We knew how they would react, says Hathurusingha

Both Mahmudullah Riyad and Chandika Hathurunsinga recognized the fact that the Lankan coach's knowledge of the Tigers' players played a crucial part in Sri Lanka's tour of Bangladesh.

Hathurusingha seemed to have a general idea of how his former players would react when put under pressure.

"I think yes, to be honest. We had some strategic plans for some of the players. We knew how they would react under pressure," the Lankan coach replied when asked if his knowledge of the Tigers was the difference between the two teams.

Tigers had won by their biggest margin in ODIs in the first encounter against their former coach following a 163-run victory in the tri-series. However, Lankans came back into the series and eventually clinched it, thanks to an aggressive brand of cricket. Sri Lanka went onto clinch the Test series as well and lead the two-match T20 series 1-0. Tigers faltered when Lankans put in immense effort

"They came very hard in the first two games, which I expected. If that didn't happen, I would have been very disappointed. I have never not left something behind. I was happy about it, and then happy about how we came back as well.

While he suggested that the Lankan performances ensured a satisfying tour for him, nonetheless the former Tigers coach reiterated that he wants Bangladesh to do well and that he would be keeping an eye on their progress.

Tigers' stand-in skipper Mahmudullah Riyad also suggested that Hathurunsinga used the knowledge he had on Bangladesh and the Tigers could not perform up to expectations.

"He knows pretty much everything about us. He definitely used that information. He is a quality coach, and he has the capability. But if we had done our job properly, we would have been winning and we wouldn't have had to talk about this," Riyad concluded.