Colombo: Pacer Lasith Malinga, who led Sri Lanka to the World T20 title, the country first major crown in 18 years, has attributed his success in the just-concluded event in Bangladesh to the IPL.
“My experience of playing in the IPL for 6 years helped”, Malinga told reporters on arrival here.
The team was given a hero’s welcome at the international airport before being driven in an open bus to the central Colombo’s Galle Face promenade for a civic reception.
Explaining the IPL experience, Malinga said Sri Lanka’s success was mainly due to Indian batsmen’s inability to make runs in the last four overs of the summit clash.
“Indian batsmen are good at making a lot of runs in the final overs. I knew from my IPL experience which side to bowl to them which field to set for them,” Malinga, who consistently played well for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL said.
“In the final I was executing the plans we had discussed before the game. It helped having the seniors (Kumar) Sangakkara and Mahela (Jayawardene).”
Malinga had earlier faced criticism from local fans and media that he had put the IPL before country as his performance against India had been left much to be desired.
Malinga’s poor performance was cited as the main reason for Sri Lanka losing the 2011 World Cup final to India.
Malinga became the first Sri Lankan captain since Arjuna Ranatunga to win a World Cup for Sri Lanka.
The pacer was thrusted into the role after regular captain Dinesh Chandimal was rendered unavailable for the last two games through an ICC suspension and later being dropped for poor form.
Chandimal said he was happy to make a sacrifice for the betterment of the team.
“What was important was to win the Cup so I was happy to let inform Lahiru Thirimanna to take my place,” he said.
Mahela, Sanga slam officials over T20 retirement controversy
Meanwhile, the victory celebrations turned sour with veterans Jayawardene and Sangakkara hitting out at officials who had criticised them about their retirements from T20 cricket just before the tournament.
Jayawardene and Sangakkara used the occasion to express disappointment at the press conference held at international airport here to accord them a hero’s welcome after winning the World T20 title on Sunday.
“It is very regrettable to hear things mentioned to certain media by certain officials about our retirement,” Jayawardene said.
Both Jayawardene and Sangakkara had told media upon arrival in Bangladesh that they would retire from T20 Internationals after the tournament.
“What I told the media was in response to a query. I am 37 years of age now. So there is no chance of me playing in another (T20) World Cup. That was what I said.
“We are disappointed that board officials without clarifying the statements from us had found fault with us,” Jayawardene said without naming any official.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials, including chief selector and former opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya, had criticised Jayawardene and Sangakkara for not keeping them in the loop about their retirement plans.
Sangakkara, the man of the match in the final against India, agreed with Jayawardene’s thoughts and said the incident had a negative effect on them leading to the World T20.
“The people who put us on that frame of mind must take the blame,” Sangakkara said.
Jayawardene also made reference to the pay dispute between the players and the SLC which had threatened the tour to Bangladesh just before the World T20.
The players were demanding more money from the ICC revenue, which the Board had declined to meet. (PTI)