Under-19 cricketers want to bring the smiles back on fans with Asia Cup win

Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketers 3-2 ODI win in Pakistan hardly got the headlines it deserved

Sri Lankan cricket fans at an international match

• Not hosting the Under-19 World Cup was extremely disappointing says Coach Jehan Mubarak

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The image of Sri Lanka cricket overall has been tainted by the ongoing tussle between the former Minister of Sports and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) following Sri Lanka’s disappointing performance in the final of the Asia Cup and the recently concluded Cricket World Cup in India.

The war of words between the two factions has resulted in Sri Lanka Cricket getting suspended by cricket’s world body the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Sri Lanka losing the opportunity to host the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup to South Africa.

In the circumstances, the cricket loving public has been led to believe that the game has hit rock-bottom and become a topic of discussion in public domains and in Parliament. 

“The way Sri Lanka Cricket is now, it will be a big boost for Sri Lanka Cricket as well as for the country if we can go and win the Asia Cup,” said Sri Lanka Under-19 Head Coach Jehan Mubarak.

“I’ve told the boys this is not how Sri Lanka should be and not how people should be talking about our cricket. We have done well in Pakistan and although people are talking and saying various things about our cricket, we are not that bad. I actually believe that we are much better than this. So, let’s go and prove it at the Asia Cup.”

The Sri Lanka Under-19 squad preparing for the Under-19 Asia Cup as well as the Under-19 World Cup beat Pakistan 3-2 in a five-match ODI series. Not many teams have won a series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s memorable victory hardly got the headlines it deserved because of the Cricket World Cup in India.

“Beating Pakistan in Pakistan is not easy for any team, especially after the start we had to the tour. We had a bad 4-day game and a lot of guys fell ill, but then to come back and win was something,” said Mubarak. “To beat Pakistan in Pakistan means that the players have that belief and confidence they can beat some of the best teams. India is probably the best team at Under-19 level, but the players have the confidence that they can take on any team and beat them.”

“Winning the Under-19 Asia Cup will give them a lot of confidence for the World Cup. The challenges we are setting ourselves is by January we want to request for a match against the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team or the national team. Challenge them and see whether we can beat them.”

The Under-19 Asia Cup will be held in Dubai from 8-17 December. Sri Lanka are in Group B with Bangladesh, Japan and UAE. Group B comprises India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. Sri Lanka’s opening game is against Japan on 9 December.

Remarking on Sri Lanka losing the opportunity to host the Under-19 World Cup, Mubarak said, “The players are extremely disappointed. Their families and everyone were looking forward to it because we haven’t played a World Cup in Sri Lanka for a long time.”

“The boys were a little bit upset. They were initially worried that they would not be able to play at all. But in a way the pressure of expectations playing a World Cup at home and winning sometimes can play a bit on the young boys. Like how India found out against Australia in the World Cup final. They might feel less pressure playing in South Africa.”

The last occasion Sri Lanka hosted an ICC world event was the T20 World Cup in 2012.