West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has expressed mixed feelings following his team’s 2-1 T20I series defeat to Sri Lanka. While acknowledging the home side’s victory, Sammy questioned the wisdom of Sri Lanka’s decision to prepare turning tracks for the final two games, which were must-wins for the hosts.
Sammy argued that such conditions would not be the norm at the 2026 T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka will co-host. He believes that the ICC will ensure that pitches are more balanced, giving both batters and bowlers a fair chance.
Despite the defeat, Sammy praised his team’s performance, particularly in the first game, which was played on a more balanced wicket. He believes that West Indies showed their depth and challenged Sri Lanka, who had to adjust their tactics to gain an advantage.
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka defended the decision to prepare turning tracks, citing the team’s strength in spin bowling. He believes that playing to their strengths gives them the best chance of winning. However, Asalanka acknowledged that Sri Lanka needs to improve their fast-bowling contingent to be competitive in all conditions.
Sammy echoed Asalanka’s concerns, emphasizing the importance of developing fast bowlers who can perform on different surfaces. He believes that Sri Lanka’s reliance on spin could hinder their progress in the long run.
Despite the contrasting views on pitches, both Sammy and Asalanka agreed that Sri Lanka’s batters performed better than West Indies’ throughout the series. Asalanka expressed confidence in his team’s ability to score runs on any type of wicket, while Sammy acknowledged the need for his batters to improve their adaptability.
Overall, the series highlighted the importance of balanced pitches and the need for teams to develop all-round capabilities. While Sri Lanka’s spin-friendly tracks gave them an advantage in this particular series, it remains to be seen how they will fare on more challenging surfaces in the future.
