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| Sunday, 2 June 2002 |
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Opening of Cricket Academy another meaningful step taken by MCA - Hemaka Amarasuriya by RANJAN ANANDAPPA The Mercantile Cricket Association took another major step forward towards the development of Sri Lanka cricket when the Mercantile Cricket Academy was ceremonially declared opened for by the Chairman of the Interim Committee of The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, Hemaka Amarasuriya at the MCA indoor nets premises yesterday. Amarasuriya a patron of the MCA said that he was a great admirer of the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) considering the manner in which things were done and ascribed its success to the previous regimes as well. It's like in a relay handing over the batton to continue the great tradition to take over office, said Mr. Amarasuriya. "It is very meaningful opening a cricket academy at this juncture as the BCCSL will soon be launching on a talent hunt for the development of the game. The academy will no doubt enhance the young cricketers to think cricket independently without being remotely controlled by the coach from the pavilion which happens now in most school matches", said the Interim Committee Chairman. He further reminded the significant role that the media has to play towards the game and appealed to the press to support positively. "The present cricket administration has its shortcomings, and the media could play a vital role supporting positively. Previous cricket boards have done wonderfully well to bring Sri Lanka's cricket status to the standards which we are enjoying now. Not only the juniors, even the seniors have been performing better than the West Indies, India and even Pakistan at times". Chris Obeysekere the President of the Mercantile Cricket Association said that the ambition of the Cricket Academy was to take cricket to the forefront. The academy helps to develop ways and means of a cricketer and he pointed out that the MCA was predominant in producing ninety percent of the national and test players and captains. He also brought to the notice of all present the services rendered by the past presidents and officials of the MCA who played significant roles to develop the game. Besides the Cricket Board controlled, tournaments the MCA conducted tourneys come next in line, said Obeysekere. The Mercantile Cricket Academy will train young cricketers from age 10 upwards. It is open to children of employees from MCA member firms and the public. The MCA Cricket Development Committee is headed by former Ananda College and NCC cricketer Adel Hashim along with Basil Perera, Jerry Woutersz, Ranjith Rajapakse, Ashley Ratnayake, Gamini Wickremasinghe, and Kumar Samarasinghe. Sarath Perera, a former Sebastianite cricketer is the coach. |
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