Contrary to the belief of many, Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning cricket team of 1996 is a far cry from the present outfit with discipline being the only factor that separates the two entities.
The declaration and comparison has been made by none other than the very man who commanded the 1996 team to glory Arjuna Ranatunga.
He made the comparison as an invitee to grace the 25th Anniversary of one of the country’s leading cricket academies, the Nelson Mendis School of Cricket and some of the other high profile figures present on the occasion were former Sri Lanka captains Mahela Jayawardena and Roshan Mahanama who was also a member of the triumphant 1996 team.
“The present Sri Lanka team is a better side compared to the 1996 team with the exception of Aravinda de Silva (who was player of the final) with just a few shortcomings but without discipline”, declared Ranatunga.
Addressing the invitees that included former Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala, Ranatunga rued the fact that the entry of indiscipline into the current team was the biggest drawback that he said cannot be corrected by the country’s higher-ups but where it all begins, at school.
“Discipline is nil in the country and you cannot correct anything depending on the top rungs. Discipline should start at school. Coach Nelson Mendis not only coached players in cricket but also moulded them in discipline which was his top priority,” recalled Ranatunga.
He said the past cannot be brought back but the present hierarchy responsible for imbibing values into students have a bigger challenge on their hands in a way their predecessors did not encounter.
“The Nelson Mendis era is long gone and that is why there is a breakdown in discipline and this sad situation can only be addressed by responsible school teachers”, said Ranatunga.
