Mahela Jayawardene urges Sri Lankan fans to show patience and trust in team after World Cup exit

Sri Lanka had quite a lacklustre campaign at the ODI World Cup 2023. Having played nine games in the tournament, the team only managed to win two games to finish ninth in the standings, failing to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy as well.

The side’s poor performances in the tournament saw many pundits come forward to criticise the players, even branding many as not ready. However, former Sri Lanka cricketer Mahela Jayawardene came forward in the squad’s defence and opined that many do not understand how modern cricket works and stated that patience is key with the current Sri Lanka side. 

“People jumping, shouting and screaming, has to realize what modern day cricket is, and how we are going to compete going forward. The plans have been set, but we need to be patient, and work harder in areas we need to improve,” Jayawardane was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

“It’s a process that we have to trust, and it’s a process that we have to have patience with because this is a skillful group. Most of the guys are in their early 20s or mid 20s, that means they are going to be a force to reckon with going forward. The expectations I understand, cricket fans, Sri Lankan fans they all know that when we go for a World Cup, we are going to do well, we are going to perform. But that expectation has to be realistic, along with the plans,” he added.

It is an investment for the future:  MahelaJayawardene

Furthermore, Jayawardene stated that the current Sri Lanka side is an investment for the future, and when the call was made to go ahead with this squad, the plan was already set in motion.

“We knew when we set this team up with the selectors, and the decision was taken, that we were going into this World Cup with less experience. Usually for us to compete at the highest level, you need a group of players with 150-200 plus games. That would have been a different story. But we didn’t have that. So, it is an investment for the future and that we all knew, when we made that call. And we were working towards that,” Jayawardene stated.