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Maheesh Theekshana, the prominent spinner for Sri Lanka, has raised concerns regarding the rigorous schedule imposed on his team during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, hosted across venues in the West Indies and the USA. Theekshana’s comments follow Sri Lanka’s defeat to South Africa by six wickets in their opening match of the global tournament, where the team faced time constraints in fulfilling their post-match commitments.
Challenging logistics impact team preparation
According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, after their loss to South Africa, the Sri Lankan squad faced a tight schedule, necessitating a swift departure from the stadium to their Brooklyn hotel. With limited time available, players had to swiftly pack their belongings, check out, and make their way to the airport for a 6 pm flight bound for Dallas, where they were scheduled to face Bangladesh in their next match.
The team’s preparation for their opener was marred by delays, as their arrival in New York was significantly delayed due to a prolonged seven-hour wait at the Miami airport. Theekshana emphasized the adverse impact of extensive travel between venues, citing it as a major impediment for the team.
Maheesh Theekshana voices frustrations with travel demands
Expressing his discontent, Theekshana highlighted the unfairness of the situation, especially for a team required to traverse multiple locations for matches. He recounted the team’s experience at the Miami airport, where they endured an eight-hour wait before finally departing at 5 am instead of the originally scheduled 8 pm departure.
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Theekshana emphasized the challenges faced by Sri Lanka due to the demanding schedule, which has led to fatigue and disrupted training routines. The logistical demands have forced the cancellation of training sessions, with players having to contend with early wake-up calls to commute to their respective match venues.
“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 [on the field],” said Theekshana.
Disparity in scheduling fairness
Further exacerbating Sri Lanka’s grievances is the disparity in scheduling fairness, as highlighted by Theekshana. Teams stationed at single venues benefit from familiarity with the conditions and have the opportunity to engage in practice sessions, an advantage not enjoyed by Sri Lanka, who must adapt to varied conditions across multiple venues.
“Yeah, that’s why. Because even from the hotel, it’s one hour and 40 minutes. Even today [match day], we had to wake up around 5 am to come here,” Theekshana added.
