by Rex Clementine

Since winning the ICC T-20 World Cup in 2014, Sri Lanka had blown hot and cold in ICC events over the last ten years. But heading into this year’s T-20 showdown in the Caribbean and the United States, there was lot of hope. But it was all back to square one after a first round exit not able to make it to the Super Eight stage.

Along with Sri Lanka, former champions Pakistan and title contenders New Zealand were thrown out of the competition as Bangladesh, United States and Afghanistan progressed to the second round instead. It was a bitterly disappointing campaign.

This year, Sri Lanka had beaten both Bangladesh and Afghanistan convincingly in bilateral events. On that form you would have expected them to make it beyond the group stage, but the reality was harsher than what they had expected.

Sri Lanka had flown into the United States two weeks prior to the campaign. But all that preparation did not mean anything as the batting was a flop and bowling did not live up to expectations.

There will be a review about this campaign at Maitland Place and questions should be asked as to whether these two weeks were properly utilized. Look at Bangladesh. They too came to the US early but unlike Sri Lanka, they were involved in a bilateral T-20 series against the hosts.

The team’s batting approach obviously backfired. On USA tracks that were not ideal for batting, the team aimed too high and met their waterloo. The first five overs should have been an indication that these were no 160 tracks. In New York, they were shot out for just 77 runs, Sri Lanka’s lowest ever total in T-20 cricket. You expected the team to learn the lessons by the time they got to Dallas for the high pressure game against Bangladesh as they were facing elimination. But the aggression with the bat continued and that night the writing was on the wall for Sri Lanka. Whether they could progress to the next round or not were beyond their hands from thereon.

There’s no point in pinpointing one batter when the whole unit had flopped, but you always thought that Charith Asalanka was a smart cricketer than this. In both games he was dismissed trying to hit against the wind. The smartness he had exhibited over the years in building up innings vanished in double quick time.

Captain Wanindu Hasaranga’s came into the competition as the world’s number one ranked all-rounder and the team depended heavily on him. He too flopped with the bat and was barely a threat with his leg-spin. His decision making like opting to bat first in the unknown territory of New York was bizarre while his bowling choices were outrageous.

On returning home, Hasaranga claimed that some cricketers were behind attacking the team through social media platforms. This needs to be investigated. Disgruntled parties attacking the team when thrown out of the side is a dangerous precedent and should be nipped in the bud.

Not often have Sri Lanka taken a fully fit Dushmantha Chameera for a competition and not given him a game. Surely, after back to back defeats he should have featured in at least one game. Maheesh Theekshana’s one wicket after three games gives an indication about the team’s over reliance on him.

Dasun Shanaka was a failure too. He has been that for a while now. Maybe it’s time for the selectors to try out Janith Liyanage in the all-rounder’s slot.

Despite all the criticism, you’ve got to feel for the demanding schedule that was handed out to Sri Lanka. The former champions played their four games in four different venues. Flying across three US cities and to the Caribbean was demanding, but as professionals, you would want them to take up these challenges on the chin.

Envy England’s schedule though. In the first round, they played two games in Barbados and two games in Antigua. In the second round, they are in St. Lucia for two games and then back in Barbados for the remaining game. That’s not cricket when you consider the demanding schedules some other teams have had.