In the Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 50 runs against India, a performance that brought back painful memories of their past. The Sri Lankan team had hoped to learn from that setback and make a strong comeback in the World Cup. However, the haunting performance from the Asia Cup was repeated in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
This time, Sri Lanka had to chase a target of 358 runs set by India but managed only 55 runs before being bowled out. Such a performance has put the Sri Lankan team under heavy criticism.
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has also criticized Sri Lanka’s dismal performance. He raised questions about the Sri Lankan fans’ dedication, comparing them to Bangladesh’s passionate supporters. Ramiz believes that regardless of how much praise India receives, it will be reduced if Sri Lanka continues to perform this poorly.
Regarding Sri Lanka’s performance against India, Ramiz said, “Look, no matter how much they praise India, it will decrease. But what can you say about Sri Lanka? They were bowled out for 50 runs against India again. They should focus on their basics: the process of playing in their own country, home cricket, wickets, player standards, who to play and who not to play. They should also think about injuries. If Lasith Malinga was here, they wouldn’t have been in this condition. After losing, they need to think about how much it hurts them and consider these issues.”
Ramiz emphasizes that Sri Lanka needs to address their problems both fundamentally and in terms of the team’s performance. He also highlighted that the Sri Lankan fielding has been below par, with a high rate of dropped catches, which adds to their difficulties when they are under pressure. Ramiz feels that such a performance is not suitable for Sri Lankan cricket and international cricket in general.
