Sri Lanka start preparations for U-19 Cricket World Cup

On Jul 7, 2021

The National Cricket Selectors have picked 75 talented school cricketers targeting the 14th edition of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies next year.

Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe have already booked their place by virtue of their top 11 finish in the 2020 edition.

The remaining five spots will be determined by regional qualification, which will be fought out between 34 teams.

The residential training camps will be held from July 12 to August 1 at two venues Asgiriya Stadium and at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.

The main intention will be to select a 30-member squad for the upcoming Youth International tours and eventually a squad for the 2022 Under-19 World Cup in the West Indies.

The present Under-19 Interim Coach Dhammika Sudharshan along with several coaches from the SLC High-Performance Centre will conduct this special training programme.

Following are the players selected for the special training programme:

Western Province North: Sahil Dias (Wesley), Bawantha Jayasinghe (Thurstan), Sadeesh Jayawardena (St. Joseph’s), Sithija Hewawitharana (Gurukula), Shevon Daniel (St. Joseph’s), Vinuja Ranpul (Nalanda), Mineth Premaratne (Ananda), Dunith Wellalage (St. Joseph’s), Raveen de Silva (Nalanda), Irosha Silva (De Mazenod), Nipun Premaratne (Thurstan), Savindu Perera (Maris Stella), Lisura Sigera (Nalanda), Senash Fernando (De Mazenod), Hansaja Jayasinghe (Ananda).

Western Province South: Abhishek Liyanaarachchi (D. S. Senanayake), Sakuna Liyanage (Lumbini), Ryan Fernando (S. Thomas’), Tharindu Amarasinghe (Prince of Wales), Omesh Mendis (Prince of Wales), Lahiru Dawatage (St. Peter’s), Eranga Jayakody (Nalanda), Induwara de Alwis (St. Sebastian’s), Gishan Balasooriya (Royal), Yasiru Rodrigo (S. Thomas’), Danal Hemananda (St. Peter’s), Sadisha Rajapaksa (Royal), Wanuja Sahan (St. Peter’s), Vihanga Dimantha (Lumbini), Charuka Peiris (Sri Sumangala).

Galle: Pawan Sandesh (Devapathiraja), Harindu Jayasekara (St. Thomas’, Matara), Bhanuka Manohara (Richmond), Vishara Rashmika (Richmond), Jeewaka Shasheen (Devapathiraja), Kavindu Thirimanne (Richmond), Nipuna Ruviru (St. Thomas’, Matara), Sasanka Nirmal (Devapathiraja), Dulash Samuditha (Weeraketiya Central), Hansamanna de Silva (Richmond), Malsha Tharupathi (Madampe Central), Danuja Jayaweera (Mahinda), Irushika Thimira (Devapathiraja).

Kandy: Ranuda Somarathne (Trinity), Chandimal Herath (St. Anthony’s), Yasiru Gamaarachchi (St. Anthony’s), Pawan Pathiraja (Trinity), Vibavith Ehelepola (Trinity), Akram Muthalib (Trinity), Anjala Bandara (St. Anthony’s), Asitha Wanniarachchi (St. Anthony’s), Maleesha Silva (St. Sylvester’s), Matheesha Pathirana (Trinity), Divyesh Ramiah (St. Anthony’s), Chamindu Wickramsinghe (St. Anthony’s), Trevin Mathews (St. Anthony’s), Lahiru Abeysinghe (St. Anthony’s), Maleesha Senanayake (St. Mary’s, Kegalle).

Dambulla: Prabudda Premalal (Ibbagamuwa Central), Matheesha Weerasinghe (Maliyadeva), S. Sarangan (Jaffna Central), Nethmal de Soyza (St. Joseph Vaz), Rishi Adishtan (Maliyadeva), Haritha Kaveeshvara (Royal, Polonnaruwa), Dilhara Deshabandu (St. Anne’s), Sakindu Wijerathne (Maliyadeva), Manaan Muzammil (St. Anne’s), Maleesha Thilakaratne (St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya), A. Deshvin (St. Patrick’s, Jaffna), Hasintha Kaushan (St. Joseph Vaz), Vishva Rajapaksa (Moratu MV), Pasindu Tennakoon (Maliyadeva), Danuka Nirmal (St. Joseph Vaz).