Sri Lanka, Feb. 8 -- Sri Lanka may be co-hosts of the T20 World Cup, but familiarity with home conditions offers little comfort as pressure mounts on Dasun Shanaka's side ahead of their opening clash against Ireland.
Once a powerhouse in the shortest format, Sri Lanka reached four consecutive World Cup semi-finals between 2009 and 2014. Since then, progress has stalled. The knockout stages have remained out of reach, and recent form has only deepened concerns. A bruising 3-0 home whitewash by England has left confidence fragile, while a modest record of just eight wins from 32 T20 internationals at the R Premadasa Stadium underlines the unease surrounding the hosts.
Shanaka has openly questioned the suitability of slow home pitches, conce...