SPORTS EDGE

Cricket
Star Cricket Asia Cup
Better be disciplined
Sports Reporter

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER CENTURY: Star Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara follows through on an off-drive during the Asia Cup Super League match against Bangladesh at the National Stadium in Karachi yesterday. Photo: AFPWhen birthday boy Sanath Jayasuriya decided to make it his day, a score in excess of 300, something that the Tigers have conceded four times in their last nine games, was only a matter of time.While all credit goes to the little Lankan dynamo who cut and pulled his way to the 26th ODI hundred of his career and fourth in 20 matches against Bangladesh, it was disheartening to see how the Tigers went about their business in the field.Some might say that it is never easy to recover after several matches in such a short tournament and a few in Karachi would point out the oppressive heat and one would be compelled to consider the depleted attack, but the underlining factor remains attitude, which sadly, was hard to find.Spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza lacked inspiration and Shahadat Hossain remained all bluster but no substance. Jayasuriya got at least three opportunities to cut and pull every over and when that happens, wicket-taking deliveries are hard to manufacture. Captain Mohammad Ashraful had very few options available and had his hands tied to continue with the two fast bowlers for eleven overs.Changes were made but the luck of the Tigers remained unchanged. Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak conceded 32 in his first three overs and Forhad Reza was too predictable. Alok Kapali, nowadays a part-time leggie than anything else, struggled to locate his spot but was a lucky change for Ashraful as he brought the first wicket.Jayasuriya's subdued partner in the 202-run stand -- Kumar Sangakkara did not even flinch as he too moved to a hundred but the Tigers were lucky that the Lankans never made it past 332 as it was almost a given when Jayasuriya was flying in the powerplays.Even though most attention involving the Tigers goes to the batting and batsmen, the Tigers do have a bowling coach and one can raise questions with his role. Clearly, there is something missing in strategies while working with the bowlers and maybe, something is there to be done about it.Sarwar Imran has been with the Tigers for a long period now and off late, the bowling performance has come under fire from a few quarters including coach Jamie Siddons. The Australian coach was not pleased with the bowlers during the Kitply Cup but those comments got lost under the Tigers' misfiring batting. But now the problem seems to have been highlighted even more with the batsmen pulling their weight in the Asia Cup.The absence of Shakib Al Hasan and to some extent Syed Rasel can be reasons of the decline. But when resources are low, managing them and bringing the best out of the limited resources shows the true colours of the management.