

The blanket of fog that has engulfed the whole country for days seems to be the only worry for the Sri Lankans, who looked eager to get clear weather ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka, who arrived in Dhaka on Friday to play two Tests against Bangladesh and a tri-nation one-day series also involving the hosts and Zimbabwe, did not have a full-fledged practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday and were confined to warm-up and gym sessions only.
And when Mahela Jayawardene turned out for the official press briefing, the Lankan skipper, obviously irked by the foggy welcome, said he was hoping for sunshine.
The foggy condition has disrupted wicket preparations and Jayawardene told they came to the ground to assess the situation.
"We didn’t know what was going on. I spoke to the groundsman and he was also saying that they didn’t have any time during the last few days and was struggling to get the wicket ready. This is something you can’t control and hopefully the weather would change and there will be some sunshine to get the wicket prepared for the Test match," told Jayawardene.
Sri Lanka’s only blemish in previous tours to Bangladesh was one one-day loss but Jayawardene was diplomatic when asked whether he was expecting a relatively easy series or not.
"I don’t know for how long I have played but each and every game I have taken seriously whether you are playing Bangladesh or any other team. Bangladesh are a young side and they are improving but we don’t want to leave any room for them to get close to us.
"That’s our attitude. We’ve got a very good side, a very good combination that you can come up with and we have to maintain the standard and keep focus. That’s what I always tell the guys that irrespective of whom you play you have to maintain the standard and play proper cricket. If you play this game you have to know that you have given hundred and ten percent every time," said Jayawardene, who started his career as a captain in Bangladesh in 2006.
"It wasn’t pleasant after you have lost a one day game against Bangladesh at the start but it has always been a good place for us to tour because there is great enthusiasm and the crowds are brilliant. We love being here and as for me this is where I started and I didn’t think that I would captain my country for this long.
"That was just an interim thing they gave me when Marvan (Attapattu) was injured and so far things have been okay. I don’t know how long I will hold the post for but the important thing for us is to improve as a team."
Jayawardene, however, could not be drawn from his shell to make predictions.
"I am not a person who forecasts results. I just want to play one game at a time and see. The focus would be to win obviously but if I could forecast then I would have come and went back home without playing. So my focus is to play the game and I’ll let you know what the result is after the match."
He added that Kumar Sangakkara’s injury was not serious.
"Kumar had a slight accident, a domestic accident actually at home and got a cut on his foot. Nothing too serious and he should be all right."
Coach Trevor Bayliss was happy about the depth of Sri Lankan cricket in the present days as they are preparing to play the Tests without Sanath Jayasuriya and the one-dayers without Chaminda Vaas.
Star