Rumesh Ratnayake clarifies regarding Sri Lanka's chances in World
Twenty20
Former Sri Lanka cricketer Rumesh Ratnayake wishes to clarify some
comments attributed to him in an article entitled 'Sri Lanka won't
defend T20 World Cup' published in the Sunday Observer of 22nd November
2015.
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Rumesh Ratnayake |
When asked about Sri Lanka's chances of defending the World Twenty20
title in India next year, Ratnayake said no team apart from Australia
has won back-to-back World Cup titles and that too in the 50-over
format.
"It's very hard isn't it because if you see the trend, nobody has won
back-to-back (in T20). Only in 50-over (World Cup) Australia has done
it. That was unique because they had great teams and they performed as
well. But in T20 it is very hard to see a team winning back-to-back
(titles) because even the weakest teams, if they do what they have to do
on that particular day, big teams can crumble," said Ratnayake was
consultant coach of the Sri Lanka team during the World Cup held in
Australia and New Zealand this year.
However, he did not rule out Sri Lanka's chances of successfully
defending the title they won in Bangladesh last year under Lasith
Malinga.
"It is a huge challenge but not impossible for Sri Lanka to defend
the World Twenty20. I did not mean Sri Lanka will not be able to defend
the title," says the former Sri Lanka bowling coach.
He said there have been instances where what seemed impossible has
been achieved citing New Zealand's triumph in the Rugby World Cup
becoming the first team to win back-to-back titles.
Ratnayake, who is domiciled in Australia where he has opened his own
academy, also wishes to state that he has not committed to sit in Oman's
dug-out during the World T20 event.
"I was doing an assignment for Oman to look after their fast bowlers
because they have qualified for the World T20 next year. I did one
programme with them in May of this year. They asked me whether I could
do programmes with them in the months before the World Cup. That's a
decision which is just pending because I live in Australia," said
Ratnayake who stepped down as Development Officer of the Asian Cricket
Council (ACC) in July after serving for 14 years in countries like Hong
Kong, Nepal, Malaysia, China, Bhutan and the Maldives.
"I don't know whether they will call me or not. They might be wanting
to have me for small projects. I'm doing small projects prior to the
World Cup," reiterated Ratnayake who felt debutants Oman coached by his
former team-mate and captain Duleep Mendis could make an impact at the
World Cup.
"They (Oman) are asking me whether I will be available. I don't know
at this stage whether I will be available or not," said Ratnayake who
played in 23 Tests and 70 ODIs from 1982 to 1993 for Sri Lanka.
Allaam Ousman Sinte
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