Sri Lanka Head Coach Mickey Arthur believes that the Twenty20 series against the West Indies could be an opportunity for the young players to showcase their talent and potential ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in India.
He made these observations after a training session at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, which will be the venue for the first T20 International between the West Indies and Sri Lanka on March 3. (SL time 3.30 a.m. March 4).
“To be honest the boys got down to their training last night and worked incredibly hard. The training was of really high standard. This is a good opportunity for the young players to step up and do the job and show us what they got,” Arthur told journalists.
“This is a great opportunity for them to put in some good performances in an attempt to get into that eventual World Cup Squad. I am expecting these young players to come in and play without any fear. At the training session these players were superb. The intensity with the fielding sessions was outstanding,” he stressed.
The 52-year-old former South African also said that the conditions would somewhat suit the Sri Lankan players with the wicket expected to take some turn in this night encounter.
“The wicket is very bare and it is going to take a bit of turn. So this is a very good opportunity for the spinners to impress and secure a place in the Asia Cup and World Cup Teams with both tournaments to be worked off in the sub-continent,” he explained.
Arthur also predicted that newcomers Pathum Nissanka and Ashen Bandara are two really promising players who could make it to the Sri Lanka T20 Team very soon.
“It was the first time that I saw Pathum Nissanka because he was injured in the past and I am really impressed with his talent and potential. He could certainly be an all-format player for Sri Lanka.”
“Bandara impressed me a lot at the training session last night. He was very busy at the crease when he bats and he was very enthusiastic and he was electric with his fielding. He creates that amazing intensity. I am looking forward to seen Bandara and Nissanka getting an opportunity somewhere along the mark and showing us what they can do,” he added.
The squads:
West Indies: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Rovman Powell, Lendl Simmons and Kevin Sinclair.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (Captain) Ashen Bandara, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Niroshan Dickwella, Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Dilshan Madushanka, Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Pathum Nissanka,Thisara Perera, Nuwan Pradeep and Lakshan Sandakan.
(Agencies)
