Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has underlined the need for a collective bowling effort in the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga, while warning against underestimating Oman ahead of Thursday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Group match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has underlined the need for a collective bowling effort in the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga, while warning against underestimating Oman ahead of Thursday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Group match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Chameera admitted that Hasaranga’s unavailability was a major blow but stressed that the responsibility could not fall on one individual.
“Not having Wanindu is a big loss for the team. We all know his talent,” Chameera said. “But now the entire bowling unit has to take responsibility. All of us have a big role to play to fill that gap.”
With Sri Lanka moving from the spin-friendly R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to the more batting-friendly conditions in Pallekele, Chameera hinted at a possible high-scoring contest, though he confirmed that the final team combination was yet to be decided.
“Compared to Keththarama, there is more support for batting here,” he noted. “So we are expecting a high-scoring game. The combination hasn’t been decided yet – it will be finalised after today’s practice.”
On the inclusion of Dushan Hemantha as Hasaranga’s replacement, Chameera cautioned against direct comparisons, pointing out that the two offer different skill sets.
“Dushan has been with us recently and played in the Zimbabwe tournament,” he said. “Compared to Wanindu, he bowls in a different way, but he can bat as well. He gives us an all-round option. The balance of the team will depend on conditions.”
Chameera also acknowledged the growing threat posed by associate nations, despite Oman’s struggles against Zimbabwe in their opening match. With net run rate potentially decisive in the group, Sri Lanka are conscious of the need not just to win, but to win well.
“In this World Cup, associate teams have played really well and challenged big teams,” he said. “We see Oman as a challenge. Of course, net run rate is important, but first we want to win the match.”
Reflecting on Sri Lanka’s opening win against Ireland, Chameera felt the team had started well with the bat but lost momentum in the middle overs due to the large boundary dimensions in Colombo.
“We played well in the powerplay, but after that we had a setback,” he explained. “The boundary was around 80 metres, so hitting wasn’t easy. We could have taken more singles and twos. Kamindu Mendis batted really well at the end, which helped us get past 168.”
He revealed that Kusal Mendis had been unwell during that match, which affected Sri Lanka’s running between the wickets – an area the team has since discussed.
Looking ahead to the day game in Pallekele, Chameera believes the conditions could offer early assistance to the fast bowlers.
“In the morning, with some mist, there should be a bit of help for seamers,” he said. “Later on, batting will become easier.”
Chameera was upbeat about Sri Lanka’s pace attack, highlighting the flexibility of Matheesha Pathirana and the experience of Pramod Madushan.
“We have a good fast-bowling combination,” he said. “Matheesha bowling in the powerplay is a big advantage, and Pramod is very effective with the new ball and at the death.”
