Has Sri Lanka dismantled Matheesha Pathirana?

Matheesha Pathirana

By Harsha Amarasinghe 

Having played in the most competitive franchise cricket league in the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL) even before his debut for Sri Lanka, Matheesha Pathirana was primed to be the next big thing in Sri Lankan pace bowling history. But fast forward two years, he finds himself in a situation where he’d be incredibly lucky to be included in the squad for T20 World Cup. 
Pathirana who wasn’t regularly featured for Sri Lanka in the last few months, made a comeback on the tour of Zimbabwe but could barely hit the same levels in his only appearance of the Asia Cup. He looks totally different to the bowler he once was. 
So from the teenager who rattled the best batsmen in the world in the shortest format, how has the slinger gone on to become a very less impactful bowler?
When analysing Pathirana, it’s really important to have a look at what really did work for him initially when he was discovered by one of sport’s greatest captains MS Dhoni. 
It had been reported that Dhoni was the one to push the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) scouts to have a good look at Pathirana before eventually signing him as a replacement. 
Under Dhoni, Pathirana still did bowl a number of wide deliveries but CSK were able to make the most of his talent making him a match-winner. At CSK, Pathirana’s role was very simple. He’d consistently try to bowl the Yorkers and occasionally surprising the batsmen with the quick short ball. Dhoni would continuously guide him on Yorkers and wide Yorkers that was enough for him to be successful at that level. 
However, since joining the national camp, it’s clearly seen that he has been trying all sorts of things. It appears that the fast bowling coaches have made an attempt to work on a slower ball but it hasn’t really worked out for Pathirana as batsmen seem to easily pick the deliveries.
In one of the recent games Pathirana was seen taking the new ball and trying to swing it which is slightly difficult given his action, but not impossible. Lasith Malinga who is easily the most successful T20 bowler Sri Lanka has ever produced was able to swing the ball beautifully but Pathirana bowls with a more slinging action. Whenever he plays for CSK, though he’d always start his spell after the tenth over when the field is spread, CSK has barely tried to make him take the new ball. 
At this moment the former Trinity College bowler looks like someone who has been given far too many instructions and Sri Lanka needs to simplify his game in order to get the best out of him.