ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

October 24, 2022

Maheesh Theekshana

Perth Stadium

Sri Lanka

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. The challenge of taking on Australia, can you talk us through that, and especially they're so vulnerable at the moment; how much do you think about that?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: After the Australia-New Zealand and we got a win because of the confidence. We have the confidence better than the Australian team, and hopefully do we are in the game also tomorrow.

Q. Do you think about the prospect of being able to end their semifinal hopes already?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Yeah. We would love to.

Q. How nice would that be to achieve that?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Yeah, it's always nice to win a game. Our hope is always go for the last four teams, so we want to go for the last four teams, we have to beat them.

Q. Their bowling attack really copped a pounding in the last game. Do you think they're going to be pretty fired up to bounce back, and what do you expect from them?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Actually they have a very good fast bowlers and spinners so I think they will bounce back because they are the last World Cup champions, so they have to bounce back if they want to be in the tournament.

I know they have a very good fast bowling attack. They will be like the line and length in our game, but we have a very good batting lineup, as well. I think hopefully we will get more than 160, 170 runs.

Q. You guys had a game yesterday, and I assume you guys traveled to Perth today. It's a long flight, as well. How is it to turn things around and go into a game in a different city after just 48 hours?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Actually it's tough to stay in a flight more than four hours. So it's not like we are mentally ready for the game because it's the situation in Australia; it's a big country so a lot of travel, and we have a lot of traveling after this game, also, I think.

It's all part of the game, the traveling, so you have to be good mentally ready and we can win tomorrow's game, also.

Q. Obviously everyone is looking forward to the healing of Pathum Nissanka. He missed out on the last game because of the groin injury. How is he shaping, and what are his chances of making it to the team tomorrow?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Actually I think he's in good condition right now. Hopefully he'll play the next game.

Q. Talk to us about your new celebration. What does it exactly mean, and what are you enjoying it?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Actually I'm a big fan of Arrow, so I think that's why I'm doing that celebration.

Q. The fact that Wanindu Hasaranga and you, you guys have enjoyed bowling together in this World Cup campaign, if you can talk us through the partnership with Wanindu. You come on to bowl during the powerplay, as well as Wanindu comes after the powerplay, but then he ends up bowling the death overs. How does that combination work?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Actually we have a simple plan always. We always try to bowl under 24 runs between all four of us, so I think that's why we're getting a lot of wickets, and we got a lot of like key wickets in the tournament, and we are doing really well in the early overs and middle overs.

Q. Obviously the pitch is going to be pretty fast and bouncy. How do you think the batters are going to cope with that?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Yeah, I think a lot of guys, (indiscernible) in Perth, so I think it's their first time in Perth, and the batters are not as pressured as us, so I think hopefully the batters will bat well in tomorrow's game.

Q. Do you think your spinners might be able to get into the game and perhaps maybe use that extra bounce to their advantage?

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA: Yeah, I think if we bowl the right length, it doesn't matter with the wicket. Always if you've got a spinning wicket or you've got bouncy or not, I think the right length is the key in Australia.