On March 17 2022, Sri Lanka celebrates 26 years of its first and the only ICC Cricket World Cup win. Sanath Jayasuriya, the Man of the series at the 1996 World Cup gave a piece of his mind to the ‘youngsters’ of the current Sri Lankan team.
While reminiscing his memories of the glorious past, he also expressed dissatisfaction that Sri Lankans “still talk about” the same WC and that the current Sri Lankan team ought to win a World Cup.
“It’s been 26 years after winning the World Cup while looking back feel so much pride and happiness at the same time I feel sad that that’s the only thing we can still talk about,” Jayasuriya wrote on Twitter.
“It’s time for the youngsters to win a World Cup. Don’t talk win,” concluded the former Lankan skipper with a hashtag – #makesrilankacricketgreatagain.
It’s been 26 year after winning the World Cup while looking back feel so much pride and happiness at the same time I feel sad that that’s the only thing we can still talk about. It’s time for the youngsters to win a World Cup. Don’t talk win ! #makesrilankacricketgreatagain
— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) March 17, 2022
Sanath Jayasuriya had scored 221 runs and picked up 7 wickets in the 1996 World Cup that won him the Man of the Series award. At a time when T20 was not invented Jayasuriya played with a strike rate of 131 in that World Cup. Sanath Jayasuriya, along with Kaluwitharna, were the real inventors of scoring quick runs in the power-play.
Sri Lanka failed to win a single match on their India tour. They have been losing matches on a spree in the recent past. Except for the West Indies Test series, SL failed to create an impact in any other series.