Outgoing captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team, Kumar Sangakkara, hopes that the national cricket board appoints a long term successor in his place.
The stylish left-handed batsman admired the world over for his skills and mannerisms on and off the field thinks that the Islanders need someone, who can take the team to the next World Cup, and, ideally should have the backing of the cricket administrators of the game as he learns the nuances of leadership at the international level.
Sangakkara has two candidates in mind, one is the flamboyant opening batsman, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and, the other one is all-rounder Angelo Mathews.
Dilshan has had phenomenal success at the highest level in the last three years, or, so, he was the leading run getter in the World Cup amassing a tally of more than 500 runs.
On the other hand, Mathews is regarded as one of the brightest talents in the country, he is yet to fulfill his potential as a top class all-rounder but at the age of 23 he has time on his side.
Sangakkara thinks that one of the two should be backed for the longer haul, especially in the case of Dilshan, who does not have many years of cricket left in him and would need to work hard on his fitness if he has to be in the reckoning for the next 50 overs World Cup.
"You have to look long term. Not just what is good for now. If you want to go for Dilshan, give him the confidence for a long term", Sangakkara told ESPNcricinfo. "Don't give the captaincy to Dilshan and say, 'You are just going to be captain for a year and half.' It's not going to be good for him, for he is going to think, 'My days are numbered anyway. And so it won't be good for the team”.
Sangakkara did not choose any one of the two. However, he is of the opinion that Dilshan has that Midas touch, which makes him a real asset to the team, but at the age of 34 he does not really know how long he is going to last.
"Both Dilshan and Angie [Angelo] are suitable. If they think Angie is too young then Dilshan will do a good job because he has these little touches for success. Anything he does on the field, he has this little knack. I don't know whether he will be the long-term candidate with his age, but if he keeps himself fit he can easily play the next World Cup”.
Sangakkara, who stepped down from the captaincy after the loss in the final of the World Cup to India earlier in the month, thinks that it is the national selection panel that has to make the call.
He added that whosoever gets the call needs to have pressure shared if they make a call and if things don't go well in the first or second year. He feels that the Board has to play a pivotal role in giving that cushion to the captain and selectors especially when things become a tad tough and results don’t come the way as expected in the cricket mad nation.
The announcement for the new captain is expected shortly, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board has to finalize a team for the tour of England, which includes three Tests and five ODIs.
Sri Lanka has a long way to go in the Test match format and needs to start with a winning series in England,South Africa, and, Australia, if they are to be rated as a top class Test nation.
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