Can Sri Lanka win the World Cricket Cup in 2011?

Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe

I am sure it is a million dollar question. On the other hand every cricket loving fan of Sri Lanka would like to see that our team winning the World Cricket Plum. Like in 1996 we hope that our national team will deliver the goods and become kings of cricket in 2011. But I would like to mention here, it is not going to be an easy task. There are no short cuts to success.

So our selectors and the Cricket Interim Committee have to work hard with a plan to prepare our lads for this important and uphill task. Other Countries in the world will not give us the world cup on a platter. We have to show our class to topple the opponents. If we do not play quality cricket we cannot imagine engraving our name in the World Cup.

Great advantage

This time the World Cup is going to be played in the subcontinent. It is a great advantage to our country. All the pitches are very familiar to our players. So our players should make hay while the sun shines. We get this golden opportunity only after 1996. We will not get this chance for a very long time. If Sri Lanka does not make use of this God given opportunity, I feel it will be only a pipe dream to win this most prestigious World Cup elsewhere. Now that inter Provincial Tournaments are over, the selectors should select a pool of 30 players.

Then they could practise together till they go for the world cup. In between if the selectors discover any other player performing well he could be brought to the pool. But no player should be included in the final fifteen from outside.

This team can go through practice sessions together under a dedicated coach and improve their skills and talents. All practices have to be compulsory to all the players. After some time our team can be a very united bunch of players. The final 15 could be selected just one month before the tournament.

They will be able to see the strong and the weak points of their opponents through the CDs and DVDs. By doing that they could plan to attack them accordingly. That will help our team to restrict any team to a modest total.

Before the tournament if our Cricket Interim Committee can arrange two tours to Pakistan and India for our national team, it will do immense good to our players. Then when the real tournament comes our players will find things very easy. I hope our men in authority will find ways and means to organize these tours.

Weak points

When a team is together they can discuss their weak points among themselves. Also they can plan out strategies to overcome their weak points.

That will give confidence to the players. The captain and the coach will come to know each and every player well and they can prepare them mentally to face any challenges.

When our players are mentally fit they naturally show their real skills and give a hundred percent to the team. If our Interim Committee starts doing things immediately I do not see any difficulty in winning this World Cup.

But if they are lethargic and not bothered about we will eat humble pie at the forthcoming world cup. If there is a will there is a way. I am sure our players and the Interim Committee have a will. Hope they will find their way to keep the Sri Lanka flag flying in world cricket.