In Asalanka Sri Lanka believe

by Rex Clementine

It wasn’t the ideal start for Sri Lanka in the New Year as rain ruined what could have been a comprehensive victory for the hosts in the opening fixture of the three match ODI series against Zimbabwe on Saturday. But there is some assurance that we are going to see lot more rescue acts from that diminutive left-hander Charith Asalanka.

This is Asalanak’s fourth year as an international cricketer. There have been many young players with so much promise over the last four years, but the glamorous lifestyle of a cricket player means that most of them go out of track. Asalanka has stayed focused; no tattoos, no studs, no late-night parties, no social media extravaganza and no coups to ouster captains. Like Rahul Dravid, he has remained determinedly low profile.

Batting at number five is an art. Not many succeed in that position. At times when the top order has fired you have to come and throw the kitchen sink in a bid to get quick runs and at other times when there has been a collapse you have to stage recoveries stitching crucial partnerships with the tail. It’s a role where you need to adapt. Technically you need to be sound and many calculated risks need to be taken.

Several soft dismissals had threatened to end Sri Lanka’s innings early when Asalanka played a blinder on Saturday. There was good running between the wickets, there was a period of consolidating and then when the last five overs came bit of improvisation trying to clear the boundary.

It is only Asalanka’s third ODI century and more will come this year which has lot of cricket.

Sri Lanka will engage in ten Test matches this year and there are several bilateral series home and away. Into the bargain there is a T-20 World Cup too.

By the looks of it, Wanindu Hasaranga, our T-20 captain is struggling with his fitness. He is a superstar, but not every superstar can become a captain. Lasith Malinga is a case in point. He was a disaster as captain. Let’s hope Hasaranga is not going the Malinga way. Anyway, to hand him the T-20 captaincy when he had not been cleared 100 percent fit is an interesting choice. But stranger things have happened in Sri Lankan cricket.

Being the designated vice-captain of the white ball teams, in all probability Asalanka will lead the country this year. That will be the dawn of a new era.

For so long we have waited for that leader who will fix our cricketing woes. Many have come and gone but none have had the capacity to take the team in the right direction.

Sri Lankan cricket and our fans have suffered for so long. People are losing interest in the game as evident by the low turnout on Saturday. Barely 3000 fans watched the game on a Saturday in a stadium that has a capacity for 35,000. Everyone will be desperately hoping that we find a leader who will take us to our glory days in the sport. That could be Asalanka.

This is not to say that Asalanka is the finish product. He has a lot of work to do. His fielding is horrendous and during the World Cup he must have dropped half a dozen catches. That is one area that he needs to work on. However, the overall package that he has to offer us is exciting indeed.

Finally, some hope for the national cricket team.