'Lanka favourites to win Asia Cup' | Pathan to miss opener

Mumbai: CNN-IBN caught up with Sri Lankan batting legend Aravinda de Silva who not surprisingly is backing his own team to come good. But he does feel that the Sri Lankan selectors need to give younger players a go as they plan for the next World Cup.

Aravinda de Silva: For me, Sri Lanka are the favourites for the Asia Cup. I know that they would do much better than they are expected to. But obviously you can't write off India, who have got enormous amount of talent, as do Pakistan, who can produce something out of the blue. One-day cricket is such that there can be surprises. But my favourites would be Sri Lanka.

CNN-IBN: Do you think having Sanath Jayasuriya back will also help the team?

Aravinda de Silva: For sure. He is an absolute gift to Sri Lankan cricket, and him being in the side is going to be a boost for the side.

CNN-IBN: If you were to advise them, what would the road forward be like? How should they implement the vision?

Aravinda de Silva: Just look at giving the opportunity to the player who they think is going to be available or would be playing the World Cup. At least 60-70 One-dayers before the World Cup for a newcomer is important, because they would not have experienced the situations which they need to handle.

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