Hashan Seneviratne is set to make history as the first Sri Lankan baseball player participating in the prestigious professional Franchise League tournament organized by United Baseball in Dubai. The event is scheduled to take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on November 24 and 25.
Seneviratne secured a significant contract with United East, marking him as the first Sri Lankan baseball player to achieve such a feat in the Baseball United All-Star League. This unique league features two teams, United East and United West, facing off in an all-star showcase with a substantial cash prize on the line.
The accomplished player had previously represented the Sri Lanka National Team in the Western Asian Baseball Championship earlier this year and was first selected for the Under-18 Sri Lanka National Team in 2018. Hailing from Wewalawewa Maha Vidyalaya in Dambulla, Seneviratne also played a pivotal role in the Asian Baseball Championship held in Japan in 2018, where Sri Lanka secured the fifth position.
During that championship, Seneviratne’s remarkable catch garnered attention, making headlines in Japanese newspapers and gaining widespread publicity in Japan. This recognition sets him apart on an international stage.
The United All-Star League boasts participation from professional baseball players representing prominent nations such as the USA and players from Major League Baseball (MLB), the world’s highly-paid franchise baseball tournament where multimillion-dollar contracts are the norm.
This presents a significant opportunity for the Sri Lankan player to compete with top-notch athletes in a world-class atmosphere. The organizers have extended an invitation to eight players from the Indian-subcontinent region, including three players from India, three from Pakistan, one from Sri Lanka, and one from Uganda.
Given Seneviratne’s consistent performance, the Sri Lanka National Baseball Federation was prompted to submit a list of potential players for consideration. Following a thorough selection process involving video assessments and a review of past tournament performances, the 23-year-old Seneviratne emerged as the chosen representative.
It’s worth noting that the organizers had a presence at the West Asian Baseball Championship held in Islamabad, Pakistan, in March this year, where seven countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Palestine, participated in the tournament.
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