‘Boys are not targetting anyone’ – Sri Lanka-A captain eyes Tri-Nation title, no baggage from Sooryavanshi spat

The last time Sri Lanka-A and India-A met in the Tri-Nation tournament, tempers flared, emotions spilled over and the contest was decided only after a dramatic Super Over.

On Friday, however, Sri Lanka-A captain Sahan Arachchige was keen to shift the focus from the flashpoint to the bigger prize.

After his side rode on Avishka Fernando’s century and Dulaj Samuditha’s five-wicket haul to beat Afghanistan-A by 103 runs and storm into Sunday’s final, Arachchige insisted his team was not looking to settle scores or target anyone. The objective, he said, was simple: win the title.

“The boys are doing very well and we’re looking forward to having a great match in the final,” Arachchige told Sportstar.

The skipper believes Sri Lanka-A heads into the title clash in good shape. The opening pair has provided solid starts, the middle order has stepped up when required, and the bowling attack has clicked as a unit, with both the seamers and spinners making important contributions throughout the tournament.

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“With the batting, there is no issue. And with the bowling, every fast bowler and spinner is doing very well. I think we are in good shape,” he said.

Given the backdrop of the heated Super Over against India-A, during which some Sri Lanka-A players were involved in a confrontation with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge, there is likely to be added attention on the final. But Arachchige downplayed suggestions that his side would carry any baggage into the game.

“The boys are not targeting anyone or anything. They are just enjoying themselves,” he said. “In a close game like a Super Over, emotions come out. That’s normal.”

The captain also revealed that he has not had to deliver any special messages to the squad ahead of the final, trusting the experience within the group to handle the occasion.

“There are a lot of experienced players in this team. They know what to do and they know how to play,” he said.

Arachchige reserved special praise for senior batters Fernando and Niroshan Dickwella, both of whom have been among the runs during the tournament.

“They are doing very well and I think they will play the next match in the same way,” he said.

As Sri Lanka-A prepares for one final push, Arachchige’s message to his team-mates remains straightforward: keep playing the brand of cricket that has brought them this far and embrace the opportunity to represent the country.

Published on Jun 19, 2026