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Avishka Fernando has been amazing, Pathum Nissanka has had great performances, Kusal Mendis is in excellent form, and Kusal Perera has made a significant return. Furthermore, Kamindu Mendis appears to be in terrific touch.
All of this is predicated on Lanka Premier League (LPL) results, which Charith Asalanka, the new captain of Sri Lanka, views as the pinnacle of T20 cricket on the island.
Still, four batters are in the running for the top three positions. As Asalanka said: “There are four openers in the squad, and the way I’m thinking three of them will make up the top three. One of them will have to miss out.”
“If you look at the LPL, it’s the No. 1 tournament we have to make decisions like this,” Asalanka said. “More than domestic T20s, the LPL is at a much higher level. As a captain, I think if you perform at the LPL you should get a good chance at playing in the national team.”
Whether it was for his school Richmond College, Sri Lanka Under 19, or most recently the winning LPL franchise, Asalanka has been a captain since age-group level. He implied that the foundation of his leadership approach is man-management.
“From under 15 level I’ve captained teams, and there’ s been a lot of change since then. That’s what I tell my team members too – we can’t be at the same place we’ve always been at. From day to day you have to improve and that’s how you become a good player or a good captain. I’ve played under many captains, and I’ve tried to absorb as many of their good traits into my captaincy and into my life as possible.
“What I really want is to get 100% out of my players, and to create a positive environment for them. We have a lot of talented cricketers, but what’s important is to get the most out of them and have them win matches. I’ve told them to play freely and when we’ve given them plans, to go out there and execute them without fear. That’s what you can expect from me as a captain.”