Chinese invade local cricket
View(s):For the first time a Chinese Company has come forward to sponsor the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Under-13 and Under-15 Inter-Academy Cricket Tournament for 2014.
This was revealed at the presentation of the sponsorship package by Chinese Machinery Engineering Corporation to the Mercantile Cricket Association at a press briefing held at the MCA Pavilion on Wednesday.
Zhang Min Xiang (Nathan), the Commercial Manager of CMEC handing over the sponsorship to Ashley Ratnayake, president of MCA - Pic by Anuradha Bandara
The Under-13 and Under-15 tournament matches are scheduled to be played from August 9 to 24. The Under-13 and Under-15 segments will comprise 24 teams each and 67 matches will be played overall in each segment. First round matches will be played on a league basis followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Commenting on the sponsorship Ashley Ratnayake, President of the MCA noted “It is indeed a privilege for the MCA to partner-up with a large Chinese organisation as CMEC. He stressed the importance of staging this sort of tournaments for the youngsters as they are the people who will take the responsibilities of guiding this country in the future and to accept victory and defeat in the true style of sportsmanship.
Partnering an organisation with a gigantic reach and worldwide representation speaks volumes and the recognition MCA has been able to attract not only to the game but even more importantly to our country.
The President also thanked the print and electronic media for being present at the occasion and requested to give a good and fair publicity which will boost the performances of the youngsters.
Ratnayake made a special mention on discipline of both players and supporters where the organisers keep a close eye as there will be a special award for the best disciplined team in both segments.
Addressing the briefing Shalika Weerasooriya, Admin Manager of the CMEC said the organisation is currently involved in many projects that serve the Sri Lankan society and finds the Academy Cricket Tournaments organised by the MCA to be a highly significant event in the Field of Sports in Sri Lanka.
- LR
| Under-13 segment: -Group ‘A’: MCA ‘D’, SSC ‘A’, Lankans ‘B’, Panadura, K.A. School and Nets, Kelaniya -Group ‘B’: MCA ‘A’, CCC ‘A’, SSC ‘B’, Lankans ‘A’, RSA, Kurunegala and Nugegoda -Group ‘C’: MCA ‘B’, CCC ‘B’, Ragama, Gampaha Youth, Anoj Fernando and Kirindiwela -Group ‘D’: MCA ‘C’, Moratuwa, Gampaha, Torrington, SPS Cricket School and Bassilica Under-15 segment: - Group ‘A’: SSC ‘A’ CCC ‘B’, Moratuwa, Asoka de Silva, RPS Maharagama and Homagama -Group ‘B’: CCC ‘A’, MCA ‘B’, Panadura, Walpita Youth, Basilika and Nugegoda -Group ‘C’, Torrington, SSC ‘C’, RSA Kurunegala, Gampaha, JAST and Pelawatte -Group ‘D’: MCA ‘Blue”, SSC ‘B’, Lankans, Ragama, Anoj Fernando and Gampaha Youth |