Disappointment engulfed Sri Lankan cricket as the co-hosts bowed out of the T20 World Cup. Group stage heroics, including a famous Australia scalp, gave way to Super 8 disasters against England and New Zealand. The latest loss confirmed their early exit, sparking outrage.
Former star Farveez Maharoof unleashed on ESPNcricinfo. ‘Painful, shameful – you can’t cross the line on such pitches,’ he said of the batting woes. ‘Soft dismissals everywhere except Nissanka. Identical to the England debacle.’
He traced the rot back years. ‘Seven-eight years of this cycle: one good outing, then freefall. Habits must break.’ Maharoof pressed for urgency. ‘Selectors, ponder the future post-World Cup. Merit-based picks only. Tough decisions in coming weeks, or I’ll be astonished.’
From promise to peril, Sri Lanka’s campaign flipped dramatically. Fans’ semifinal aspirations evaporated. The Pakistan clash on February 28 at Pallekele caps a forgettable phase.
Maharoof’s verdict demands transformation. With pressure mounting, Sri Lanka’s administrators hold the key. Overhaul or stagnation? The cricketing world watches closely as the Island nation plots its next move.