Sri Lanka World Cup squad returns to island

The Sri Lanka cricket squad returned to the island this morning (10 Nov.) ending its 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign on a disappointing note.

The team reached the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake from Bangalore, India, aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL-174 at around 5:50 a.m. 

A group of officials of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had also arrived at the airport premises to welcome the national squad.

According to Ada Derana correspondent, most of the team members chose to leave the airport premises in their personal vehicles, despite the national cricket governing body having prepared a bus for them. Meanwhile, it was reported that security had been beefed up in the area.

Sri Lanka saw a series of woes throughout the tournament, with a fragile top order, only two batsmen averaging over 35, a string of injuries and having dropped more catches than perhaps any other team.

Despite the squad’s rather meagre display overall and a paltry total of 4 points, however, Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka managed to sit at the top of the table for the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

The tournament, currently ongoing in India, is slated to finish on 19 November, with the finalists yet to be decided.