ICC World Cup 2019: Sri Lanka turn to former veterans to inspire the next generation

New Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne has included many former veterans to try and motivate his tournament opener on the eve of his tournament against New Zealand.

The Sri Lankans are former winners of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup - back in 1996 - but enter this year's edition in the difficult recent run form.

In the England and Wales teams, they have been placed in ninth place among the 10 teams that have been eliminated in 5 years, have been eliminated from 5-0 in three years, and have called on Karunaratne to give place to the team, despite the fact that the opener is four years old I will not play ODI cricket for my country.

But the likes of the 1996 champion Arjuna Ranatunga and Kumar Sangakkara gave their support to the team.

And Karunaratne - who inspired his country to win the Test series in South Africa earlier this year - are feeling confident on the eve of its tournament opener against New Zealand in Cardiff.

"Come tell us and give us some words of advice which were really helpful, they did really well in the last World Cup, so it was useful to hear how they got ready, mentally and everything else."

"Arjun, who raised the World Cup in 1996, spoke to us and advised us before going to Sri Lanka.
He said, "There is such a thing for which we need to be courageous, to see the last cricketers come and help us. Mahela (Jayawardene) is also here and we hope he will come and talk to us as soon as possible.

"When you do not know the players, it is not easy and they have not played a single game in the long run.

"Even, I came back in the party four years later, so it is not easy.

"But if you get the chance you need to prove yourself. Every time you need to be hungry.

"Those new players who want to perform well, they want to perform in the team.

"I have some experienced people who have played the first World Cup and they are important if you want to do well, then you need such players."

Karunaratne made a squad which consists of six players, whose name includes 80 or more ODIs - including experienced and recently captain Lasith Malinga.

But there are many new faces in the board, including Avishka Fernando and Isuru Udana, and according to the captain, inexperience can work in their favor.

"No one misses the domestic level of the game. All other people who have played in the last few years have failed to perform for Sri Lanka, "Karunaratne said - who have not decided that they will open at No. 3 on the batting or batting on Saturday.

That is why selectors want to give a new opportunity to those players who have performed well at home level.

"He had the past. We have a good side with new faces, and are trying to start again.

He said, "We have done very well, have played two good practice matches and played a match against Scotland.

"We are trying to be ready for the World Cup and I think we are."

Four years ago, opening of New Zealand against New Zealand

Black Caps reverted them back as runners-up and also claimed to win the 3-0 ODI series at the start of the year on home soil. But Sri Lankan is undefeated in Cardiff.

"If we really do well in all three departments, then I think we can definitely beat Kiwi," said the captain.

"This is a 50/50 game New Zealand defeated India and the West Indies defeated New Zealand the next day. It does not matter who is a dalit

"If you are doing well on that special day, you can win the game. We want to compete with others. "