How Sri Lanka fell in love with cricket again
Financial Express Mumbai|September 17, 2023
IT'S ALMOST 1:30 on Friday night and roughly 25 minutes since Charith Asalanka scored the winning runs against Pakistan, propelling Sri Lanka to the Asia Cup final against India. The presentation ceremony is over and the commentary crew are packing up.
How Sri Lanka fell in love with cricket again

At the stands inside R Premadasa Stadium, though, no one is ready to leave. As chants of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka' continue to reverberate around, for many, Sunday's final against India can't come any sooner.

There is something unmistakable that swells in from the stands along with the Papare soundtrack, grown from Sinhala Baila music: it's the sound of people falling in love again with the national cricket team, the single unifying force in a country that suffered through an economic turmoil in 2022.

As far as cricketing achievements go, Sunday's game will be special for India, who have beaten Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the group stages and are looking to win a multinational tournament ahead of the World Cup final. But for the Sri Lankans, the Asia cup has gone beyond mere victory and loss. During the final, India will be facing not just 11 players but a packed crowd of Sri Lankans bursting with love and gratitude for their national cricket team.

"This is our way of returning the favour," said Dayani, a working woman, who took a day off to celebrate at the stadium. "Let us say it is just a thanksgiving.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 17, 2023 من Financial Express Mumbai.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 17, 2023 من Financial Express Mumbai.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

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