De Silva Laments Missed Opportunity for WTC Final Berth

GALLE: Dhananjaya de Silva, the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team, voiced his disappointment on Monday regarding the team’s failure to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.

The fresh WTC cycle is set to commence on Tuesday, featuring a match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Galle International Stadium.

During a pre-match press conference, he commented that securing victories in three of their last four Test matches would have guaranteed them a spot in the final against South Africa at Lord’s.

The 33-year-old skipper noted that they possessed a significant opportunity to compete in the final at Lord’s, but regrettably, they were unable to capitalize on it.

“We had a substantial prospect to make it to the final, but sadly, we fell short. Even in my discussion with the team yesterday, I reminded them of the position we could have been in (at Lord’s this week) and where we ultimately are,” de Silva stated.

The Sri Lankan captain conveyed his optimism for a robust showing in the upcoming WTC cycle and reiterated his commitment to reaching the final this time.

“As we embark on this new cycle, we understand the importance of winning our home series and accumulating all available points. Initiating this cycle with a home series presents a valuable opportunity,” he added.

De Silva emphasized that the onus is on the players to deliver strong performances, and no external factors can be blamed for their failure to qualify for the final.

He underscored that the team’s objective is to avoid repeating errors from the past.

“As professionals, we must adapt to any given scenario. We must perform under the prevailing conditions – we cannot attribute blame to others. Although we had a few Tests last year, this year we have fewer, which is beyond our control,” he concluded.