Cricket World Cup 2019: Bangladesh like Sri Lanka's 1996 champions, says Aravinda de Silva

World Cup winner admires team spirit among Bangladeshis, who face his Sri Lankan side at Bristol on Tuesday

Bangladesh beat South Africa at the Cricket World Cup, although they lost to New Zealand and England. Reuters

Aravinda de Silva has compared the current Bangladesh side to Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning team of which he was an integral part of.

Ahead of Sri Lanka's World Cup meeting with their Asian rivals at Bristol on Tuesday, De Silva told The National that Mashrafe Mortaza's men are a dangerous side that will be very tough to beat.

“As a Sri Lankan, I would back my team to win. But they will have to play out of their skins to achieve that,” De Silva said.

When asked what about Bangladesh reminds him of the 1996 champions, the former captain said: “When you want to win a World Cup, you need to play as one unit. I see that in this Bangladesh side.

"Like we did, they understand each other's strength and weaknesses, support each other and appreciate each other's performances."

De Silva, now 53, played a key role in Sri Lanka’s triumph 23 years ago, winning Man of the Match awards in the semi-finals against India and final against Australia. But he downplayed his own contributions, which included a 47-ball 66 against India in Kolkata, and a century and three wickets with his off-spin versus Australia in Lahore.

“I was glad I was able to contribute to that success, but hadn’t we won, whatever I did would have been of no use,” he said.

Aravinda de Silva, bat raised, and Arjuna Ranatunga spearheaded Sri Lanka's successful World Cup campaign in 1996, beating Australia in the final. Getty Images

Sri Lanka face Bangladesh having earned three points from three games. They beat Afghanistan by 34 runs following a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of New Zealand. Their third game against Pakistan was washed out.

But De Silva maintains that Dimuth Karunaratne and his teammates need to step it up in order to qualify for the semi-finals.

“If Sri Lanka are to be in the race, the results of the next two games are critical,” said De Silva, who was the long-time vice-captain of Arjuna Ranatunga for the Lions. “We should have won against Afghanistan more convincingly after racing to 144-1 before being shot out for 201.

"You can't underestimate any team on these conditions and at this level. In the game against Afghanistan, the conditions favoured the seam bowlers. But, unfortunately, we lost wickets to the spinners."

De Silva blamed Sri Lanka's selection policy for the on-field challenges the team have faced in recent times.

“While all teams have arrived well prepared, we are still experimenting with our batting order,” he said. “For me, the fault remains in the batting order and selections, which we can’t do anything about right now.”

Sri Lanka bounced back at the World Cup after losing to New Zealand by beating Afghanistan. Reuters

De Silva was surprised that Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga and Akila Dananjaya were left out of the World Cup squad.

“They played all the games up to the World Cup, and to suddenly leave them out is something unheard of,” he said. “I could have expected one or two changes but not four or five like we have done.”

De Silva disagreed with former Sri Lanka coach Paul Farbrace, who recently suggested that Kusal Perera should be used as a floater.

“He’s a more established batsman we have got out there, and he should be batting at No 4 permanently,” he said about the left-hander, who scored 29 against New Zealand and 78 against Afghanistan.

"The problem seems to be with the Nos 3 and 4, which are vital positions in the 50-overs-a-side format. We are missing a No 3.

"Angelo [Mathews] is one of the key players for us, but he should bat at 5 or 6 because of the conditions."

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Who are De Silva's favourite players and why?

1992: Imran Khan of Pakistan lifts the World Cup after Pakistan beat England in the final at Melbourne.

Viv Richards: "He inspired me throughout my cricket career with his swagger and style, and the ease with which he played his shots."

Sunil Gavaskar: "His discipline and focus to score against the established nations when India wasn't among the strongest teams in world cricket."

Imran Khan: "He led by example and his remarkable leadership qualities to rally his players around him."

Best bowlers ...

“It must be the Pakistani pair Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, and Australians Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. There was an element of surprise when they bowled.”