The contribution of senior cricketers for the Bangladesh national team is outstanding. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad retired from ODI cricket after the last Champions Trophy. Shakib Al Hasan is also not in the country due to political reasons. Overall, the Tigers are in a very turbulent situation except for the senior star cricketers.
Sri Lankan coach Sanath Jayasuriya has revealed the strategy to overcome such a situation. Claiming that all teams go through a transition period, he said, “Everyone has to go through a transition period. Sri Lanka also went through a bad time a few years ago. It is important to overcome it. But everyone has to be given opportunities and confidence. If you keep pressuring them, they will remain under pressure. So you have to make sure that you can give them confidence. Any team can overcome this if you can give confidence (to the players) and have faith.”
Bangladesh got a team century for 1 wicket in the first ODI, but then lost 7 wickets for 5 runs. Regarding such a batting collapse by the opponent, Jayasuriya said, “It happened with Sri Lanka (before). It can happen with any team. As long as the team captain and management give them confidence, they will be free from pressure. Of course they will be under pressure, it is not an easy task. So as long as they have faith, it will be easy for them.”
The second match after the first ODI will also be held in Colombo. Regarding the facilities there, the Sri Lankan coach said, “The conditions are good. It’s very hot here. The ground, wicket, outfield, everything is great. Very fast. You can’t control the weather anymore. I thought if we could have scored more runs (in the first ODI), it would have been better. We struggled in the beginning. Later, we put them under pressure with a target of 245 runs.”
Today (Saturday) at 3 pm, Bangladesh-Sri Lanka will play the second ODI of the series. The match will be played at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the venue of the previous match. Miraj-Shanta have no choice but to win today to survive in the series. Although Bangladesh has a record of winning only 2 of the 20 ODIs in Sri Lankan soil so far.
FAQ
Who is Sanath Jayasuriya?
Sanath Jayasuriya is a former Sri Lankan cricket legend known for his explosive batting and valuable insights into the game.
What team transition challenges is Bangladesh facing?
Bangladesh is going through a period of change with new players coming in and experienced players retiring or out of form, which can affect team performance and stability.
What strategy did Jayasuriya suggest to Bangladesh?
Jayasuriya recommended focusing on strong leadership, nurturing young talent carefully, and maintaining team balance to manage the transition smoothly.
How can leadership help during a team transition?
Effective leadership provides guidance, builds team confidence, and helps players adapt to new roles and pressures during changes.
Why is nurturing young players important?
Young players bring fresh energy and skills but need proper mentoring and match experience to grow into reliable team members.
