Dasun Shanaka: Dinesh Karthik's Presence is a Significant Advantage for Bangla Tigers in Abu Dhabi T10
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Abu Dhabi, Nov 28 (NationPress) Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka asserts that the involvement of Indian cricketers in the Abu Dhabi T10 league plays a pivotal role in drawing fan interest and fostering talent.
The bowling allrounder, playing for the Bangla Tigers in the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10, shares the field with former Indian international Dinesh Karthik during this eighth edition of the league. Shanaka emphasized that Karthik's presence serves as a significant advantage for their team.
'Dinesh Karthik imparts valuable experience to us, particularly to the younger players. Having one of India's cricketing legends in our ranks is a tremendous boost. His presence not only enhances our team dynamics but also attracts a considerable fan base,' he remarked.
The 33-year-old further noted that the inclusion of Indian players in T10 significantly uplifts the competitive spirit. 'The arrival of Indian players here is truly special as they bring a wealth of experience from the IPL. Everyone is eager for this, and we hope to see even more Indian players participating in T10 next year,' he added.
Shanaka's comments followed his team’s defeat to Ajman Bolts in the Abu Dhabi T10, losing by 31 runs at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. In that match, Alex Hales scored an impressive unbeaten 75 off 30 balls, setting a daunting target of 134 for the Tigers. Shanaka noted that their bowlers were slightly expensive, which contributed to their loss.
'I think our bowling was a bit on the expensive side today. We must accept that this is the T10 format. It was just one of those days when our bowlers didn’t perform at their best. Alex played exceptionally well, allowing them to establish a hefty target on this pitch. We needed to be aggressive in chasing down that total rather than looking for singles and rotating the strike. That’s an area where we fell short. However, we aim to bounce back,' he mentioned.
In addition, immediately following the Abu Dhabi T10 final on December 2, the eagerly awaited inaugural edition of the Lanka T10 will commence in Pallekele from December 11 to December 18, continuing the trend of the sport's fastest-growing format.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the forthcoming tournament, Shanaka stated, 'Over the years, the Abu Dhabi T10 has set benchmarks that exceed those of many other leagues. Yet as we transition to Sri Lanka, we will see a plethora of stars joining us there.'
'It promises to be an excellent competition in the T10 format. I expect standards similar to those of Abu Dhabi in the Lanka T10, which underscores the growth of this format. I hope it unfolds similarly,' he concluded.
