Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka has blamed excessive public criticism and growing negativity for affecting the team’s mental health, following their early exit from the World Cup.
Sri Lanka were eliminated from semi-final contention after a disappointing 61-run defeat against the New Zealand national cricket team at the R. Premadasa Stadium (Khettarama) in Colombo. The defeat marked their third consecutive loss in the tournament, officially ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
External Negativity Impacted Mental Health
Speaking after the match, Shanaka highlighted how constant public criticism and negative commentary had added extra pressure on the players.
“A lot of times what we see and hear are negative things. No matter how we try to stay positive, there is negativity outside. That’s a big loss for Sri Lankan cricket,” Shanaka said.
He expressed concern that such an environment could damage the future of Sri Lankan cricket and even called on government authorities to step in if necessary to protect young players’ mental well-being.
“Yes, we lost the World Cup and we know the reasons. But instead of focusing on correcting mistakes, negativity has taken the spotlight. For the future generation, if the government can control this negativity, it will help their mental health,” he added.
Pitch Misreading and Injury Setbacks
Shanaka also admitted that the team misjudged the Khettarama pitch conditions, which turned out to be more spin-friendly than expected. Sri Lanka’s batting lineup struggled against New Zealand’s spinners, losing six wickets to spin as they managed only 107 for 8.
Injuries to key players further weakened the squad. Star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga suffered a hamstring strain during the tournament, while fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana picked up a calf injury. Seamer Eshan Malinga had been ruled out before the tournament began.
“You’ve got to make fitness non-negotiable. When you have this many injuries, it’s difficult to get good results,” Shanaka said.
Apology to Fans
Despite the setback, Shanaka thanked fans who packed stadiums in Colombo and Kandy to support the team. He admitted the squad failed to meet expectations and apologized for the disappointing campaign.
“Everyone wanted to reach the semi-finals. We didn’t do justice to the expectations. We couldn’t give the fans what we hoped for. For that, we are sorry,” Shanaka concluded.