Sri Lankan Coach Nic Pothas lambasts team on lack of character displayed in the field

The Sri Lankan cricket team has in recent times being undergoing a rough patch. Ever since the retirement of the stalwarts, the team has completely struggled to find a proper combination. Now with another series loss against Pakistan, Sri Lankan coach Nic Pothas isn’t quite pleased as he bashed the team for the dismal performance.

After a complete drubbing against India at home, where they were whitewashed in each format, there were some hopes from the Sri Lankan team after their victory in the second test. However, there hardly seems to be any change in their approach when it comes to the limited overs cricket.

“Not too sure whether too many people have booked the ticket for the World Cup”

Lambasting on the poor approach by the Sri Lankan team, Coach Nic Pothas emphasised on having a character in the team.

“I expect things to change. I am interested in picking (players with) character. We have to speak with the selectors and find out whether we have characters in that room. We saw what happened in the Test series. Once you have good character and fighters, things happen. At the moment, maybe harsh to say, maybe I have not seen it as yet from this group. I may be speaking out of turn, but I am not too sure whether too many people have booked the ticket for the World Cup,” Pothas told journalists according to Cricbuzz.

The coach further told that meetings and practices weren’t going to be solution and that the mettle should be displayed in the field and in deriving the results.

“We can have so many meetings and that many practices, but once you cross that line, you need to show little bit of fight. It’s a tough situation. We have seen the same thing happening over and over again and something needs to change,” Pothas added.

“No demons on the wicket.”

Speaking about the third game, Pothas went on to say that it was a poor performance by the Sri Lankan batting.

“It looked a good wicket. No demons on that wicket. Pakistan have a good bowling attack, but it is certainly not a 208 all out wicket. That’s for sure. I just like to see a bit more fight. I am not seeing that character coming out at the moment,”

“If we had shown some fight and competed, I wouldn’t have been as frustrated.”

He further told that the coaching job wasn’t easy with the results not showing up.

“One thing that I would say is that after the last few series, one of the most disappointing things for us as a coaching group is that people roll over you. Had we been in the same situation 3-0 down, but had shown some fight and competed; I wouldn’t have been frustrated as I am now. There’s only some extent you can take the frustration.”

“Is Shadab Khan absolutely un-playable? No.”

When asked if Sri Lankan batsmen were finding it tough to deal with crafty spinners like Shadab Khan, Pothas lashed back saying that he wasn’t unplayable and there should’ve been a much better approach tackling him.

“We have discussed that. Has his googly got a million wickets? No. Is that absolutely un-playable? No. There’s a bit more to it. Those of us who have played the game know that there is an element of understanding and empathy because it’s not easy. When you are out of form, you struggle.” he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

The fourth One Day International is scheduled to take place at Sharjah tomorrow.