Today who I am is purely because of my father, says Lanka’s mourning women team captain Shashikala Siriwardene
MUMBAI: Shashikala Siriwardene, the Sri Lankan women team captain has given full credit to her father, who died yesterday
after a brief illness.
“Today who I am is purely because of him. He took me practice since I was 11 to till I got married”, the mourning captain, speaking exclusively over her mobile, replied when requested to describe her father in best possible shortest ways.
Her father had great influence in her life. She learnt this game from her brother but it was one of her father’s friends (Jayantha Dissanayaka) who introduced her to the right man for the leather-ball cricket.
Captains of Asia’s two leading women teams have expressed sadness over the death of Denzil Siriwardene.
“Oh, how sad…”, Mithali Raj, India’s women captain reacted initially, when the news was first conveyed to her.
“As girls, our first hero has always been our fathers. The father is the first person who motivates us the right path. Losing a dad is a huge loss and may God give her (Shashikala) strength to deal with the situation”, Mithali Raj said.
The Pak women skipper Sana Mir was not far behind to console Sri Lankan captain.
“I would like to extend deepest condolence from my side and the entire Pakistani team. Shashi is a dear friend to all of us”.
“May God give her and her family the strength to bear the loss”, she said further.