Sri Lanka white-ball captain Charith Asalanka says that his men are utilising the ongoing seven-match SLC T20 League consisting of three teams being played at the SSC Grounds, as an ideal launch pad for their upcoming international assignments.
He said they are grateful for the SLC for having organised the said domestic competition, to attune them for the tough challenges, which are around the corner for the island-nation.
“Currently we are involved with the SLC T20 League, and I feel these matches will equip us to be ready to face the more difficult games which lie ahead,” Asalanka, told a media conference at SSC Grounds on Tuesday (12).
“I know there will be a big difference in the level of opposition that we will encounter on the road ahead, compared to what we face right now. But, this tournament has come as a boost for us, to be ready to take on any international team at short notice, and we value it very much. I think this was a good move on the part of the SLC, for putting across these matches for us, to iron out our shortcomings and prepare for sterner tests ahead.”
The left-hander said that upon the completion of the current domestic tournament, his men will focus on their impending series of matches in Zimbabwe, where they are set to meet their hosts in a similar number (three) of ODIs and T20s, from 29 August to 7 September.
Asked whether the series in Zimbabwe will be ideal preparation for the far more challenging test awaiting them in the Asia Cup in the UAE subsequently, the top-order batter added that they should be prepared to take whatever opposition that has been lined up for them.
Asalanka said that he would prefer not to look too far ahead, but take series by series and emphasised that their primary task will be to complete the SLC T20 League and then plan their strategies for Zimbabwe.
“I always prefer to take things systematically, and not look too far ahead,” the skipper opined. “Otherwise we might tend to lose focus for what is in front of us and as professionals, I reckon that is not the way to go about it.”
He acknowledged that the eight-nation Asia Cup played this year on the T20 format, in view of next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the sub-continent, will be a crucial event for his team.
He stressed however that world champions India will probably start the premier white-ball tournament in the region as odds-on-favourites, on account of them being defending champions, but warned that his side will not enter the event to merely make up the numbers.
Sri Lanka – the former champions are placed in Group B, alongside Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong, while arch-rivals India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, make up Group A.
The top two teams from each group are set to advance to the Super Fours phase, with the top two facing each other in the summit clash in Dubai on 28 September.
India are the title-holders of the Asia Cup, having decimated Sri Lanka by 10-wickets in the final held in the 50-over format in Colombo two years ago, with the Lankans having last won the Asia Cup in the T20I format by seeing off Pakistan in the 2022 final.
Meanwhile, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has released the prize money for the forthcoming Asia Cup, with the winners set to be awarded a purse of US $ 200,000 (Rs. 60 million) and runners up a cheque for US $ 100.000 (Rs. 30 million).
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