Former Sri Lankan batsman and ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama, who was an outstanding fielder during his playing days
Former Sri Lankan stalwart Roshan Mahanama (right) presents the Padmakar Talim Shield to Pravin Tambe, captain of DY Patil Sports Academy during the MIG Cricket Club's prize distribution ceremony at Bandra (East) yesterday. PIC/SURESH KARKERA
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Former Sri Lankan batsman and ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama, who was an outstanding fielder during his playing days, was rather unimpressed with the fielding standards of the current Sri Lankan team, who lost to Pakistan in their virtual quarter-final of the Champions Trophy recently.
"From what we saw (in the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan match), they dropped two easy catches and you can't afford to win matches if you drop those catches," Mahanama, who was the chief guest at the MIG Cricket Club's prize distribution ceremony yesterday, told reporters before the function in Bandra.
"It's pretty unfortunate that they (SL) missed out. They had the game in their hand. Looking at the match highlights, it's only the boys who are to be blamed.
"It's the fielding. I saw Ravi Shastri commenting at the end of the game. He said fielding has been the strength of Sri Lankan cricket. It has never been the strength of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We can proudly say that we set the standards high and maintained that high level in fielding," added the 51-year-old, who played 52 Tests and 213 ODIs.
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