By M D P DISSANAYAKE

Many Sri Lankans have short memories.  If they feel some sense of victory, they completely forget the past and look for new solutions and heroes.   This is exactly what has happened to Sri Lanka Cricket at the World Cup.

It was just two and half years ago, Sri :Lanka was demoted to the Associate Level  as we fell short of qualifying for the top 8 teams.  Sri Lanka had to find ways and means of qualifying  for the Professional Level and compete with Emerging Nations such as Ireland, Netherlands, Nepal, Oman, Scotland. UAE, USA   together with West Indies and Zimbabwe.    After rigorous competition, Sri Lanka won the Championship, with Netherlands  as runners up. 

The tournament did not attract high level public attention, compared with the ODI World Cup.  But we had a strong squad consisting: Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Mendis, Sahan Arachchige,  Charith Asalanka, Dananjaya de Silva,  Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushan Hemantha, Chammika Karunaratne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Mahesh Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Sadeera Samarawicrema and Mahesh Theekshana.  The hardwork and commitment by these team members were short remembered when World Cup 23 got underway.

 The Cricket Management has very cleverly undermined the contributions made the Qualifying Squad.  So far the Cricket Management has  dropped players and introduced new players.  They started with dropping  Chammika Karunaratne, Dananjaya De Silva, Matheesa Pathirana and introduced Angelow Mathews and Dushmantha Chameera and appointed Kusal Mendis as Skipper ahead of Dananjaya De Silva.

The match against India was a clear demonstration by the players  of their dissatisfaction, anger and sense of insecurity.   It was an amazing defeat for Sri Lanka hitting the lowest level of confidence.

Dasun Shanaka continued as Skipper, when the team was out of the mainframe.  He was a Leader, Fighter and non-controversial.  Cricketing fans are with Dasun.