The social consciousness of the Sri Lanka team
In an interview with Donald McRae of the Guardian, Kumar Sangakkara shares the experiences that have influenced him as a player and individual
ESPNcricinfo staff
20-May-2014
In an interview with Donald McRae of the Guardian, Kumar Sangakkara shares the experiences that have influenced him as a player and individual. Sangakkara also talks about how the national cricket team transformed itself into a more socially conscious outfit after the 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Sri Lanka.
"The team also represented something so unique, so loved and longed for - the diversity of people, ethnicity and religion and how we manage to understand and value each other and perform so well. That instilled a sense of responsibility in us.
"The tsunami [in December 2004] was a big turning point. Seeing the devastation, alongside Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan], Mahela and other cricketers when we went up the coast with supplies, changed us. We spoke to people and you saw the desperation and tragedy in their eyes. We met a man who had lost all his children and his wife. And he stood by himself. It was terrible - and so the cricket team transformed itself."