Maheesh Theekshana Hits Out At Sri Lanka's Tough ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Schedule

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana has criticized the demanding World Cup schedule that his team has had to endure, describing it as 'unfair'. Sri Lanka and the Netherlands are among only two teams playing their four group stage matches at four different venues. In addition, Sri Lanka's hotel in New York, where they began their campaign against South Africa on June 3, was an hour and 40 minutes away from the venue. The team has also faced challenges with delayed flights and long hours spent at airports. Theekshana also believed that playing each game in different venues prevents Sri Lanka from quickly understanding the playing conditions. In their first match of the World Cup against South Africa in New York, Sri Lanka chose to bat first but only managed to score 77 runs and lost by six wickets.

Maheesh Theekshana hits out at Sri Lanka's tough ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 schedule

Mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana has criticized the demanding World Cup schedule that his team has had to endure, describing it as 'unfair'. Maheesh Theekshana also revealed the challenges the Sri Lankan team faces on travel days, as they have to quickly pack up and leave after playing a match. Sri Lanka's hotel in New York, where they began their campaign against South Africa on June 3, was an hour and 40 minutes away from the venue. The team has also faced challenges with delayed flights and long hours spent at airports.

"So unfair for us. We have to leave every day [after the match] because we are playing [at] four different venues. 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 8 pm, but we got the flight at 5 am. It's really unfair for us, but it doesn't matter when you play," Maheesh Theekshana said.

Theekshana also believed that playing each game in different venues prevents Sri Lanka from quickly understanding the playing conditions. On June 3, their opponents, South Africa, had the advantage of playing two more games in New York. India, which will start its campaign against Ireland on June 5, will also play three matches at the same venue before heading to Florida for its final group stage match.

"I can't say the [names of the] teams that are playing in the same venue, so they know what the conditions are like. They're playing practice games at the same venue. No one will get that. 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 added.

In their first match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa in New York, Sri Lanka chose to bat first but only managed to score 77 runs and lost by six wickets. Sri Lanka has a three-day break before their next game against Bangladesh on June 7 in Dallas. They will then travel to Florida for their match against Nepal on June 11 before heading to St. Lucia for their final group-stage match against the Netherlands on June 16.