Former Sri Lankan captain and opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, who joined the Lankan squad for the T20 and ODI series, informed that each game before the T20 World Championship is important for the side and in order to adjust to the weather and conditions, adding that Bangladesh are a good side in the shorter format of the game and the visitors will have to work hard to beat them at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.
“Every single game now is important for us before the WC. We have to get prepared with the conditions and weather.
“They are playing very good cricket, especially in ODI and T20. We have to play our best cricket to beat Bangladesh on their soil. We can’t take them easily. We will see how it goes in next couple of days,” said Dilshan.
However Dilshan has played for in the Bangladesh Premier League for the Dhaka Gladiators and also Mohammedan. Last season for Mohammedan, he scored 148 runs in four matches with one fifty.
“We played a lot of cricket here on and off. Technology is there so we keep an eye on who is a newcomer. We have to play good cricket on the particular day, especially in T20. We can’t make any mistakes. It is important to stay on for all 40 overs. With one month left for the World Cup, this is good for both teams,” he continued.
The former captain of Sri Lanka is one of the most dashing batsmen in the shortest form of the game, boasting a strike rate over 120 and having a century to his name. Dilshan praised new captain Dinesh Chandimal, “I think he has done really well in last few series. He is learning every single game. I think it is good to give a youngster the opportunity, and he is proving to be a good captain so far,” he said.
With a few other young cricketers like Kaushal Silva and Sachitra Senanayake in the side, Dilshan said it was a great chance for them to learn from veterans Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene before the big events.
“It is a good sign for us. They can learn from the likes of Sangakkara, Mahela around them. It is good for them. This series will be good for everyone before the Asia Cup and World T20. I think this is good preparation for the upcoming series. Everyone must grab this opportunity and get ready ahead of the two tournaments,” he added.
Dilshan also spoke of Kusal Perera, who is being spoken of as the next Sanath Jayasuriya. “Everyone is important, not just one or two players. Kusal is fine youngster we found. I am seeing his batting in the last two series. He is specialist at giving a good start. It is helpful for me as well, the way he goes after the bowling in the first few overs. He puts the pressure on the bowler. Sachitra is also a very good off spinner. It is a very good bunch,” said Dilshan.
Though he did not watch the recently concluded Test series, Dilshan, who has retired from the five-day format, said he was happy with Sri Lanka’s performance, “They are playing well, but I don’t have much time to watch after retiring from Test cricket. I am really enjoying how they are doing.”
