The Sunday Mail
Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana says his side will take inspiration from the 1996 World Cup-winning team as they look to qualify for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
The off-spinner was still four years away from being born when Arjuna Ranatunga led the Lions to victory in Lahore but is well-versed in the story of their victory.
“No one thought Sri Lanka could win the World Cup in 1996,” Theekshana said.
“So it is an inspiration, particularly the way they played as a team.
“We need to get all of this to our generation as well. The way Ranatunga acted as captain, there are a lot of memories there for everyone.
“As a team, we have to do some things as they did in that period of time, but it’s also new generation so we have to do things differently.
“The way that cricket is going is so different, so I think it is our time to do our best and try and win the World Cup.”
Sri Lanka are currently in Zimbabwe and will have to make it through the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers before they can speak of actually winning the quadrennial 50-over tournament.
Theekshana expressed disappointment at missing out on automatic progress to the main event, with Sri Lanka finishing two places and 17 points behind South Africa, who took the final qualification spot from the 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
The Lions have since moved up to ninth in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, and enter the Qualifier as the highest-ranked side.
They will face Ireland, Scotland and United Arab Emirates, teams they are unbeaten against, in the group stage.
But it is Oman – whom Sri Lanka are yet to face in ODIs – who Theekshana believes poses the biggest challenge.
He added: “We don’t know much about them.
“It is not big pressure but there is pressure there because we don’t know about their strengths and weaknesses.
“We just have to bring our A-game every time as we don’t know what to expect.
“We have to focus on our own game.”
Theekshana will look to continue his fruitful partnership with Wanindu Hasaranga when Group B action gets underway next week.
“I have a good partner in Wanindu, we know that opposition teams see him as a world-class bowler,” Theekshana explained.
“They sometimes try to defend him and try to get runs from me, but then I have a chance to get wickets also.
“I think that is a plus point for the team and for me, because I am always getting the chance to add pressure.
“I know that he will always keep it tight at the other end so it is easy for me to bowl with him, and it is good for the team when he is around.”
Sri Lanka begin their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers campaign with a match against the United Arab Emirates at Queens Sports Club on Monday.
ICC/Online Reporter
