I am backing Sri Lanka to win: T Dilshan

MUMBAI: West Indies may be one of the strong contenders for this year’s World T20 to be played in Sri Lanka later this month, but the team from the Caribbean won’t have it easy, feels Tillakaratne Dilshan.

One of the most destructive openers in world cricket, the Sri Lankan all-rounder feels the hosts have a good team for the ICC event and are in fine form after playing in the Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL).

“West Indies have several specialists in the squad. The likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith are really skillful players. But they have to perform to their potential to win on Lankan wickets. We have been playing over the last month and feel all games will be close this year,” Dilshan told TOI. Fast bowlers enjoyed playing in SLPL and Dilshan has a feeling that pacers will have advantage during the T20 summit. “Most wickets went to fast bowlers in SLPL. I don’t think the wickets will be out-and-out spin tracks. So, teams who don’t have quality spinners need not worry. The batting has to be strong to post good scores here,” he said.

Sri Lanka lost to Pakistan in the 2009 World T20 final at Lord’s. Dilshan, who was adjudged Man of the Series, rues adding few more runs on the board to put pressure on Pakistan. “We lost early wickets and fell some 20 runs short. It still hurts that we lost despite playing well throughout the series,” he said. But Dilshan is hopeful Sri Lanka will produce a series-winning performance at home. “The team is doing well under Mahela Jayawardene and I am personally hoping that Sri Lanka will win the series this year,” he signed off.