COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka stated that persistent criticism directed at his players has negatively impacted their mental health and performance during the Twenty20 World Cup, where the team was eliminated at the group stage.
The team faced significant backlash from fans and analysts following a difficult build-up to the tournament, including a series of losses to England. After a second consecutive Super Eights defeat, Shanaka apologized for the team's performance but also suggested that the overwhelming negativity warrants intervention to protect future players' well-being.
"No matter how we as cricketers try to stay positive, there is negativity outside," Shanaka told reporters. "For the players who will come in the future, if the government can even stop it, that's better for their mental health."
Shanaka also pointed to a high number of injuries to key bowlers as a major setback, emphasizing the need for improved fitness standards across the squad. "When you have the number of injuries we've had, it's hard to get a good outcome. Your fitness level influences your injuries," he added.
Former captain Kumar Sangakkara expressed concern over Sri Lanka's trajectory, warning of potential irrelevance in the global cricket landscape if significant changes are not implemented. "There is a lot of work to be done at all levels to course correct," Sangakkara posted on X. "We haven’t adapted and the danger is irrelevance."