Mahela urges Sri Lanka to shut out outside noise ahead of T20 World Cup

February 6, 2026 at 4:47 PM

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has urged the national team to ignore outside criticism and focus on its strengths ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, expressing confidence in the squad’s experience and talent despite recent struggles.

Speaking to Newswire, Jayawardene said Sri Lanka still has a strong and experienced bowling attack capable of making an impact at the World Cup, noting that performances in the build-up should not define a team’s chances in a global tournament.

“We still have a very good and talented team, especially when you look at the experience in the bowling unit,” Jayawardene said.

He said players should avoid being distracted by external noise and negative commentary, and instead concentrate on team plans, individual roles and match-by-match execution.

“A World Cup is a different tournament altogether,” he said. “The focus should not be on what is being said outside, but on how the team comes together and plays to its strengths.”

Reflecting on his experience captaining Sri Lanka to the final of the 2012 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Jayawardene said public expectations should be viewed as support rather than pressure, particularly when playing at home.

“When Sri Lanka plays at home, the crowd is like an extra player,” he said.

Jayawardene also pointed to the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, saying success often depends on performance on the day rather than past results.

“In T20 cricket, it’s about how you play on that particular day,” he said. “What matters is staying united and executing your plans properly.”

The former captain said he would follow the tournament as a supporter, adding that the team has the potential to progress deep into the competition if it remains focused and disciplined. (Newswire)