SPORTS
What made you specifically to come to India to launch this book called A Tall Order?
Kapil Marathe is an old friend of mine and I have played with all the senior cricketers who have found a place in the book. I have enjoyed playing and interacting with them and so when Kapil came to me with the idea of this book, I read it and liked it very much and decided to write a foreword for the book.When Kapil requested me to launch this book in India, I immediately said yes and I flew down from Colombo specifically for this.
Who among the ten iconic cricketers featured in this book are your personal favorites?
All of them I guess (Laughs). I respect every one of them all but I should say that Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are cricketers who I will always like and respect a lot. You can call them my personal favorites. It was great to have shared the field with these two greatest batsmen ever and I happened to learn a lot from them. I will always cherish the experience of working with these two players .
“I am a good cook myself and hopefully I can open a restaurant in Mumbai too, though not at the moment as I was a part of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL series where I got a lot of love and respect from the Indian fans.”
Sri Lankan’s new spinning sensation Rangana Herath is delivering in almost every game!
Yes. Rangana is doing good work for Sri Lanka and has led us to many sensational wins and even though being a left arm spinner is tough, he has succeeded and led the team in the absence of Angelo Matthews and Dinesh Chandimal to Zimbabawe and emerged successful. He can be the next Sri Lankan captain for all you know. He was the understudy of the great Sri Lankan spinner Mutthiah Murlitharan and is coming good of late. I had the opportunity to give him a good break and he has reposed my faith in him with his brilliant performance.
The senior players have all retired in Sri Lankan team. So how will you build up a new team?
I am the Chairman of Selectors in Sri Lanka and know that Mahela Jaywardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tilakratna Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas , Lasith Malinga etc have retired after playing successfully for the last 15-16 years, and to replace them is quite a tough ask. Now we are in a transition period and grooming new youngsters in the team but it will take time. We should be patient as patience is the key to be a successful team and a successful player but it is my duty to manage these young cricketers and get the best out of them and make Sri Lanka one of the leading teams in the world.
What is your strategy to create good players?
It takes time to produce good cricketers. We have to allow them to face a few failures but can’t discard them regularly. We should show confidence in them and give them many opportunities to be good cricketers and perform for their country. We need to take a few risks and pick some new talented youngsters and groom them as soon as possible and be little patient with them and the country should give them enough space to make it big and give them time before they can perform in full bloom. As the Chairman, it is my job to pick the most talented players from the country and groom them on an international level. Some will fail and some will perform but we need to take a few calculated risks. I am proud that the boys defeated Australia 3-0 and won the tri-series against Zimbabwe and West Indies and many of my selections made me proud by beating a world class team like Australia. I take risks just like I used to play in the matches with a dashing and daring way with confidence.
Your opening slots are still not decided!
We have good opening players like Kushal Perera, Upula Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, etc.We had a few issues during our Australian tour but in spite of that we acted on our weaknesses and managed to beat a tough team like Australia. Also in the tri-series captain and opening batsman, the veteran Upul Tharanga played many useful knocks and led from the front. Many youngsters too have performed well and our new look team is looking very good now and can be a world beater team.
Your captains keep on changing!
Nothing like that. If Angelo Mathews gets injured, we get captains like Rangana Herath, Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga etc but our regular captain is permanent in the form of Angelo Matthews who is a good all rounder and a good team man in all the formats like Tests, ODI’s and T-20S.
You started from No.6 and moved on to the opener’s slot. How did you achieve this?
It’s all thanks to my former captain Arjuna Ranatunga who gave me an opportunity in the World Cup final which we won. I performed well with Romesh Kaluwitharana and from then on I opened regularly for the Sri Lankan cricket team.
Many of Sri Lankan cricketers are into the restaurant business including you!
Yes. Mahela, Sangakkara and I are into the restaurant business and are doing extremely well for ourselves. Also I am a good cook myself and hopefully I can open a restaurant in Mumbai too, though not at the moment as I was a part of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL series where I got a lot of love and respect from the Indian fans. I consider India as my second home. I love Mumbai and like to come to Mumbai regularly. I hope to visit very soon. I am a great foodie myself and can be a great cook myself as I can cook good seafood like crabs. Kapil has tasted my dishes and can vouch for them.
Will you take up an offer to be a coach of any IPL Team during the forthcoming IPL?
Unfortunately no, because I am the Chairman of the Board of Selectors of Sri Lanka and wouldn’t get time from my job as the Chairman of Selectors. I would have loved to be a part of Mumbai Indians but my good friend and colleague Mahela is and will be a good coach for the Mumbai Indians.
Are you following the Indian team’s performances in the New Zealand and present England series?
Unfortunately no because I am constrained by my work and see the matches briefly as and when I get free time. I am happy that the Indian team is doing so well, especially how all the youngsters are batting and bowling well under the leadership of Virat Kohli, who is my favorite cricketer at the moment.
