Home
Cricket News
Sri Lanka Odi Skipper Kusal Perera Downplays Impact Of Pay Dispute Ahead Of Bangladesh Odi Series

Sri Lanka ODI skipper Kusal Perera downplays impact of pay dispute ahead of Bangladesh ODI series

Newly-appointed captain Kusal Perera has downplayed the talks around the paying dispute between players and the Sri Lanka Cricket and said that the issue will not affect players’ performances in the series against Bangladesh starting tomorrow, May 23, in Dhaka. However, he shared hopes that the issue will be sorted sooner than later.

"We don't want to think too much about the ongoing contract issue with the board since we're focused on the series at this moment. Yes, it is a concern for all of us but we're hoping it will be resolved soon,'' Perera told reporters in Dhaka.

Perera recognised the poor death bowling that hurt the team in the series against West Indies but said that sometimes experience helps players improve and that players should be backed for a long time.

''Sometimes you need to get hit and learn from your mistakes. We have plans for our death bowling, but it's important to keep in mind that that's a role that you only get better at with experience. We can't expect perfection from the start, our bowlers are new to this role so we need to have patience,” Perera added.

Discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the opponents and the expected nature of pitches, Perera said that Bangladesh rely on their spinners for success and hence the surfaces are expected to be spin-friendly. He also said that the Sri Lanka fielding outfit can make a difference in the outcome of the series.

"We know that one of Bangladesh's strengths is their spin bowling attack, so we expect wickets to cater to that. I think our fielding has the potential to make a huge impact on this series,'' he concluded.

The three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will start on May 23 in Dhaka.

Discover more

Inzamam-ul Haq appointed batting consultant of Peshawar Zalmi for remainder of PSL 6

Peshawar Zalmi has acquired the services of former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq as the batting consultant for the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) slated to be held next month. It was on Saturday that the PCB confirmed their intentions of holding the remaining matches from June 5 in Abu Dhabi. Confirming the development of Inzamam’s appointment, Peshawar Zalmi took to their Twitter handle and wrote, "Legend Inzamam Ul Haq joins Peshawar Zalmi as Mentor/Batting Consultant for remaining matches of PSL 6." The franchise will look to continue their good run when they set to finish off the tournament in the second leg. When the tournament was suspended in early March, Zalmi’s were occupying the second spot in the points table. Meanwhile, according to a report in ANI, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that they have received all the approvals and exemptions from the UAE government for hosting the remainder of the 20 matches in Abu Dhabi. PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: "We are delighted with this development as the remaining hurdles in the staging of the remaining PSL 6 matches in Abu Dhabi have been overcome and all systems are now good to go,” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan was quoted as saying by ANI. “We are grateful to the UAE government, National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Emirates Cricket Board, and Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their support and patronage in ensuring all final obstacles were removed, which has firmly put us in a position to complete our marquee event,” he further added. The 6th edition of the tournament was halted indefinitely after several COVID-19 cases were reported among players and officials. The tournament is expected to resume on 5th June with the final slated to be played on 20th June.

Back in form, Prithvi Shaw calls Tendulkar 'everything' for supporting through thick and thin

Just when Prithvi Shaw was on a downward slope in his career after being dropped from the Indian team, he went back to the domestic circuit and recovered his form and rediscovered his mojo. If there was any doubt over his batting at the highest level, Prithvi Shaw went berserk in the Indian Premier League to silence his critics. Now having got back in the reckoning for the Indian team, Shaw has credited batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar for motivating and helping him in all phase of his life. “Sachin sir is everything for me, he’s always motivated and helped me in my good and bad days,” Shaw told Harsha Bhogle in Cricbuzz conversation. Talking about the bad phase of his career, Shaw said that the cough syrup incident that saw him face suspension for eight months was the toughest for him to get over. “Dealing with the cough syrup incident was the most difficult phase of my life,” Shaw added. Prithvi Shaw could not make it into the Test squad for the tour of England but he is almost certain to be in the ODI and T20I squad for the tour of Sri Lanka scheduled for July this year.

Long quarantine hasn't bothered me much, I hardly go out: Wriddhiman Saha

Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha has spoken about the mental challenges due to the lack of game time on international tours. In an interview with the Indian Express, the Test specialist talked about his time with the Indian team and how the lack of play time has affected him during the quarantine. “I think adjustments become easier for those who don’t think much about what would be happening next. Even when there was no quarantine, I basically used to stay put in my room. I am not someone to go out frequently. That’s why I didn’t find it too difficult to handle,” Saha said. One of the finest wicket-keepers of the modern generation, Wriddhiman Saha has been away from the game for a long time. Owing to the emergence of Rishabh Pant, he is no longer India’s first-choice wicket-keeper in Tests. Taking over India’s keeping duties in Tests following the retirement of MS Dhoni, Saha hasn’t put a foot wrong when it comes to the skillset behind the stumps. However, it has been his batting that has been a major issue that has resulted in Rishabh Pant taking over the first-choice wicket-keeper’s slot. “After I suffered an injury, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel and Rishabh Pant have played (for India). Rishabh has managed to cement his place through his potential. He has grabbed the opportunity. Now I am (again) waiting for my turn,” Saha said. The wicket-keeper reiterated the fact that finding a place in the XI or getting dropped is part and parcel of playing the sport. The initial part of Saha’s career coincided with the domination of MS Dhoni. Hence he was hardly part of the playing XI and it was only until his retirement that he played regular Test cricket from 2014-2018. “Firstly, when Dhoni bhai (MS Dhoni) was there, I wasn’t a regular in the team. I virtually didn’t play at all. From 2014 end to 2018, I played,” Saha said. After contracting COVID-19 in the Indian Premier League bio-bubble, Saha managed to book a place for the England bound Test squad but unless Pant is injured or the team management wants to give him a rest, Saha is expected to warm the benches for the majority of the tour. The wicket-keeper batsman has recovered from the virus and is expected to join the Indian team in Mumbai on 24th May.

'Generational' talent Shimron Hetmyer can take West Indies cricket forward, says Kieron Pollard

West Indies ODI and T20 skipper Kieron Pollard has high hopes from Shimron Hetmyer and said that the left-hander is a ‘generational talent who can shape the future of West Indies cricket. He referred to his ever so improving record in the ODIs and his batting performances in the Indian Premier League to base his claims about Hetmyer’s ability. “We love Hetty. He is a young, talented cricketer. He is a guy who we know, deep in our hearts, can take West Indies cricket forward from a generational point of view with his skill and what he can achieve on a cricket field,” Kieron Pollard told Line & Length TV Show on Sportsmax. “He has a fantastic record in ODI cricket. We saw what he can do in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and it’s just for him to take what’s in front of him. The world is at his feet," he added. Pollard said that the West Indies need him to play and excel in all forms of the game however Hetmyer himself will have to take the onus upon himself to shine bright for Windies and himself. He knows the truth and he knows what it is. We would love Hetty to be playing all three formats, but as the saying goes, ‘You can only take the horse to the water, but you can’t force him to drink.’ With that being said, I will leave it right there and for the individual to get things together," Pollard added. Hetmyer has been included in the West Indies T20 squad for the upcoming series against South Africa and the explosive batsman will have ample opportunities to ratify the big praise from his skipper.