Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Monday, 15 September 2025 03:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Kamil Mishara (right) receiving the Player of the Match award against Bangladesh from Sri Lanka Cricket Vice President Ravin Wickramaratne
DUBAI: Two back-to-back Player of the Match awards that have contributed towards wins for Sri Lanka have people talking about Kamil Mishara, Sri Lanka’s new batting star who is making waves in T20I cricket.
Following his series-winning knock of 73* off 43 balls against Zimbabwe in Harare, the former Mahanama College, Panadura and Royal College, Colombo cricketer was once more in the limelight, helping Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the Asia Cup opener at Abu Dhabi on Saturday with an unbeaten 46 off 32 balls. But more than his contribution with the bat, the most talked about moment was how he ran out Towhid Hridoy with a direct hit from deep square leg. Seldom do you find fielders with such accuracy.
“All I wanted to do was stop the third run. I never thought that it would be a direct hit. But I know when you put in the hard yards, these things can happen,” said the 24-year-old southpaw. “We spend a lot of time fine tuning our fielding. Our preparation is all about repetition when it comes to fielding. That helps us to come up with stuff like this.”
Speaking on his knock against Bangladesh, Mishara said: “When I walked in to bat, Pathum [Nissanka] told me to adjust to the wicket. He wanted me to take the time and bat deep. I got some confidence when I hit three boundaries in an over. With that, I got my rhythm and wanted to finish the game off.”
Mishara had a stroke of luck when on one, he top edged a delivery from Shoriful Islam only to see the catch dropped by Mahedi Hasan.
“It was a very good feeling to win a match for your country, no words to describe it. I just feel very good.”
Since being recalled to the national team for the Zimbabwe tour, Mishara has struck a purple patch and somewhat solved Sri Lanka’s number 3 batting problem in T20I cricket.
“I got selected for the Zimbabwe tour and the opportunity was there. I managed to adjust to the team’s requirements. My responsibility is to take the game deep. I learned a lot in the last couple of games.”
“I have been given a game plan to bat until the match is finished; if I get set, to finish the match and become a character. It has always been in my mind. Every match I represent my country in, I try to finish it.”
When Mishara was asked what sort of impact Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya brings to the dressing room, he replied: “It’s very cool. We are asked to play our normal game. He has said that if you are set, go and finish the game. The environment is free and cool. We can play the game the way we want. He has given us full freedom.” (ST)
