Sri Lanka’s journey in the T20 World Cup 2024 has been marred by grueling schedules and logistical hurdles, leaving players frustrated and fatigued. Maheesh Theekshana, the team’s spinner, voiced his discontent, labeling the schedule as ‘unfair’.

Unfair Scheduling: Four Venues, Four Matches

Sri Lanka finds themselves in a unique predicament, being one of the two teams, alongside the Netherlands, slated to play their four group stage matches in four different venues. This challenging setup not only disrupts their rhythm but also adds strain to their travel logistics.

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The logistical nightmare extends beyond just match venues. Sri Lanka’s hotel in New York, where they kicked off their campaign against South Africa, was a staggering hour and 40 minutes away from the venue. Delayed flights and prolonged waits at airports further compounded their woes.

Theekshana’s Discontent: A Cry for Fairness

Theekshana’s frustration was palpable as he lamented the unfairness of their situation. From enduring lengthy waits at airports to grueling hours spent traveling, the team’s morale took a hit. Even training sessions had to be canceled due to travel fatigue, highlighting the toll it took on their preparations.

“So unfair for us, we have to leave every day [after the match] because we are playing [at] four different venues,” Theekshana said after his team’s defeat to South Africa. “It’s unfair. The flight we took from Florida, from Miami, we had to wait like eight hours in the airport to get the flight. And we came around. We were supposed to leave at 8pm but we got the flight at 5am. It’s really unfair for us, but it doesn’t matter when you play [on the field].”

Playing in different venues robbed Sri Lanka of the opportunity to acclimatize quickly to varying conditions. Theekshana expressed concerns about their inability to assess conditions promptly, a crucial factor in determining match strategy and performance.

“All four games in four venues. It’s hard. We didn’t know [anything about the conditions here]. This was our first game in New York. Next game in Dallas, we don’t know [anything about the conditions there]. Next game is in Florida where we played two games, that’s the only plus point we have,” Theekshana said.

Echoes of Discontent: Captains’ Concerns

Captain Wanindu Hasaranga echoed Theekshana’s sentiments, acknowledging the tough times the team faced due to logistical challenges. While refraining from attributing their poor performance solely to these factors, he acknowledged the strain it placed on the team.

“We can’t say that [it affected performance], but we had tough times, especially in the last few days. We still travel one and a half hours in the morning [of game day], and we have our first round four games in four venues,” he said.

Looking Ahead: A Glimmer of Hope

Sri Lanka have a three-day turnaround time before their next game against Bangladesh on June 7 in Dallas. After that, they travel to Florida for their game against Nepal on June 11 before heading to St. Lucia for their last group-stage match against Netherlands on June 16.