Massive plans underway develop cricket in Matale

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr

CRICKET: Massive plans are in place for the development of cricket in the hockey town of Matale which includes a new cricket ground with modern facilities and the development of the available infrastructure.

This was disclosed at a media briefing of the Matale District Cricket Association by the Vice President of the Association Ravi Punchihewa held at the Matale Rest House.

Ravi Punchihewa said that Matale, though possessing one of the best hockey stadiums in Sri Lanka, does not have a cricket ground. The only public ground available is Bernard Aluwihare Stadium which is used for all sports like athletics, hockey, rugby, football, cricket and therefore the demand is high. It is under this critical position that it has been proposed to have a new cricket ground adjoining the Nandamithra Ekanayake Hockey Stadium where a philanthropist had agreed to donate the required land.

Ravi Punchihewa said that the Chairman of the National Development Centre Priyantha Algama has agreed to support the construction of the new ground for Matale (near Wariyapola Estate) which will help the 11 cricket playing clubs and numerous schools in playing and developing the game. This ground will have a turf wicket and side wickets for practices.

There is only Matale CC playing Division I cricket from the Matale District. With the developing of the infrastructure more clubs would benefit. This land is seven acres in extent and the Deputy Minister Mr. Rohana Dissanayake too has agreed to extend his support for the successful implementation of this project.

Ravi Punchihewa also thanked the Director Cricket Operations of Sri Lanka Cricket Bandula Warnapura and Manager Coaching Malcolm Perera along with Provincial Coach Ajith Ekanayake and the President of the Matale District CA Upali Sirisena who visited the sites and made a preliminary study of the projects. They too were in agreement that the infrastructure available in the Matale district for clubs and schools need development.

Ravi Punchihewa said that among the other projects to be implemented are: St. Thomas College, Matale. A new centre astro turf wicket is to come up which will be similar to natural turf wicket except the materials used will be synthetic and the maintenance will be almost nil. This will be of great advantage to the school cricketers to get themselves acclimatised to turf wickets and they could hold their own when they play leading schools from Kandy, Kurunegala and Colombo on turf wickets.

Dambulla Central College grounds will be provided with a sprinkler system for the water for the grounds. Christ Church College, Matale will be provided with a practice astro turf wicket on the side. Similar astro turf wickets will also be provided to Sigiri Maha Vidyalaya, Weera Keppetipola Central College, Akuramboda, and Hindu College, Matale.

Repairs to the existing concrete wickets at St. Thomas College, Matale, Viajaya College, Matale, Kaikawela Central College and Dambulla Central College will be made so that the cricketers could develop their individual skills.

Ravi Punchihewa in conclusion thanked the present Interia Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket for the positive steps taken for the development of cricket in the Matale District by uplifting the infrastructure available. Matale cricket in turn could help the cause if cricket in Sri Lanka by providing talented cricketers who without the infrastructure and other facilities and of course without the proper guidance would fall by the wayside.