JOIN US“Returning to cricket is the sign of normalcy for us, getting back to our normal lives. We remember the Lahore attack. There is a lot of emotion tied up with it, but we’ve got to move on. Life moves on, cricket goes on. The guys have realised that and they are prepared mentally now,” Sangakkara said.
This will be Sangakkara’s first major assignment as the national skipper after Mahela Jayawardene stepped down.
The World Championship is going to be the first major tournament for the Sri Lanka team after they survived the March 3 Lahore Terror attack, which left six Lankan cricketers injured.
“The guys have moved on very well from Lahore. It is great to be back playing cricket and hope we can make a challenge in the World Twenty20. The side is really looking forward to doing well,” Sangakkara told cricket website Cricinfo.com.
Sangakkara was among the cricketers who escaped the attack with some minor injuries, although six securitymen and two civilians were killed in the incident.
“Getting back together, going on a bus you know sometimes you look around and you feel how vulnerable you are in the bus if anyone wants to do any harm. At the same time it is great to get back on it as a team and play your first major tournament after Lahore.
“That feeling of togetherness, being through tough situations, and playing the game we love brings us a lot closer together,” he said.
Sangakkara also feels that his young all-rounders Farveez Maharoof and Angelo Mathews have to make themselves counted if Sri Lanka have to win the title this time.
“Angelo Mathews and Farveez Maharoof will have to take that responsibility of making that difference. We have lot more strengths than weaknesses,” he said.