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I am prepared to play in any capacity - Arjuna

The unsuccessful Sri Lanka cricketers in their quest to retain the World Cup title returned home last afternoon on an Emirates flight, Sans, skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Deputy Aravinda de Silva who opted to delay their return whilst Muttiah Muralitheran remained to turn out for the Lancashire county.

Tour officials and members of the Cricket Board acting swiftly, loss no time in meeting the media to lay bare and apprise it of all that centred around cricket between the team leaving for England and their subsequent return.

Speaking on the occasion the manager of the Sri Lanka cricket team at the outset virtually took the wind off the sails of the media when Mendis read out a statement made by skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, to quote, ``All decisions during the tournament were with the full consensus of the tour management and the respective players concerned and I take full responsibility for all decisions which did not go according to plan.'' He further states that his continuing to lead the side depends solely on the selectors and since he has a bit more cricket left in him, would like to play in any capacity.

The Manager Duleep Mendis without quibbling with words reiterating what Arjuna said was highly apologetic saying that they were not making any excuses for their dismal performances for which they were responsible and took the blame. With deep emotion he felt that they had let down their followers, sponsors and the country at large. He went on to explain that they tried Hashan Tillekeratne but it did not work and had to rivert to Mahela Jayawardena and felt that Hashan was not a one dayer. Despite going early to get acclimatised to the English conditions it did not help, he said. Our batting which was our forte he stressed failed all the time and our bowling and fielding which improved, influenced by our bad batting also wilted when the Indians were making merry. Mendis concluded by saying ``there are the good times and bad times and we must be appreciative of this and take steps to remedy that which has gone wrong and forge ahead''.