Arjuna Ranatunga

Karachi: The 1996 World Cup-winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, who now heads Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), spoke to The Telegraph over breakfast at the Pearl Continental here on Monday.

The following are excerpts

Q Sunday saw the team’s first success in a tournament after you’ve taken over as the SLC chairman…

A All credit must go to the boys… They deserve to be congratulated and I’m so happy that (Ajantha) Mendis didn’t feel the nerves… It was his first real big match and he was brilliant… If you look back, you’ll find that all our top batters were in form… Then, (Muttiah) Muralidharan and Mendis proved to be a handful…

What, in your opinion, made the biggest difference in the Asia Cup?

The team effort… Batters, bowlers…

Did Team India’s capitulation in the final take you by surprise?

India’s performance left me shocked, not surprised… The batsmen just couldn’t pick Mendis, when they’re supposed to be good against spinners… I must confess I was surprised when (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni decided to field… I know that some of the biggest names don’t like the pressure of chasing (in a final)… Also, India would’ve known that we would field two spinners… The National Stadium wickets had become slower and had begun to turn as well.

Frankly, how did you expect the final to unfold?

I’d thought both teams had an equal chance, 50-50… Even at 66 for four, we kept our nerves… What amazed me is that the Indians kept bowling to Sanath Jayasuriya’s strength… He’s not new to the sport and they should’ve been looking to exploit his weaknesses. Instead, they kept feeding Sanath… Allowed him to cut and hook and go for the lofted drives… I quite liked Ishant Sharma, but he bowled two good balls and then four bad ones.

At the break, what were your thoughts?

Well, quite a few people kept saying we were 30-40 short, but I told them to wait and see… I also said Muralidharan and Mendis would either win the final for us or give the trophy to India.

For somebody so gifted, it’s surprising that Mendis’s debut (in the West Indies) was as recently as April. Why?

That’s because he started to perform only last year or so… What I recall is that Mendis would trouble even Mahela (Jayawardene) and (Kumar) Sangakkara in provincial cricket… I mean our best batters also had problems picking him… Now, I’m looking forward to seeing Mendis in Test cricket.

Mendis’s line is immaculate…

Line and length… He lands the ball in the right areas… When the left-handers were there, he quickly changed his line… Obviously, he thinks.

Do you, as the boss, interfere in selection?

Not at all.

But don’t you think the better teams will sort Mendis out rather quickly?

They will, I suppose… I don’t know how soon or late, though… The fact is it’s very difficult to realise what he’s bowling. (Adds laughing) At times, I doubt if even Mendis knows what he’s doing!

Jayasuriya continues to prove that old is gold…

He’s getting runs and I admire his fitness… Having said that, he should know when to leave… Today, we’ve got to look at the next World Cup (2011) and it shouldn’t be that Sanath plays till 2010 and then announces retirement.

You’ve begun to give some of the younger players more opportunities. Is it a conscious move?

We’ve retained the Asia Cup, yes, but haven’t done well (in ODIs) over the past year or so… In a way, the rebuilding process is on… My view is that you can’t depend on two or three players… For example, the batting can’t revolve around Mahela, Sangakkara and Sanath only… Chamara Silva, (Tillekaratne) Dilshan and Chamara Kapugedera clearly have to accept more responsibility…

Your thoughts on Mahela as captain?

He’s been doing well, but I was taken aback when he took Mendis off after just four overs (first spell)… I would probably have bowled him through. Mahela, however, deserves kudos for introducing Mendis so early… Of course, had that move not come off, then everybody would’ve gone for the captain’s jugular.

Hasn’t the win given you all an advantage in the forthcoming home engagements against India?

The Test series is going to be very different… The wickets won’t be the same and the Indians will have the seniors… The three-Test series will give us an opportunity to assess where we stand… We know the Indian batting line-up is awesome.

How did you and the team celebrate?

I don’t get involved in matters of selection and don’t get involved with celebrations either… When I was the captain, I didn’t like officials coming into the players’ domain… Now that I’m an official, I can’t do what I never encouraged.

Finally, are you enjoying the chairmanship?

(Laughs) The cricket board has been Sri Lanka’s biggest charitable organisation! I’m trying to set things right… Obviously, overnight, too many changes can’t be done.