Vinod Lankathilaka

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka has called for government intervention to address what he described as a growing culture of negativity surrounding the national cricket team, warning that it is damaging players’ mental health and the future of the sport. Speaking after Sri Lanka’s exit from the T20 World Cup, Shanaka said that while the team accepts responsibility for the defeat, the wave of criticism from outside has created a harmful environment. “Actually, when considering this World Cup, Paddy Upton worked with us and we had huge support from him. As players, it’s very hard for us to control the outside noise,” Shanaka said. He noted that despite efforts to remain positive within the dressing room, players are constantly exposed to criticism circulating publicly and on social media. “We mainly hear negative stuff. No matter how positive we are as players, there is a negative environment created from the outside. That’s a disadvantage for cricket in Sri Lanka,” he said. In a pointed remark, Shanaka questioned the culture of public criticism directed at the team. “We only have this game and I don’t think this could be saved. When you go outside after this, you will also see how many are out there holding mics to criticise. So why is the negativity being spread like this?” he asked. The Sri Lanka skipper said that although the team understands the reasons behind the World Cup defeat and shares public concerns, constant negativity does not help resolve structural issues. “Okay, we lost a World Cup; we know the reasons. We all have concerns. But negativity has come forward more than rectifying the issues,” he said. Shanaka appealed for authorities to step in to protect younger players from the psychological toll of public hostility. “At least for the players coming up next, if the government could interfere and stop those, I believe that will be a great help for better mental health,” he added. (Newswire)