Sri Lankan youth cricket team drawn in Group B will play their opening fixture of the Under 19 Asia Cup against Kuwait on December 24 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The 9th edition of the Under 19 Asia Cup will commence on December 23with the curtain raiser fixture between India the defending champions and host UAE at ICC Academy Oval 1 in Dubai while on same day Bangladesh will meet Nepal at Sharjah Stadium .
The eight countries divided into two groups will battle for the Asia Cup .. India, Pakistan , Afghanistan and UAE in Group A while Sri Lanka , Bangladesh , Nepal and Kuwait are in Group ‘B ‘ . All the Group ‘A’ matches will be played in Dubai at ICC Academy Oval 1 grounds while all the ‘B’ Group matches scheduled to be played at Sharjah Stadium .
Sri Lanka team already in Bio Bubble at Colombo Hotel scheduled to do two day practice sessions and will leave tomorrow (21). Sri Lanka’s other fixtures in the group will be against Nepal on December 26 and Bangladesh on December 28, both matches also at Sharjah.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals to be played on December 30 in Dubai (ICC Academy Oval 1) and Sharjah while final will be played on December 31 at Dubai International cricket stadium,
Sri Lanka youth team will be led by all rounder Dunith Wellalage is looking to win maiden Asia Cup as they couldn’t win Asia Cup during last eight editions . The inaugural Asia under 19 cup was held in 1989 in Bangladesh when India won the championships defeating Sri Lanka by 79 runs to clinch the title . The runner up Sri Lanka team was led by Marvan Atapattu while current National selection committee chairman Promodya Wickramasinghe , current junior selection committee member Varuna Waragoda and present ICC Cricket umpire Kumar Dharmasena were in the Sri Lankan youth team in this inaugural edition .
India has won highest number of championships in Asia Cup history with seven times in 1989, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2019 while Pakistan won once 2912 (tied with India ) and Afghanistan won once in 2017 while Sri Lanka have entered the finals four times 1989 (Captain Marvan Atapattu ) , 2003( Captain Farveez Maharoof ) ,2016(Captain Kamindu Mendis ) and 2018 (Captain Nipun Dhananjaya) but they had to be satisfied being runners up all four times losing to same opponent India .
Having completed two successful Under-19 series against Bangladesh and England, Sri Lanka Under 19 team was confident to take up the challenge in the Asia Cup . The side is packed with all rounders while spin department and middle order batting are very strong . Especially they have a good chance to perform well at the group matches at the Sharjah wicket to reach semi final . Skipper Dunith Wellalage , deputy Skipper Raveen de Silva , Wanuja Sahan the front line leg spinners together with off spinners Shevon Daniel ,Trevin Mathew and Sadisha Rajapaksa are in good form while 16 year old Malsha Tharupathi from Madampa MV the right arm leg spinner also good promising player of the side. Malsha get this chance to gain experience at National under 19 team at this age and he has good potential to play two more years in this age group which will be of benefit to him . The pace bowlers Yasiru Rodrigo , Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Matheesha Pathirana had previous world cup experience while Vinuja Ranpul also useful bowling all rounder . In addition Sri Lankan players fielding was of a high standard during their two winning series and their fighting spirit was high against Bangladesh and England and all these are big advantage for them to go forward .
fielding coach Upul Chandana highly impressed with his players fielding that also a plus point to get success . The spin coach Sachith Pathirana is impressed by the spinners while fast bowling coach Chamila Gamage also confident about his pacemen. Their support very vital for the head coach Avishka Gunawardena .
Sri Lankan batting side strengthened by left hander Pawan Pathiraja the inform number three batter having both successful Bangladesh and England series , Shevon Daniel , Skipper Wellalage , Raveen de Silva , Ranuda Somaratne , Chamindu Wickramasinghe and two wicket keepers Anjala Bandara and Sadeesh Jayawardena .Two players Abhishek Liyanarachchi and , Sakuna Liyanage also top order batters who came to the side for England series while Lahiru Abeysinghe couldn’t enter the team last moment due to injury
The 17 players are ready for the Asia Cup and they will leave on 21st and after one day practice they will play their first Asia cup game against Kuwait. Sri Lanka have to play Kuwait , Nepal and Bangladesh and good chance to enter the final this time and their preparation during last three months was very successful with two match series win against Bangladesh and England . The head coach Avishka Guanwardena is very confident about this young side and Junior Selection committee headed by Ranjith Madurusinghe and two members Varuna Waragoda and S H U Karnain gave good service to pick cream of the players to the side during this hard period .
Meanwhile Sri Lanka team for the U-19 Asia Cup will most probably be the same for the U-19 World Cup in the West Indies as Sri Lanka are due to fly from Dubai direct to the Caribbean at the end of the U-19 Asia Cup. The U-19 World Cup will be held from 14 January to 5 February with 16 teams participating. Sri Lanka are in Group D with Scotland, Australia and host country West Indies. Before the World Cup series in West Indies this Asia Cup success always will big boost to all players and Sri Lankan team is expected to conclude on a high note at the Asia Cup before most important World Cup
Sri Lanka under 19 squad for Asia Cup (subject to approval ) Dunith Wellalage (Captain – St. Joseph’s, Colombo)Raveen De Silva (Nalanda , Colombo) Sadeesha Jayawardena (St. Joseph’s, Colombo) Pawan Pathiraja (Trinity ) , Chamindu Wickramasinghe (St. Anthony’s, Katugasthota), Vinuja Ranpul (Nalanda , Colombo), Sadisha Rajapaksa (Royal College, Colombo), Shevon Daniel (St. Joseph’s, Colombo), Malsha Tharupathi Madampe MMV, ), Wanuja Sahan (St. Peter’s , Colombo), Treveen Mathew (St. Anthony’s , Katugasthota), Yasiru Rodrigo (S. Thomas’, Mount Lavinia), Matheesha Pathirana (Trinity, Kandy),, Abhishek Liyanarachchi (D.S. Senanayake Colombo ), Ranuda Somaratne (Trinity ), Anjala Bandara (St Anthony’s College, Katugastota ) Sakuna Liyanage (Lumbini College) Avishka Gunawardena (Head coach), Chamila Gamage (Fast bowling coach ) Upul Chandana (Fielding coach ), Sachith Pathirana (Spin bowling coach ), Priyantha Wickramsinghe (Physiotherapist )
ACC Under 19 Asia Cup past winners
1989 in Bangladesh – Champions – India , Runners up – Sri Lanka 2003 in Pakistan – Champions – India , Runners up – Sri Lanka 2012 in Malaysia – India and Pakistan final match tied and Trophy was shared 2013-14 in UAE – Champions – India , Runners up – Pakistan 2016 in Sri Lanka – Champions India – Runners up Sri Lanka 2017 in Malaysia –Champions – Afghanistan – Runners up- Pakistan 2018 in Bangladesh – Champions – India – Runners up – Sri Lanka 2019 in Sri Lanka – Champions- India – Runners up- Bangladesh