Sri Lanka will be taking inspiration from their 1996 World Cup-winning side as they aim to qualify for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup later this year. The team finished in 10th place in the Cricket World Cup Super League with only seven wins from 24 ODIs.
As they prepare for their first ever ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, Sri Lanka will draw inspiration from past triumphs in their bid to advance to the Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. The 1996 champions will be a target for their less fancied opponents. However, off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana believes that his team can rise to the challenge and achieve success.
Theekshana said that the 1996 World Cup-winning side is an inspiration, particularly their team spirit. He believes that Sri Lanka needs to emulate the way the old team played and bring that spirit to the present generation too. Although Sri Lanka has to do some things differently due to changes in cricket, they can use the inspiration and win the World Cup.
Sri Lanka’s group stage opponents include unbeaten teams Ireland, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates. However, Oman, a team Sri Lanka has yet to face in an ODI, is expected to provide the toughest challenge for Sri Lanka. Theekshana admits that Sri Lanka does not know much about Oman’s strengths and weaknesses, but his team has to bring their A game every time and focus on their own game.
It remains to be seen how Sri Lanka will fare in their bid for the Cricket World Cup 2023, but they will undoubtedly give it their all. They believe that with the right spirit and approach, they can emulate their past successes and triumph in the tournament once again.
