DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC-Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara is banking on home advantage to inspire his team to victory at the ICC World Twenty 20 in September.
The wicketkeeper batsman says knowledge of local conditions will work to Sri Lanka’s benefit in the tournament which also includes West Indies. “Knowing our conditions, playing at home is going to be an added buzz and an added inspiration” said Sangakkara in an interview with ICC Cricket 360, the ICC’s new weekly show.
“I think we have got some great players. Whoever makes that the final squad will be the best available players to make up the combination to help us win the ICC World Twenty20”.
The ICC World Twenty20 format will see four groups of three teams in a preliminary round. India and England are in the same group and will be joined by one of the Associate or Affiliate teams that qualify.
The other qualifying team will be in a group with West Indies and Australia.
Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh are the other two groups.
“Preparation is going to be very important. Then it becomes less of a lottery and more about performing consistently” Sangakkara said.
“Of course T20 changes in a matter of a couple of deliveries and an over here or there can shift momentum or you can also lose your game,”.
The ICC World Twenty 20 will be the first in an Asian country, the last three being held in South Africa, England and the West Indies respectively.
