Trevor Chappell, Pak psycho for Lankans

A three-day `Couch Counselling’ session by psychologist Omar Khan began today to make the 15-member squad `mentally tough’.

Team manager Duleep Mendis, who was re-appointed to the post replacing Ranjit Fernando, told newsmen here that the board sought the help of a psychologist to strengthen the mental fitness and resolve of the players, who appeared dispirited after their series of recent losses.

Despite Sri Lanka’s poor run in four successive international tournaments, Mendis fancies his team among the frontrunners alongwith South Africa, Australia, Pakistan.

Chief executive officer of the cricket board, Dhammika Ranatunga,brother of skipper Arjuna, said last month’s management crisis had also badly affected the team morale, even as players brushed aside a previously scheduled press conference and rushed off for counselling.

He said it would be `unrealistic’ to say that the bitterly fought election has no impact on the morale of the team.

“If I say that the crisis did not affect the morale of the team, then I am telling you a lie,” he said and added that the players were professionals and knew how to cope up with the situation.

The team would be leaving for England on April 24 to get acclimatised to English conditions, he added.

AFP adds: Mendis, however, played down the crisis at the cricket board which has now gone before a Colombo district court following allegations of malpractice at the elections held last month.

“I don’t think the elections affected the players because we tried to keep them away from the management side and got them to concentrate on cricket,” Mendis said adding that they were betterprepared to defend the World Cup.

Mendis said the 15-member squad led by Ranatunga will have a `new strategy’ to defend the title. “The new strategy will be revealed when we go to England,” he said.

Dhammika said the Sri Lankan team has seen a marked improvement in their fielding following the induction of Trevor Chappell as coach.

“What we found was that when he tried new players we did not do too well and we were better off with the more experienced players. That is why we have very senior and experienced players in the squad.”