Sport | Cricket

Sri Lanka eye World Cup as clear target

Sri Lanka, which finished runner up in the 2007 World Cup, has set their focus on the next World Cup.

  • By K.R. Nayar, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 00:08 July 2, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: Sri Lanka, which finished runner up in the 2007 World Cup, has set their focus on the next World Cup.

"Our target is the next World Cup. We also believe that Test cricket is the ultimate and want to do well in it too," remarked Duleep Mendis, the Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket to Gulf News.

"We went through temporary financial troubles but we have overcome it with the Indian tour coming up in July. It is now just a matter of putting the right things at the right place," he added.

Sri Lanka cricket is now being run by former cricketers with Arjuna Ranatunga as its President.

Group effort

"We all talk cricket and we all have the same wave length. With a lot of cricketers involved everyone is working hard towards giving their best," said Mendis, who captained Sri Lanka to its inaugural Test and series victory against India in 1985-86.

"The boys are doing well in the ongoing Asia Cup and generally we are on the correct path," he said.

When asked if Sri Lanka has talented players to step into the shoes of ageing players like Jayasuriya, Mendis said: "We have been concentrating a lot on our A team and there are some talented players. Fortunately for us the seniors are also doing very well."

Mendis also said that the board is nurturing talent at the Under-19 level, adding, "Schools cricket is the cradle of our cricket and the board has stepped in to put them on the right track."

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