Interim coach Jayasuriya urged Sri Lanka to use the criticism of their T20I loss to India as motivation to improve in ODIs.

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Colombo: Interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya wants Sri Lanka to use the criticism that followed their T20I series loss to India to improve the ODIs of the tour.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, lost the T20I series 3-0 to the reigning world champions and are struggling with injuries ahead of the first ODI in Colombo on Friday.

“I tell them that I have come to this place even as a player in my 20s. “Many of you have just started. You have to be able to take that criticism, and then come out and play well. If you play well, the fans will love you. What they tell you is because of their injury and it is temporary,” Jayasuriya said.

Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madusanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, and Nuwan Thushara have been sidelined with injuries and several team members have been down with flu ahead of the ODI series with India. However, Jayasuriya will not use this absence as an excuse and expects the rest of the team to perform well in the upcoming matches.

“I'm the interim coach and I've only got these two series, but I don't think so. When I was playing, and even now, I hate losing. Even the players around know it. When I talk to them, I tell them that the fans in this country love the game and many, including me, have brought cricket to a certain place in this country,” Jaisuriya was quoted as saying by the ICC.

“I've talked about it a lot with the players individually and as a team. In terms of convenience and practice, I have tried to do as much as possible. I want to create a good environment so that they are in the right place mentally and can play with confidence,” he said.

Charit Aslanka is under pressure to perform against India after scoring just 14 runs in three innings in the recent T20I series. The new white-ball captain scored 71 runs in three innings in the T20 World Cup as well.

However, Jayasuriya has backed the 27-year-old to excel in the 50-over format. “Charit Aslanka is one of our best players in this (ODI) format and we need to remember that,” Jayasuriya said. “But when you get the captaincy, there is a bit of pressure. I have been there too. You should give them some time in that position.”

“Ten more players are in the squad and 16 players are in the squad. We should all come together and give him confidence too. At any moment, the captain can click. Charith Aslanka is someone who works really hard. He is very professional and communicates well,” he concluded.