"IPL Opportunities Have Helped Matheesha Pathirana Mature His Game": Sri Lanka Assistant Coach Ahead Of India Clash

Sri Lanka assistant coach Naveed Nawaz said that Indian Premier League (IPL) opportunities with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) helped the young pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana become a more mature player under the leadership of MS Dhoni. India will take on Sri Lanka in their second Super Four Asia Cup match on Tuesday. Sri Lanka won their first Super Four match against Bangladesh and hence have a slight edge over India, whose fate in Super Four will receive either a boost or dent after the result of the high-profile clash between India-Pakistan clash comes out after the reserve day today. A loss or washout will get India only one point and make matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh must-win ones.

Nawaz first said that though IPL and MS helped in Pathirana's development, he is first and foremost a product of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

"MS Dhoni and Chennai could have played a part in his development, but Pathirana is the product of SLC. He has played two U19 World Cups for us. He is someone we identified at a young age. He has been in the development programmes of SLC," said Nawaz in the pre-match press conference.

But he also said that playing IPL made the young pacer, often referred to as 'Baby Malinga' for his sling-like action similar to Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga, a more mature player who could handle the pressure well.

"IPL opportunities have helped him mature his game. At 18-19, he got to play under a captain like MS Dhoni. I am sure that Matheesha would have learnt a lot from him about handling pressure, being in the centre during big CSK games. It is a good experience. We identified him at an early age, CSK saw something in him and picked up, but there is a contribution of them as well," he said.

Pathirana