Saturday Dec 21, 2024
Saturday Dec 21, 2024
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The head coaches of the four teams that have qualified for the knockout rounds of the LPL (from left): Chamara Kapugedera (Galle Titans), Avishka Gunawardene (Dambulla Aura), Mustaq Ahmed (B-Love Kandy) and Thilina Kandamby (Jaffna Kings)
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
The fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) has reached the final knockout stages and one of the moot points that came up for discussion during the media conference with the head coaches of the four teams that have qualified were the pitches that have been prepared for the matches at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
Although there have been several close contests, the pitches have not lived up to what is normally associated with T20 cricket. It has been more in favour of the bowlers than the batsmen. It goes without saying that T20 cricket is a batsman’s game and crowds flock to the stadiums to see explosive cricket with sixes and fours being hit and not batsmen struggling to get the ball out of the square as has been in most cases in this tournament.
Captains of the teams participating Wanindu Hasaranga (B-Love Kandy) and Kusal Mendis (Dambulla Aura) and former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya have been quite critical of the playing surfaces prepared at the R Premadasa Stadium. “Disappointed by poor wickets at Premadasa Stadium for LPL. We crave pitches that fuel positive, aggressive play and electrify the fans. Hoping upcoming qualifiers feature better cricketing wickets please,” said Jayasuriya on social media.
From a coach’s point of view Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan leg-spinner who is head coach of B-Love Kandy said that these types of pitches are good because it throws a challenge to everyone.
“It is not a great scenario for any team but it’s good for everyone,” said Mushtaq. “These types of pitches sometimes give you a challenge as a player, as a team and as a coach. When the pitches are not there, it exposes your technique, exposes your mind-set and awareness of the game. When things are very good, no skill comes. Sometimes it is very good for the tournament, especially for local young cricketers. If they can understand the pitches, the ground and the opposition well. I think it’s a win-win situation for everyone. Pitches can be better, but at the end of the day those pitches for everyone are the same, basically. You have to play your best cricket to win matches.”
Chamara Kapugedera, head coach of Galle Titans said, “We have received largely pitches which are not conducive to run scoring at R Premadasa Stadium, but like Mushtaq said that is also a challenge. All the players must accept that challenge, so must the coaches, how we can win on pitches of this type. You will not get a pitch that will be to your liking all the time but the important factor is that you must be able to adjust and win. It’s all in the hands of the players how they adjust to the wickets and conditions and face the challenges.”
Coaches weigh their chances
The tournament has reached its business end with the top two teams in the league Dambulla Aura and Galle Titans playing the first double header match today in Qualifier 1 commencing at 3 p.m., followed by the Eliminator between teams three and four, B-Love Kandy and Jaffna Kings at 7.30 p.m. The winner of Qualifier 1 will earn direct qualification to the final, while the loser gets another chance of making it to the final when they play the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on Saturday. The team that loses in the Eliminator will go out of the tournament. The fifth team Colombo Strikers was eliminated at the end of the league phase.
Dambulla Aura head coach Avishka Gunawardene, weighing his team’s options, said, “We are a batting heavy side. There are certain roles that have been given to the players and they have been doing it quite consistently. Other than that, the dressing room atmosphere has been, the good boys have been enjoying it. We have done little things right so far and that has been the story behind our success.”
Galle Titans head coach Chamara Kapugedera said, “After the last two games the confidence is high, but we still have to follow the processes and do the right things and little things. That’s important. It will be another new game and we have to start fresh. Hopefully we can win the Qualifier and go for the final.”
Mushtaq Ahmed, head coach of B-Love Kandy said, “Cricket wise as coaches you have to do the processes right, you’ve got to believe in yourself. As coaches we are all here to win the tournament but I think the most important thing is my belief as coach here is to win the trophy. It has to come from me as the coach and the captain’s roles are key in any team. If your captain is performing and his body language is strong, he has to get all the plans executed nicely. Yes, we are very confident, we have to play good cricket and when you do that you can always challenge any team. At the end of the day this game is all about holding your nerves, pressure cooker games and executing your plan well. It’s a very simple game. If you get your basics right you can come up victorious.”
Three times winners and defending champions Jaffna Kings head coach Thilina Kandamby believes he has the players with the experience to deliver.
“We have not been consistent enough but the games that we won, we won by big margins, that’s why we are here. We haven’t played to our potential but at the end of the day we have world class players on my side. Most of them have been in the qualifiers and finals and they know what the pressure is like playing in the Eliminator. That’s the advantage for us. Personally, losing five matches is something new for me, because we have always been on the winning side. We take it as an experience. Likewise, in my team there are experienced and world class players, now the time has come for them to use that experience. It’s about doing the processes right and getting back to form.”
