'There are some idiots out there' - Mickey Arthur wants Sri Lankan players to stay away from social media

Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanka, are currently taking part in a six-match limited-overs series at home against second-string Team India. Hosts couldn’t live up to expectations in the One Day International series as they lost the series 1-2.  The series started with India registering a seven-wicket win in the first ODI.

Sri Lanka tried their best in the second ODI but the visitors came out on top yet again to win the match by two wickets. However, hosts brought their A-game in the third ODI to clinch the dead rubber. Interestingly, India brought in five debutants to the ODI set up and it didn’t go well in terms of the end result. 

With the Island nation losing the ODI series, their head coach Mickey Arthur was left fuming and urged his players to stay away from social media and its negativity. “There are some idiots out there who think they know everything. But they know nothing,” said Mickey Arthur as quoted by Sri Lankan journalist Rex Clementine.

Mickey Arthur urges his players to stay away from social media. Pretty strong words. ‘There are some idiots out there who think they know everything. But they know nothing.’

— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) July 24, 2021

Mickey Arthur hails Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Avishka Fernando

Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Avishka Fernando were crucial in Sri Lanka’s victory in the third ODI and Arthur heaped praises on the duo for stitching a match-winning partnership for the second wicket. Interestingly, both cricketers were left out of some recent tours due to their poor fitness and now they are back after attaining full match fitness.

“Bhanuka and Avishka are two guys who have borne the brunt of our fitness scheme and missed out on tours. Couldn’t have been happier to see them come good. The differences I had with Bhanuka was for his own good,” Arthur went on to add.

Mickey Arthur on his fitness regime. ‘Bhanuka and Avishka are two guys who have borne the brunt of our fitness scheme and missed out on tours. Couldn’t have been happier to see them come good. The differences I had with Bhanuka was for his own good.’

— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) July 24, 2021

With the end of the ODI series, the focus now shifts to the three-match T20 International series, starting from 25th July, Sunday. Sri Lanka will be keen to turn the tables in these three crucial games, which will be a good practice ahead of their T20 World Cup journey. For India, it’s all about finding new talent with very few spots for grabs for the upcoming T20 mega event. All eyes will be on Hardik Pandya’s form as he failed to make it big in the concluded ODI series.