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| Sri Lanka's World T20 squad laced with danger |
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| Category: Squads |
| Written by Luke Tagg |
| Tuesday, 09 March 2010 18:03 |
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Most countries could reasonably expect their sides to do well in the 2010 World Twenty20, to be held in the West Indies in May. Nobody has a disastrously bad team, although Pakistan's current woes aren't likely to win them friend, favour nor the World Cup. If you're Sri Lankan, however, I wouldn't call you a fool for believing you should make it to the finals this year - if not win it - based on the 30-man provisional squad released on Tuesday. This is a dangerous squad. It smacks of broken dreams. As with most other provisional squads, I don't know all the players who have been included as I don't get to watch domestic cricket from other countries. None of us do. It's why the Champions League Twenty20 is so awesome. I can, however, pick a World T20-winning side from this squad. First - the full squad: Kumar Sangakkara (c) Tillakaratne Dilshan Sanath Jayasuriya Mahela Jayawardene Chamara Kapugedara Angelo Mathews Chinthaka Jayasinghe Thissara Perera Muttiah Muralitharan Ajantha Mendis Suraj Randiv Lasith Malinga Dilhara Fernando Nuwan Kulasekera Thilan Thushara Chanaka Welagedara Suranga Lakmal Farveez Maharoof Isuru Udana Malinga Bandara Mahela Udawatte LahiruThirimanne Dinesh Chandimal Muthumudalige Pushpakumara Kaushalya Weeraratne Kaushal Silva Chamara Silva Upul Tharanga Jeewan Mendis Nuwan Zoysa Obviously only 15 of those names will be going to the World Twenty20. It's more than enough for Sri Lanka. They were the beaten finalists in last year's World Twenty20 in England, losing to a rampant Pakistan in the final. Along with South Africa, they were the only side to clear the Super Sixes round without losing a single game. They won 6/7 games in the tournament, losing only in the final. Chalk it down to a bad day and a Pakistan side that was riding a wave of brilliant performances from Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal. The biggest players for Sri Lanka were Tillakaratne Dilshan - by far the best batsman in the tournament - and bowlers Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga. All of those guys will be playing again this year. I rest my case. If I were to pick an XI from that lot that could win the World T20, it would be this one: Tillakaratne Dilshan Sanath Jayasuriya Kumar Sangakkara (c/w) Mahela Jayawardene Chinthaka Jayasinghe Kaushalya Weeraratne Angelo Mathews Dilhara Fernando Muttiah Muralitharan Ajantha Mendis Lasith Malinga You could play around some with the middle order, but the three spinners - Murali, Mendis and Jayasuriya - are a must in the spin-friendly conditions of the Caribbean. It's a little light on batting, but that job falls to the top order (for inventive, quick runs) and the middle order for solid building. That side can win the World Twenty20. At the very least reach the semis. 
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