Muscut , Wednesday
''The players are determined to continue the good work and maintain the winning sequence'', said skipper Arjuna Ranatunga in an interview at the airport here while waiting for a connecting flight to Nairobi via Abu Dhabi for the Golden Jubilee Four-Nation Cricket tourney beginning in Kenya on Saturday.
''Initially I must thank every member of the team, cricket manager, Dav Whatmore and Manager Duleep Mendis for supporting me in every move. This unstinted cooperation has gone to make my task that much more easy,'' said Ranatunga who was confident of bringing home the trophy on offer in Kenya.
OTHER CONTENDERS
South Africa, Pakistan and host country Kenya are the other contenders for honours in this tourney.
Ranatunga said that they will not be taking any team easy. The other teams are all fielding well balanced sides and to take them easy would mean to lose the grip said the skipper.
Ranatunga said that every member in his team is determined to do well and maintain the winning form. He was hoping that they will continue the form shown in the Singer World Series competition so that they could mow down all opposition.
EXCELLENT FIELDING
''What has raised our performance has been our excellent fielding. We are now equal or better than the best in this aspect. If we continue to field brilliantly then our task would be much more easy,'' said Ranatunga who was jubilant that every member of the team gives him 100 per cent and more support in every move he makes.
Ranatunga is taking with him a side that is brilliant in every department of the game. They have now mastered the finer points of the limited overs game and there is no side that they cannot beat.
FULL POTENTIAL
''We will be meeting South Africa after a long time in this kind of cricket. Led by Hansie Cronje they have a strong side as do the Pakistanis under Wasim Akram. But if we play to full potential there is no reason why we should not repeat our World Cup and Singer Series success,'' said Ranatunga who was particularly keen that his vice captain Aravinda de Silva would regain his Singer tourney form.
Ranatunga said that he was not taking even hosts Kenya easy. ''In conditions that will suit them they can be a dangerous outfit. We are aware of what they did to the West Indies in the World Cup. We will not unwind till the last ball is bowled,'' said the skipper.
DASHING START
Continuing Ranatunga said that all opposing pacemen will be trying their best to scalp out either Sanath Jayasuriya or Romesh Kaluwitharne early. If they can give us their usual dashing start then we can aim for a formidable total and put the opponents under pressure.
Ranatunga was aware that the pressure is on them after their World Cup success. ''The players are now accustomed to this kind of thing and they will keep it tight. We will be looking for that little bit of luck,'' said the skipper.