Chamika Karunaratne, a bowling all-rounder for Sri Lanka, says there's no way to compare his team's defeat by Namibia to their hopes of winning the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia and their loss to Afghanistan in the Asia Cup opening. Both teams went on to win the competition.
The 26-year-old right-arm fast bowler believed that the Australia's weather and playing surface made the T20 World Cup an entirely different experience from the Asia Cup.
After falling to Afghanistan in the opening match of the recent Asia Cup in the UAE, Sri Lanka went on to win the competition by defeating Pakistan in the championship match.
When asked if they might create a similar fairytale in Australia after having a bad start in the Asia Cup and winning the competition, Karunaratne responded, "In the Asia Cup we lost to Afghanistan in the first match, but after that we won all the matches. But since the Asia Cup is a distant memory, we don't share the same perspective. It seems like we must now consider the World Cup. It's not the Asia Cup because it's at a different location with different weather than the host nation.
"The terrain (here) is very different as well. Even one side measures 57 metres, and one side is 55 metres long and perfectly straight. Because there are so many new factors, we must plan and execute our strategy. Fortunately, we have a youthful team with players who are both energetic and physically strong, according to Karunaratne, who was reported by the ICC.
The all-rounder said Sri Lanka will rely on its youthful players to mount a great recovery despite the early setback of losing the Group A First Round encounter to Namibia here on Sunday by 55 runs.
"We must capitalise on this edge (young players), come back strongly, and play our game."
Karunaratne responded, "Yeah, the UAE, the whole team is pretty good. " When asked about his thoughts on the UAE team, which Sri Lanka will play next on Tuesday. You saw how Namibia played the match (against Sri Lanka) yesterday. As a result, we need to prepare thoroughly for the UAE team and play solid cricket tomorrow. Due to the fact that we lost the game on Sunday, we must now win the remaining two games in some way. The boys likely all are aware of that. In the upcoming two games, we will unquestionably give it our all.
"We are considering the guys we currently have. Cricket is being played well by all four teams. Even yesterday's final game, between the UAE and the Netherlands, was decided by the final ball. We have no idea what might occur, and this game is full of humorous things that are always exciting. Everything is possible, so we'll see " he added.