New Delhi, dec 2 : Sri Lankan’s spin-bowling legend Muttiah Muralitharan said the team’s performance in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup was very disappointing, and something which he wasn’t expecting to unfold in the way it did.

They also missed out on qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy as they finished outside of the top eight teams in the points table. “As far as the Sri Lanka team is concerned, they have the talent, but the thing is they are a little bit of lacking in commitment and discipline. If they put in the hard yards and effort, they can definitely be a formidable side.”

“They showed some glimpses of it when winning the 2022 Asia Cup, and are capable of beating India, Pakistan and other good sides. But in this year’s World Cup, it was very disappointing and a very below par performance, and I didn’t expect that,” said Muralitharan in a conversation with IANS on the sidelines of the OTT launch of his biopic “800” on JioCinema happening on Saturday.

Moreover, 24 hours after their World Cup campaign ended, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership with immediate effect due to government interference in administration, though they can still play international matches.

Muralitharan was also left saddened over the sad turn of off-field events. “Also, so many problems are happening back home. This Cricket Broad and the country have helped me come to this position. I would say, it’s a mess at the moment and somebody has to come in to get all things right.”

Widely regarded as one of the greatest spin bowlers to have ever played the sport, Muralitharan, the member of 1996 ODI World Cup winning side, is the only bowler to take 800 Test wickets, while taking 534 scalps in ODIs.

Post his playing career, Muralitharan has been the bowling coach of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad since 2015, apart from being spin bowling consultants for Bengal domestic team and Australia. He expressed that Hyderabad, who ended at bottom of points table in last year’s IPL, can put up a much better showing in the 2024 season.