Canada didn't play but learnt a lot while talking to Indian players: Pubudu Dassanayake

Started here, we have Canada head coach Pupaduda Sanayika, if you have a question, please go ahead and raise your hand. I just ask that you state your name and affiliation before asking the question. Coach, massive disappointment and sometime you feel for the spectators who were here for the match. Yeah, I mean, we as like associate country, upcoming country also like, you know, we were looking forward to play against India, but I think sometimes the nature we cannot stop. Last few days there was heavy rain and it's it's all about like, I mean, the ground staff has done a great job to bring the the the facility into this level. But there's still there are enough water around that can damage a player, injure the player. So especially India going into the next round and big games are ahead of them. I don't think anybody wants to raise that. Sadhguru coach, what's your overall assessment of how Canada performed in this World Cup and what are the positives that you will take from this tournament to help the boys perform better in the future? Yeah, like, I mean, being in the associate world for a longer period, the World Cups when you when you when you selected into a World Cup, like it's a big thing. Why? Because the the preparation and the effort that it goes through to the to the team and, and planning like it's going to help down the line. The World Cricket League 250 over cricket, T20T20 cricket coming up and it's it's boosting the the the cricket fans. We are back home and youngsters are watching, you know, that's where you get youngsters are joining to this game, especially in North America. It's not an easy thing to to get these youngsters playing cricket. They have so many other options. Yeah, like coming into World Cup is a real big thing for Canada especially because I think the performance wise, I as a coach, I always want better. But I'm happy how all the games went through and, and I think the fans are really also happy, like, you know, they, you know how the team fared this whole World Cup. I think like, you know, this whole, this last 2-3 weeks will boost cricket in Canada. So you've played for the Canadian National team yourself as a player and now you got to experience a World Cup as a coach. Can you talk about the the progress that you've seen Cricket Canada make into? I don't want to date you, but in the almost two decades since you were a player and and now a coach, you've got a great perspective on sort of the long journey of Cricket Canada. Yeah. I mean, cricket like you know, in Canada always like you know is very popular game and like if you go to the history in 1979 first, I mean they kind of played the first, first World Cup in 50 over and then 2003, 2007, 2011 World Cups and and then from there we had a break until this World Cup. But cricket is growing there. I mean, even though we haven't really showed in the international arena in the last one in last decade, like performance wise, but the number of players, number of you know, young, young cricketers joining into this game has really improved. And we have some great players coming through. And like, you know, I always say that like, you know, Canada can be one of the powerhouse in associated cricket and, and move forward from there. So it's really grow. The game has grown really in Canada. Kuch We saw some of the Indian players interact with yourself and the Canadian players. Can you tell us about the interactions and what it sort of meant for the Canadian players? Sadhguru Yeah, Like, I mean, our, our team, like we have a lot of South Asian players playing in Canada and and they you know, we always like, you know, they are they are childhood heroes are like, you know, these big names. And when you have to play against them, it's always really like, you know, big thing for them. Like we were pumped up to play, play the match. But, but like, you know, even with the, for us to have a chat with them and, and talk about a bit of cricket, their experience. And some of the players were talking about like, you know, to, to improve their game. They're trying to get their insight. We had a good interaction so far. And and like, you know, I think for the for the whole team, I think it's a great feeling to be around this atmosphere. Plus these big names, I'm sure even though we didn't play today, we, we, we learn a lot by talking to them as well. Coach to not have a game today. Was it totally the officials call or did the teams have a say or opinion view on this, whether to play or not where they concentrated? No, I mean, it's totally officials calls call because I think we all both teams wants to play. And I think though, even though officials really wanted to play, they worked very hard to get get the game going. But there are areas on the ground that is not improved like, you know, from yesterday itself, like, you know, there's a few water paddles still there. So basically the game is called off due to the to like, you know, there's nobody wants to get injured like, you know, especially India team moving forward into into a next stage. That's the only reason. And and and it was totally the officials call it, It looked like it's just one part of the field. That seems to be that, you know, that round cow corner facing this end is is the rest of the field OK? Is there some drainage problem? Do you think in that corner or something? Sadhguru the rest of the field was OK and just that one corner. But like, you know, when it comes to safety, like, you know, the whole ground needs to be perfect for us to play. I'm not sure about the drainage system and stuff, but I, I think I just want to give credit to the ground staff. They have done a tremendous job to, you know, whatever they can improve, but still it was not up there to for us to play. Thank you, thank you, thank you.