Upul Tharanga heads new cricket Selection Committee

Former Sri Lanka Skipper and opener Upul Tharanga was named new chairman of the National cricket selection committee while four other former National players Tharanga Paranawithana, Ajantha Mendis , Dilruwan Perera and Indika de Saram are also in the committee approved by the Sports Minister Harin Fernado yesterday.

The new selection committee is effective from yesterday and they are expected to meet the Sri Lanka Cricket officials before assuming duties. This is the first time young cricketers who recently retired from International cricket are in the National cricket selection committee.

Sri Lanka Cricket sent 10 names and National Sports Council and National Selection Committee considered these names and finally selected this five member committee.

The 38 year old left hander Upul Tharanga a product from Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda is the youngest ever Sri Lanka National selection committee chairman and has big responsibility to work with his four member team having played together in National cricket. Tharanga who captained the Dharmasoka later played for the National under 19 team and his second home NCC gave much needed exposure for him to earn National cap.

Having played 31 test matches scoring 1754 runs with 3 centuries and 235 ODI’s and scored 6951 runs with 15 centuries and 31 half centuries and also got a chance to play 26 T-20 internationals. He played International cricket from 2005 to 2019 and as an opener he had lot of experience and at one time he was white ball skipper of the National team. Upul played his last first class match for NCC against Chilaw Marians CC on November 10 later played for Legends cricket team in India.

The 41 year old left hand opener Tharanga Paranavitana a product of St Mary’s College Kegalle later played for SSC having played 32 tests scoring 1792 runs with 2 centuries and 11 half centuries and retired from cricket becoming an umpire and finally he was the Moors SC head coach.

The 38 year old mystery spinner Ajanatha Mendis, product of Moratu MV continues to be an effective spinner in shorter formats where batsmen don’t have much time to adjust. He had the best T-20 figures at one time and had ability to bowl carrom balls, googlies, off breaks, top spinners However due to injury he played only from 2008 to 2015 and played 19 tests taking 70 wickets and played 87 ODI’s and 152 wickets and T-20 39 taking 66 wickets with best figures of 6 for 8. Later Mendis was Army SC spin specialist coach.

Indika de Saram the 50 year old right hand dashing stroke maker and wicket keeper played 4 tests and 15 ODI’’s and a T-20 international. The former St Thomas Matara cricketer played for Tamil Union , Colts CC, Ragama CC, Bloomfield, Moors SC and joined Panadura SC as coach and he was in good form during the Major club cricket season and his last first class match for Panadura SC against CCC on December 1.

Dilruwan Perera a product of Sri Sumangala Panadura was a fine off spinner . The 41 year old all rounder came to the National side as an opener for ODI team later became the main off spinner after Muttiah Muralitharan.

Perera played 43 tests scoring 1303 runs with 7 fifties and capturing 161 wickets with best figures of 6 for 32 and played 13 ODI’s and 3 T-20 from 2007 to 2018. Dilruwan Perera played for Panadura SC, Chilaw Marians , Colts CC and later played for BRC and his last first class match for BRC was against Kandy Customs CC on November 17.

The five member selection committee led by Upul Tharanga is ready to take on a new challenge and their first duty is to select a ODI team for Zimbabwe series which will commence on January 6.

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