Sri Lanka U.19 takes on Bangladesh U.19 in five one dayers

By Sajeewa Jayakody

Sri Lanka U19 cricket team is due to take on the touring Bangladesh counterparts in the first of five one-day games which starts at the Colts Cricket Club grounds, Colombo today.

The well prepared Sri Lanka Youth outfit, led by talented Richmond College cricketer Charith Asalanka while Saif Hassan will captain the tourists who are bolstered with four experienced players, who took part in the Youth World Cup held in Dubai last year.

The all five one-day games have been scheduled to be played in Colombo Colts Cricket grounds, R. Premadasa Stadium and the SSC grounds before the teams move for two three-day matches to be played in Dambulla and in Kandy.

The 32-member Sri Lanka ‘pool’ has been practising for some time under the guidance of former Sri Lanka Test cricketers Head Coach Roger Wijesooriya and special Batting Coach Roy Dias.

Former Test cricketer and Sri Lanka U19 Head Coach Roger Wijesooriya said: “We mustn’t think that this 32 is the best 32. Another 25 or 30 talented players are outside. It’s not a thing to discourage them. We are going to a another stage to the Development Squad. From there to the Sri Lanka ‘A’ Squad. When they move out, another nine will be coming in. Our duty is to always see whether they are climbing the ladder and put them to another stage,” said the mentor of Sri Lanka Youth cricketers.

SLC has planned to conduct an Under-17 Zonal Tournament and U19 tournament will be conducted in early May.

Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Cricket Boards agreed to play this series for building their teams for the Under-19 World Cup which is scheduled to play in Bangladesh in January-February 2016.

To provide much needed exposure for budding cricketers in the country, Sri Lanka Cricket has already arranged a few home and overseas tours before next year’s Youth World Cup.

“It’s a big occasion to me and my team to show our skills and to get experience to play in SL ‘A’ and in the national side in the future,” said Charith Asalanka, the captain.

“Last year we played against Australia and we won that series. We focus on the experience what we gain apart from the win or lose. We have to get more experience to play the next year World Cup,” said Asalanka.

Pakistan U19 will be coming to Sri Lanka in October this year before Sri Lanka U19 will be touring India in the following month. Then England U19 will be here in Sri Lanka in December.

Sri Lanka U19 squad: Charith Asalanka (Captain, Richmond College), Avishka Fernando (Vice Captain, St. Sebastian’s College), Lasith Lakshan (St. Thomas, Matara), Kaveen Bandara (D.S. Senanayake College), Sahan Arachchige (Ananda College), Vishad Randika (Isipathana College), Wanindu Hasaranga (Richmond College), Chamika Karunaratne (Royal College), Damith Silva (Maliyadeva College), Nushan Weerasinghe (Trinity College), Asitha Fernando (St. Sebastian’s College), Lahiru Kumara (Trinity College), Kehan Wijeratne (Maliyadeva College), Nishan Peiris (St. Peter’s College), Pasindu Isira (Air Force), Shammu Ashan (Ananda College), Duvindu Tillekeratne (Trinity College).

Bangladesh U19 squad: Mohammed Saif Hassan (Captain), Joyraj Sheik Imon, Munim Shahriar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Shaif Uddin, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nahid Hasan, Mohammad Abdul Halim, Prosenjit Das, Shahanur Rahman, Mehede Hasan, Ahmed Shawon Gazi, Sanjit Saha.

Standbys: Shaflul Hayet, Sifat Islam Meem, Jaker Ali Anik, Rifat Pradhan.

Match schedule:

1st one-day match on January 18 (Sunday) at Colts
2nd one-day match on January 20 (Tuesday) at Colts
3rd one-day match on January 22 (Thursday) at R. Premadasa Stadium
4th one-day match on January 24 (Saturday) at R. Premadasa Stadium
5th one-day match on January 25 (Sunday) at SSC grounds

1st three-day match on January 28 to 30 at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
2nd three-day match on February 2 to 4 at Pallekele