Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of Sri Lanka, has expressed worries regarding the extended duration of travel required from the team’s hotel to the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, where their first match of the 2024 T20 World Cup against South Africa will take place.
The game is set to commence on Monday, June 3, at 10:30 am local time, aligning with the prime television schedule in Asia. The distance between the Sri Lankan team’s hotel and the venue is such that in order to reach three hours prior to the game’s commencement, the Sri Lankan team would need to depart as early as six in the morning.
“The only concern is we have to come early to the ground. We had to come at 7.30 in the morning because we were so far from the ground. It will take like one-and-a-half hours to the ground. That’s the only concern we have,” Hasaranga said.
Sri Lanka encountered significant travel challenges, including a nearly 12-hour delay in their flight from Florida to New York. Originally scheduled to arrive in the city on Friday evening (May 31), they only managed to reach by Saturday morning (June 1). As reported by Newswire, they filed a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the matter.
Sri Lanka are “extremely well-prepared”: Hasaranga
Sri Lanka faces one of the toughest group-stage schedules in the T20 World Cup 2024, with matches scheduled at four distinct venues – New York, Dallas, Florida, and St. Lucia. However, Hasaranga affirmed that the team is adequately prepared for the varying conditions.
“First of all, we prepared really well. We came two weeks early to North Carolina, had practice sessions there and we played two practice matches in Florida. I think as a team, we prepared really well and the conditions are similar to Sri Lanka,” he said.
“We saw the practice games against India and Bangladesh, we saw the wicket and it’s bounce is uneven; we saw the tennis ball like bounce – I think otherwise, the wicket was good and good outfield as well. So, I think it will be helpful for our bowlers,” the spinner added.
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