Sri Lanka cricket team’s head coach Mickey Arthur has vowed that the Lankans are determined for a hard and disciplined performance Friday against hosts Bangladesh to complete the series on a winning note when these two teams face in the third and final ODI of the series at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh have already won the first two matches and secured the series.
But every match is important for both sides as this series is the part of ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League where every team will get 10 points from each victory.
So, despite losing the ODI series, Sri Lanka, who are currently at bottom of the league table, will be keen to win the dead rubber.
“There are no dead rubbers with the World ODI Championship and qualification for the 2023 World Cup. Every ODI is worth 10 points. We want to close off here with a good, hard, disciplined performance Friday. We want to take a win home,” said Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur to the media.
Sri Lanka coach admitted the Lankans expected a tough fight from the Tigers as the hosts have many experienced players in their side.
“Shakib [al Hasan], Tamim [Iqbal] and Mushfiqur [Rahim] have played over 200 games. Mahmudullah is close on 200 games. (Along with) Mustafizur [Rahman] and Mehedi [Miraz], they are a very good unit in their own conditions now. We were expecting really tough competition from Bangladesh. They have certainly given us that,” said Arthur.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have made drastic changes in their ODI set up in recent times as senior players like Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne are omitted.
A new captain was also announced with a young squad aiming for the future but the Sri Lanka coach declared that the doors have not been closed for senior players to return to the squad.
“We started on a journey with what we think is a team looking forward to playing in 2023. The doors are not closed on anybody. Certainly some senior players can come back at any given time depending on performances. We are trying to create depth within our side,” Arthur.
“Everybody puts pressure on each other, so that they can become the best that they can possibly be. This is a young team which we are building up to 2023.”
