The Desert Vipers’ Sri Lanka players Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana landed in Dubai late on Friday night (19 January) and are available for selection ahead the Desert Vipers opening game in the DP World ILT20 on Sunday against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Captain Colin Munro spoke to the Vipers Voices podcast and said he was excited about the return of the duo to the franchise: “Two world-class players have arrived and we are starting to see familiar faces around the squad. With Hasaranga’s experience and now with him being captain of the Sri Lankan (Twenty20 International) side I can bounce ideas of him on the field.
“He (Wanindu Hasaranga) is (full of confidence, being in top form after his return from injury). I faced him in the nets today and he is bowling really well, and that bodes well for us in this tournament. I think he will just want to kick off where he left off last year. He was one of our best bowlers so for him to come back to the tournament and be available for game one is a big boost for us.”
18-year-old Tanish Suri who is the fifth UAE inclusion in the squad, finds himself with the prospect of stepping out on to the field in game one, to take on wicket-keeping duties in the absence of Dinesh Chandimal and Azam Khan, who are yet to link up with the Vipers.
Captain Munro said Tanish may not have been expecting to take the field so soon, but he was confident the youngster would acquit himself well.
“I think if you ask him (Tanish) he is probably a bit nervous, but pleasantly surprised too because we were expecting to have Dinesh Chandimal here.
“But he is not available for game one and so Tanish gets an opportunity. It is exciting for him, and it is exciting for any young player to play in a league such as this and to gain experience, by keeping to the likes of Hasaranga, and Mohammad Amir.
“This is a great opportunity for the youngster, pretty unheard of to be honest, having played just a couple of games for the UAE. But for him to come and step into this environment, he has taken it in his stride, and he did really well in our warm-up game too. So hopefully his form can continue.”
The captain discussed the team’s preparations and what the mood was like both in the camp and for him personally ahead of the crucial opener: “A bit of nerves, a little bit of anxiety a bit of excitement, and a bit of everything really,” he said of himself.
“We had a good tournament last year but, like I said to the boys, that was last year and this is a new team. Obviously, we have got the core together, and there is a lot of excitement in the group to get going tomorrow.”
Colin Munro added he was keen not to put too much pressure on the players: “You cannot win or lose a tournament in game one.
“Whether you have a stinker or you win by 100 runs, it does not really make that much of a difference in the context of the whole season.”
On the strategy for Sunday’s game the captain said he was firmly focused on his own team: “For me it is just about getting the best out of our players and concentrating on our strengths as individuals. It is about keeping our guys calm and collected and execute the skills they have been selected for.”
The DP World ILT20 got underway in Sharjah on Friday, and the Desert Vipers’ first match is against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday 21 January.
Tickets for all Desert Vipers matches are now on sale and can be purchased via the official DP World ILT20 website or at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.
