Sri Lankan ODI captain Kusal Mendis (Kusal Mendis) believes that if it had not been for the support of Sri Lankan fans, cricket would have ended long ago in their country. Following the retirement of veteran cricketers like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga and others, Sri Lanka struggled mightily in all three formats of the game.

The Sri Lankan cricket team struggled not only on the field but also financially and this resulted in ICC tournaments. But within a few years, a young Sri Lankan cricket team has once again brought Sri Lanka to a respectable position in the cricket map.

Sports would have gone nowhere without fans: Kusal Mendis

Players like Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanka, Charith Asalanka, Mathisa Pathirana are trying to regain the lost prestige of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis gave the credit for the recent success of Sri Lankan cricket to the fans and said that their continuous support will once again bring Sri Lanka to the top.

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Kusal Mendis said in SLC’s official statement: “If it were not for our cricket fans the game would have gone nowhere. Without Sri Lankan cricket fans, cricket will disappear in the country. It is the inexhaustible power of the fans that has kept the game of cricket alive in our country for so long and I believe that the continued support of our fans will mean a lot in our future too.

‘Our team is ready’

I believe that by now we have a list of 20 players ready to work with for the future, for the T20 World Cup to be held in five months and the next ODI World Cup to be held in four years, and in the times to come Wanindu Hasaranga and I will be able to choose our own strong teams.”