After securing a spot in the upcoming ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka expressed the team’s determination to win the tournament, which will take place in India later this year. Shanaka emphasized the team’s eagerness to perform on the biggest stage in cricket.
Sri Lanka became the first team from the Qualifiers to secure their place in the 2023 World Cup. Led by Dasun Shanaka, they defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in Bulawayo on Sunday, July 2, comfortably chasing down the target of 166 runs with 16.5 overs to spare.
In the post-match presentation, Shanaka acknowledged qualifying for the World Cup as a significant achievement for the team. “It’s a great achievement, but we are aware of our past performances in World Cups. We won the 1996 World Cup and were runners-up in 2011,” Shanaka said.
He further added, “We have a rich history of performing well in World Cups, so it’s crucial for Sri Lanka to be among the top teams on that grand stage.” Shanaka expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to qualify for the World Cup, despite facing tough competition from other teams.
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“Going through the Qualifiers is always challenging, but we trusted our process and had faith in our team’s capabilities to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.
While acknowledging the strong performances of other teams in the tournament, Shanaka reiterated that Sri Lanka is a better side and credited their opponents for providing tough competition.
Looking ahead, Shanaka stressed the importance of preparing for the upcoming World Cup in India, emphasizing that their main focus is to deliver their best performance in the tournament.
“Yes, there was pressure in the qualifiers, but the real pressure starts on the big stage. Our main target and focus now are the World Cup ahead, and we are eagerly waiting to deliver our best performance there as well,” Shanaka concluded with confidence.