Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka has publicly expressed his gratitude towards the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the nation's security forces for ensuring the team's safety during their recent tour, which was conducted under a heightened security blanket following a terror attack.
Security Acknowledgment Post Defeat
This acknowledgment came on Saturday immediately after Sri Lanka's disappointing loss to Pakistan in the T20I Tri-Series final at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The Lankan team, after a strong start at 81-1, suffered a dramatic batting collapse, losing their last eight wickets for a mere 16 runs to be bowled out for 114. Pakistan comfortably chased down the target of 115 with six wickets in hand and eight balls to spare.
Addressing the media after the match, Shanaka directly referenced the security situation. "We enjoyed this tournament as a group. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to go out much," he stated, alluding to the movement restrictions imposed on the team after a suicide bombing in Islamabad earlier in the month that killed 12 people and wounded 27.
He was quick to add, "Credit to the security forces; they supported us in every situation. It's not easy to handle all this, to organise everything. I must thank PCB for ensuring our safety." This tour was under a cloud after reports emerged that at least eight Sri Lankan players had safety concerns and considered leaving the tournament, but were instructed by their board to continue.
Batting Woes Against Spin Exposed
Shifting focus to the cricketing reasons for the defeat, Captain Shanaka conceded a significant weakness in his team's lineup. He pinpointed the batting against spin bowling as a major problem that led to their downfall in the final.
"We must realise when to take chances against spin – especially left-handers getting out to off-spinners and right-handers to left-arm spin. Those were avoidable," he analysed. The dramatic collapse in the middle overs was primarily engineered by Pakistani spinners, exposing this technical flaw.
Looking Ahead to Future Challenges
Despite the tough loss, Shanaka adopted a forward-looking perspective, framing the experience as a vital learning curve with an eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup. He expressed confidence in his team's ability to rectify these issues before the global tournament.
"We take this as learning. Hopefully, we'll correct these issues," the skipper affirmed. Showing no long-term ill-effects from the restricted tour, he also left the door open for a return, saying, "I'm very confident about that... Hopefully, in the future, I'll get the chance to come to Pakistan again and play good cricket."
