasith to earn a spot. I know he is disappointed. He had a chat to me yesterday."
Sri Lanka's authorities have maintained that the door is not completely shut on Malinga despite not picking him for tours of UAE, India and Bangladesh in the last six months. "He is not the strike bowler anymore. He knows that as well. He has told us that. What he has done for our cricket is very special. But with the head coach planning for the World Cup, it remains to be seen and it is going to be interesting how we can fit him in especially when it comes to ODIs. But T20s there will be obviously lot of chances. I watched two of the three games he played in domestic cricket. We have followed the guys. I am hoping Lasith will hang around. At the end of the day, it is his decision."
Gurusinha also spoke on the disappointment of captain Angelo Mathews. Since being reappointed as Sri Lanka's white-ball captain in January, Mathews has played just one game due to injuries and has been ruled out of Nidahas Trophy. "He is our best player still I would say. We are frustrated that he is not there, but more than us, he is frustrated. We have to manage him. With his injuries it is difficult, we are not bowling him anymore so that should help him. He was very much looking forward for this event."
(CRICBUZZ)
