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Injury ridden Sri Lanka’s gamble on sacrifice in Asia Cup with plans for World Cup is up fordebate? – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (Elanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka go into today’s Asia Cup game against Bangladesh with no illusions of the task ahead.
Understrength in bowling, and the omission of experience, perhaps for long term plans, the Lankans risk of performing well in this tournament seems bleak. It does have some merit though, for uncovering depth from a different perspective for the bigger event, as long as the end result is not disastrous.
With the World Cup around the corner, Sri Lanka needs to be aware of the consequences of an overcautious plan that will backfire if they perform poorly in Asia.
Momentum counts for everything when the All important World Cup is ahead, so careful strategy will determine whether the Asia Cup and World Cup preparations are on track for the big event.
It was not so long ago that they learnt the hard lesson of whipping minnows and facing reality against the best in the T20 World Cup. Conversely, Sri Lanka won the last Asia Cup then went on to be the whipping boys of the next World Cup and T20 World Cup. Strategy is paramount in this respect.
Sri Lanka Coach Chris Silverwood will feel the heat in the next few months. The team has been on a downward spiral and urgent remedial action is the only way his tenure in the top job will not be scrutinised.
Sri Lanka’s record in the Asia Cup is surprisingly the best percentage wise, even ahead of world top ranked Pakistan and India. That record is under serious threat in this edition.
Bangladesh have rediscovered their winning ways, albeit, under former sacked Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusinghe who has turned the team around from the doldrums. This encounter for this and all reasons will be epic.
Sri Lanka have blooded some new talent for the tournament while Bangladesh have a tried and tested line-up that goes into this Asia Cup serious challengers to India and Pakistan who are right up there in World rankings.
Sri Lanka can make the World Cup competitiours look up and take notice or go through the motions of qualifying and trying to match it with the best. Their fate lies in their own hands.
