(Credit Reuters)
Sri Lanka, the erstwhile title holders, are perilously close to facing premature elimination from the T20 World Cup following a downpour that resulted in the abandonment of their Group D encounter against Nepal in Lauderhill, Florida this Tuesday.
The victors of the 2014 tournament were in desperate need of a victory to sustain their chances in the ongoing competition, especially after suffering losses to South Africa and Bangladesh in their initial two encounters.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s squad currently occupies the bottom spot in the group standings, having secured only a solitary point. Their prospects of advancing appear bleak, as they are poised for elimination unless they receive favorable outcomes from other matches.
“It’s not going to be easy for us and it would be a miracle actually,” Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana said of their chances of advancing.
Their group stage journey will culminate with a match against the Netherlands on Sunday, as Theekshana admitted that their performance hasn’t come together in the 20-team tournament.
“We didn’t bat well, we didn’t assess the conditions really well and our plans, everything went wrong,” the off-spinner said.
Nepal, likewise, haven’t secured a win in their initial two matches. On Friday, they are set to confront the undefeated group leaders, South Africa, who have already guaranteed their progression to the Super Eight stage with three consecutive triumphs.
“Obviously we want the sun to shine and have a proper game,” Nepal coach Monty Desai told reporters.
“We know that we are walking into the unknowns. We have never played South Africa before.
“But at the same time, the morale in the camp …”
The weather forecast for the upcoming week anticipates rain and thunderstorms, particularly during the period when India, Pakistan, Ireland, and Canada are slated to play their fixtures in Florida.
