Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka believes pitch conditions at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup could significantly alter strike rates and wicket patterns, potentially benefiting batters during the global tournament.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Sri Lanka’s opening fixture, Shanaka said the International Cricket Council has instructed curators to maintain slightly higher grass levels on pitches for the tournament.
“In this World Cup, the ICC has instructed that the grass level should be kept up by a few millimetres. Because of that, I think the strike rates and wicket patterns will change,” Shanaka said.
The Sri Lanka skipper linked the team’s recent middle-order struggles to the nature of pitches they have played on, noting that slow, turning surfaces often make it difficult to maintain momentum during the middle overs.
“There have been issues related to the pitches, and the middle order hasn’t performed well. If you look deeper into why that happened, you will understand from the kind of pitches we played on. You can see why the strike rate was low and why wickets kept falling,” he said.
Shanaka also defended his preference for batting-friendly tracks, stating that it allows players to better express their skills rather than merely surviving difficult conditions.
“Personally, I prefer good batting tracks, because I don’t always get the chance to show my ability on turning wickets. Many people take that as an excuse and see me as a negative person, but for me, it’s about showing my talent,” he explained.
Drawing a comparison with India, Shanaka said differences in conditions often influence how teams are judged.
“Everyone asks why India scores well and why Sri Lanka struggles. That depends a lot on the conditions,” he said, adding that the World Cup would provide a clearer basis for comparison.
“So, I think in this World Cup, those numbers will change. You will be able to compare the numbers during the World Cup and before it. I think this will be a good tournament for our batters,” Shanaka said. (Newswire)