"Sri Lankans ... forgive me!" -- Mathews

"Sri Lankans ... forgive me!" -- Mathews

Captain of Sri Lanka's team, Angelo Mathews said day-before-yesterday (13) night that he pleads forgiveness from people of Sri Lanka for having been defeated by two countries like Bangla Desh and Afghanistan in tournaments such as Asia Cup Cricket Tournament and thus letting his country down.

After having lost to Afghanistan by 91 runs at the match played day-before-yesterday at Sheikh Cricket Ground in Abu Dhabi, Matthews further made the following comments: "We did not play

well. On this occasion we let down our whole country. In that respect I tender my apologies. It is a great disappointment to go back after losing to two teams like this. I, including the whole team and coach ... all of us are terribly disconcerted.

How am I to answer? A very unfortunate situation! It was the batting which affected us in both matches. We were unable to collect 150 runs on both occasions. We are a good team. This is a poor situation. Bangla Desh cannot be taken lightly. Players of the Bangla Desh team have played for about 10 years without a break. They have displayed their skills for the past one ans a half years or so. But losing to Bangla Desh and Afghanistan is indeed a sorry state for us.

I think we fielded better in this match more than we did in the Bangla Desh game. It's not fielding and blowing as such. 260 and 250 can be collected on those pitches. The main criticism should be aimed at at the batting list. It was the same at this game too. Batsmen are responsible for defeats in both games. What I think is that bowlers bowled well. Though our fielding was not of a high standard, we could have pursued 250 runs in both matches. It can be done in both pitches. 

When questioned about the situation after Mr. Chandika Hathurusingha took over coaching, Mathews replied thus: "Hathu (Chadika Hathurusingha) greatly dedicates himself. He commits himself to training, planning, maintaining fitness, mental equilibrium and many other things. He does all what is necessary ... but it is we who play in the middle. We won the Bangla Desh Triangular tournament. After that we lost the South Africa tournament and the Nidahas Trophy tournament. When looking at those records our limited overs matches, the results are not satisfactory.

Even the World Cup is just 10 months away. We should find an alternative for that. This is not a question about skills. It is a question about pressure and controlling the situation. The manner in which we controlled the pressure and the situation was poor on both occasions. This is something which should be done with the mind. There is a few more weeks for the England tour in Sri Lanka. It is a challenging tournament. We are getting ready for it.

The coach cannot do everything as such. Controlling pressure is something that has to be learned. Players should learn to face the pressure. It must be there in a natural way. If not, it should be studied. The manner in which we faced the pressure is highly embarrassing". The Sri Lanka team returned to the island from Dubai yesterday (18).