Sri Lanka brimming with confidence for U.19 World Cup Cricket

By Ranjan Anandappa

UNDER 19 CRICKET TOUR...... : Defeating Australia in any format of a game of cricket is something to cherish for the players, and Sri Lanka after their 3-0 morale boosting limited overs win against Australia on Thursday will certainly embark to the UAE with a load of confidence to participate at the Under 19 World Cup tournament to be held from February 14 to 28. The team left yesterday (Saturday 8) evening to the UAE.

Sri Lanka will take on New Zealand on February 14 at the Sharjah Cricket Grounds, England on February 16 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the UAE on February 18 in Abu Dhabi.

The first two teams in each group will meet each other in the quarter-finals.

The Lankans are in group ‘D’ along with England, New Zealand and the host UAE.

All 10 Test playing nations and 6 associate members who have qualified in the preliminary stage, have been drawn into four groups. The associate members Afghanistan-champions of 2013 ACC under 19 Elite Cup, Namibia-champions of 2013 ICC Africa Under 19 Qualifier, Scotland-champion of 2013 under 19 Europe division. Papua New Guinea-champion of 2013 EAP Under 19 Champs and Canada Champion of 2013 ICC American Under 19 Championship Division 1 and the UAE.

The first tournament held in (1988) was significant for the number of future players who later went on to represent their countries at the highest level.

Naser Hussain, Mike Atherton, Venkatapathy Raju, Chris Cairns, Mushtaq Ahamed, Inzamam-Ul-Haq, Sanath Jayasuriya, Brian Lara, Ridley Jacobs, Jimmy Adams to name a few.

The passage of tourney

After the first championship held in 1988, it took a decade for the next competition (1998) when it was relaunched in South Africa as a biennial tournament which included countries from nine Test playing nations and seven associate member teams. England won the final beating New Zealand. That tournament saw the emergence of Chris Gayle who was the leading run getter (364) and another West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan.

* In year 2000, the championship was held in Sri Lanka which India won. South African Graeme Smith, Pakistan’s Zahid Saeed, India’s Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif were the key players. Sri Lanka had players like Jehan Mubarak and Kaushal Lokuarachchi to name a couple.

* When the championship was held in 2002 in New Zealand, Australia won under Cameron White. Xavier Doherty and Zimbabwe’s Tatenda Taibu were the key players.

* In 2004 held in Bangladesh, Pakistan were the winners. India’s Shikhar Dhawan was the leading run getter and Bangladesh’s Enamul Haq was the leading wicket taker.

* In 2006 when the championship was held in Sri Lanka once again Pakistan beat India.

* In 2008, held in Malaysia, India beat South Africa under the leadership of Virat Kholi.

* In the 2010 championship held in New Zealand Australia beat Pakistan.

* In 2012 contest held in Australia, India won the ‘Cup.

Lankans well prepared

In preparation for the Championship, Australia playing in group ‘B’ along with Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Namibia arrived in Sri Lanka to meet their counterparts in three ODI games with the Lankans winning all three games easily.

The Lankans after the Under 19 Asia Cup which was also held in the UAE in December last year, had a good opportunity to asses their strength besides playing against the juniors in the sub-continent. The young Aussies playing under different conditions were unable to live up to expectations and will have food for thought while playing in the desert land which conditions are almost similar to the one’s in the sub-continent.

According to Sri Lanka coach Naveed Nawaz, the team had a perfect preparation by winning all three games against former champions which will no doubt put the side in a good frame of mind prior to the commencement of the tourney. The Lankans are playing as a team with most of the players giving one hundred percent. The side is captained by Kusal Mendis of Prince of Wales College who also led the team at the Under 19 Asia Cup.

Kusal Mendis has led from the front scoring a century while Minodh Banuka, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Thilaksha Sumanasiri and Priyamal Perera being among the runs. Perera, Anuk Fernando and Harsha Rajapaksha have proved their all-round capabilities.

Tournament has gathered since 1988

This tournament which began as the McDonald’s Bicentennial Youth World Cup in 1988, has gone from strength to strength since it’s inception and has been a stepping stone for future cricketers. In the inaugural championship, which took place in South Australia and Victoria and teams from seven Test playing nations along with an ICC Associate XI met each other in a round-robin basis and Australia beat Pakistan in the final.

The Sri Lanka Under 19 squad for World Cup in the UAE: From February 15 to 28th, 2014:

Kusal Mendis (Captain) Prince of Wales, Hashan Dumindu (Gurukula, Kelaniya), Minodh Bhanuka (Maliyadeva), Sadeera Samarawickrema (St. Joseph’s), Kavindu Kulasekera (Thurstan), Thilaksha Sumanasiri (S. Thomas’, Mount Lavinia), Priyamal Perera (St. Joseph’s), Hashen Ramanayake (Royal), Binura Fernando (D.S. Senanayake), Anuk Fernando (St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa), Hashan Vimarshana (St. Thomas’, Matara), A.K. Tyronne (Richmond), Lakshan Jayasinghe (Trinity), Ramesh Mendis (Dharmasoka), Harsha Rajapaksha (Sri Rahula, Matara).

16 teams in four groups.

In group ‘A’- India, Pakistan, Scotland, Papua New Guinea:
In group ‘B’ Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Namibia:
In group ‘C’ South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Canada:
In group ‘D’ Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England and host United Arab Emirates.