Cricketing greats
From many countries hail Sri Lanka's wonderful
showing at World Twenty20 tourney.:
By Sajeewa Jayakody
Cricketing greats from many countries hail Sri Lanka's wonderful
showing at World Twenty20 tourney. Sri Lanka hit the top in world
cricket when Lasith Malinga's band went onto win the ICC Twenty20
tournament in Dhaka. Paying tribute to Sri Lanka's wonderful
performances in the tournament were cricketing greats Sunil Gavaskar of
India, David Gower of England, Bishan Singh Bedi of India, Ali Bacher of
South Africa and cricket journalists, Daily Mail Editor Lawrence Booth
and Harsha Bhogle.
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Sunil Gavaskar
(former Indian captain and current BCCI President)
 Sri Lanka were deserving Champions of the ICC World Twenty20 Cup. To
restrict a strong batting line up like India's to just 130 runs was a
tremendous achievement. Malinga and company were terrific especially in
the last four overs. Winning with so many deliveries to spare also tells
how dominant the Lankans were with the bat too. Sri Lanka have a
terrific record in ICC events reaching the finals regularly. Though
there have been disappointments in some of them, to finally emerge to
win the T20 Cup gave Sri Lanka a new sense of belief. Sri Lanka are
popular winners too for they play the game hard but with a smile on
their faces. Well done Lanka.
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Ali Bacher
(former South Africa Cricket Board President)
 During the nineties one of my closest friends in world cricket was
Dammika Ranatunga It would thus flow that I was extremely happy with Sri
Lanka's triumph in Bangladesh.Also because this final saw the exit from
T 20 cricket of 2 of the world's finest cricketers,M Jajawardene and K
Sangakkara, both are classic batsmen who have enthralled numerous
cricket lovers around the world with their sheer class.In addition their
behaviour on and off the field has always been impeccable and hence they
have proved to be great ambassadors for the great game of cricket.Well
done Sri Lankan cricket.
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David Gower
(former England Cricket captain)
 It was tremendous to see the vitality back in Sri Lanka's T20 World
Cup winning team and it was great that the international T20 careers of
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara ended on such a glorious high.
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Bishan Singh
Bedi (former Indian captain)
 Its a terrific effort by Sri Lankans to lift the T20 World Cup in
B'desh.It was indeed a great attempt by the younger guys to save the
vital moment for Sanga and Mahela, two giants of Sri Lankan cricket to
match the best of any in World Cricket!! I was thrilled primarily for
Sanga and Mahela just as 1996 truimph was all about Ranatunga and that
great striker Aravinda de Silva!Yes,it is indeed a great moment for the
Lankans all over the Globe. God Bless the Lankans. Warmly......
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Lawrence Booth
(Cricket writer for Daily Mail, former editor of Wisden Cricketers’
Almanack)
 Sri Lanka's win was an fine end to a wonderful tournament - not just
because their win ended a sequence of four successive defeats in finals
of ICC global events, but because it allowed Kumar Sangakkara to sign
off from international Twenty20 in style. I think it's fair to say most
neutrals were cheerin for the Sri Lankans, and the bowling of Lasith
Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara in particular were impressive. At a time
when the Big Three are dominating the sport off the field, it was
heartening to see one of the Small Seven triumph on it.
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Harsha Bhogle
(Indian cricket commentator)
 “I am delighted that Sri Lanka have so much to cheer about. I have
enjoyed meeting Sri Lankans over the years and hopefully this will be an
inspiration for the stars of the next generation.”
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