Rain flushes out Sri Lanka hopes of Super Eight ‘miracle’ as Nepal game abandoned in Miami. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
A torrential downpour in Miami flushed Sri Lanka’s glimmer of hope down the storm water drains in the US as an abandoned game confirmed their disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup.
Winless and clinging on to hope of two wins against the minnows and other results going their way, the weather gods chose to step in and put their aspirations to rest.
There’s no doubt that this was a disastrous campaign and no amount of excuses will provide solace for a team not with it in this format.
Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Harin Fernando was quick to defend the team back in Colombo stating that they were hard done by, and blaming social media for the negative responses from Sri Lanka cricket lovers.
He could not be further from the hard fact that this team was ill equipped to handle the modern game. Just not good enough. His excuses and explanation about needing time to right the wrongs of the past sounded familiar and hollow.
An only fact he stated in the team’s defence may be that no team goes out with a plan to lose, but in modern times, perhaps even that is debatable.
In all fairness, the bowlers did a great job against the odds. But the leadership and batting had no realistic plan on how to negotiate the conditions.
Yes, the wicket in New York proved to be a difficult pitch for run making. But the team’s that followed, used better skill and caution to make 100 plus compared to a paltry 77 off 19.2 overs from Sri Lanka’s batters who arrived for the tournament with great expectations.
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They never really got settled, losing the opening game to the Netherlands and waving it off as ineffectual before winning the next in a close one against Ireland in the second warm-up.
What Sri Lanka need to address and ponder as they pack their bags and head for home, is a future that is planned with all contingencies in mind. They were ill prepared this time.
The ICC for their part, need to work on their planning for the unforeseen in terms of travel arrangements and a level playing field for all teams particularly accommodation close to the playing venues.
This tournament appears to have some serious flaws that seemed to tip the scales in favour of some.
The one point means that Sri Lanka are definitely out without a whimper in the 2024 campaign. That is unless Bangladesh lose their next two games to the Netherlands and Nepal.
I’ve heard that Pigs could fly too.
