From Jeyasooriyam to Jayasuriya
Cricket in the war-affected North and East of Sri Lanka earned a morale-boosting victory over the past week as three of its young stars,
SLC’s Kamal Dharmasiri handing over the cricket gear to Sanjeewan (L), Tudor (centre) and Silojan (R).
Rishan Tudor, K. Silojen and Jeyasooriyam Sanjeev, were selected into three national pool teams that will square off against each other in a warm-up triangular limited-overs competition leading up to the approaching ICC Champions Trophy.
This tournament, which will be worked off at the Pallekelle Stadium, will see Tudor playing for a Sri Lanka Combined team, Silojan in the Sri Lankan team and Sanjeev representing the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team.
The move perfectly positions Tudor, Silojen – both of whom hail from Jaffna – and the Batticaloa-born Sanjeev for a legitimate push into the national team, provided they can convert on the potential they have displayed by notching up consistent performances. In addition to an opportunity to play in the Champions Trophy in England, players from the three teams will also have a chance to star in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ tour to the West Indies.
Jeyasooriyam Sanjeev while training at the NCC - Pic by Amila Gamage
On Friday, Sanjeev, a versatile all-rounder, was at the Nondescripts Cricket Club for his first training session in Colombo. The 21-year-old says he is gradually adapting to and immensely enjoying this new experience with a team which boasts of stars such as Kithruwan Vithanage, Suranga Lakmal, Dilshan Munaweera and Tharindu Kaushal.
“This is a great opportunity to get selected into the national team and to open the door for other players from the east to break into the side,” Sanjeev says.
Sanjeev reveals that adapting to turf wickets, which are an alien surface to him, has been a slightly daunting task but nevertheless his team’s coaches are providing him with all the necessary advice required to negotiate this challenge. Sanjeev, like the 19-year-old wicketkeeper batsman Tudor and fast bowler Silojen, who is also of the same age, were discovered during the Murali Cup, a charity tournament which featured teams from the north and east. He is thankful for the competition as well as the unending support he receives from coaches and players both in Batticaloa and Colombo.
“During the war we couldn’t practice regularly and travelling to Colombo was difficult to do. As a result only a few played and there was no major interest. Now there are area tournaments and the Cricket Board is encouraging people to take up the game.”
To further encourage their interest Sri Lanka Cricket made arrangements to present the three youngsters with cricketing gears, which will be useful for them during the six-match triangular which begins today at Pallekele.
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