Pathirana’s Malinga-like movement has earned him nicknames corresponding to Podi (Little) Malinga in Sri Lanka and Child Malinga amongst Chennai Tremendous Kings (CSK) supporters.
Pathirana had a breakout season for IPL champions Chennai Tremendous Kings. He took 19 wickets in 12 matches and was the go-to bowler for Mahendra Singh Dhoni in essential circumstances.
Whereas Dhoni is coaching the 20-year-old to be CSK’s designated dying overs specialist, Fassy believes the Sri Lankan cricket institution ought to deal with him with warning.
“Seeing his motion, lots of people assume that he has modelled it after seeing Malinga. Pathirana additionally educated below Malinga. However he got here to me with this motion from day one, and we simply labored on it a bit, contemplating it might put lots of stress on his younger physique,” Fassy instructed PTI.
Regardless of his burgeoning star, Pathirana nonetheless seeks recommendation from Fassy, who operates a cricket coaching centre at Trinity Faculty.
Pathirana’s true potential to provide tempo shocked Fassy when he first joined his programme 5 years in the past.
“He (Pathirana) was naturally fast. He didn’t need to put in lots of effort to get tempo not like another boys. On prime of it, he was very correct too as you might need seen whereas he was bowling within the IPL. He has a quick and correct yorker that may bother even the very best. His arm velocity is simply excellent,” he stated.
Fassy warned towards placing too many expectations on the younger man.
“He has expertise and he’ll go a great distance if supported correctly. However he’s simply starting, so do not examine him with legends like Malinga or (Chaminda) Vaas.”
“Let him be his personal and permit him to work on his expertise and make a mark. He’s necessary for Lanka as we’ve got two World Cups in two years (50-over in 2023, T20 WC in 2024),” he famous.
Eric Simons, the previous India bowling coach who at present works in an identical capability for CSK, was additionally impressed.
“I’ve labored with Pathirana over two seasons (2022, 2023) within the IPL. He has proven large enchancment. He’s a fast learner. Sure, at instances he is usually a bit erratic,” the South African instructed PTI.
However what impressed him extra is his temperament, contemplating that he’s barely out of his teenagers.
“However for somebody who has began prime stage cricket a few years again, he has proven a superb temperament to deal with a troublesome activity like bowling at dying in T20s. I really feel he’s going to be an enormous a part of Sri Lanka and CSK for a very long time,” Simons stated.
With the ODI World Cup shortly approaching, Sri Lanka is racing towards the clock to have its first-choice bowling unit battle prepared, as three pacers are injured.
Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, and Dilshan Madhushanka have been dominated out of the Asia Cup 2023, and the trio is vying for a spot within the quadrennial occasion.
Because of this, Sri Lanka hopes {that a} 20-year-old prodigy might be prepared for a much bigger position sooner reasonably than later.
“His power is his unorthodoxy. He has proven that within the IPL, and he has good tempo as effectively. We are able to step by step hand him extra accountability, and he has a superb angle as effectively. We’re him as a long-term choice, and hopefully, he may be somebody like (Lasith) Malinga for us,” stated Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka.
Former India skipper Dhoni had recommendation for Sri Lanka cricket institution in the course of the 2023 IPL.
“I really feel he mustn’t play red-ball cricket, not even get near it, he can play solely ICC tournaments. He’s younger and he can be an ideal asset for Sri Lankan cricket,” Dhoni had stated.
(With inputs from PTI)