SLC to embark on Rs 100M project to upgrade cricket
Sri Lanka Cricket is launching a Rs 100 million programme to upgrade its facilities for training and practices for national cricketers of all grades.
The futuristic plan will contain a new swimming pool, indoor net and dormitory facilities for the national cricketers at the existing Max Academy at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
The national team practicing at the Max Academy - Pic by Amila Gamage
CEO Sri Lanka Cricket Ashley de Silva speaking to the Sunday Times said “Yes, it is in the pipeline and in the planning stages. We are hoping to ratify the project with executive committee approval very soon and we hope to embark on preliminary work before the end of this year”.
Meanwhile another SLC insider commenting on the project said “It is the timeliest project that we are embarking on. We are aware that some of the young cricketers who are in the junior squads come from very disadvantaged backgrounds. Some even do not have the bus fare to report for practices, leave alone meals. So, a project of this nature is more of a necessity than a facility. The swimming pool and the indoor nets of course were long felt needs and something that the cricketers really lacked.”
It is also understood that SLC authorities have approved varying grants for approximately twenty leading clubs and associations whose up 
grading proposals have been agreed upon and the monies are to be released soon.
Meanwhile biomechanical experts at the University of Western Australia feel that it is too early to expose Sri Lankan off spinner Sachithra Senanayake for a retest on his bowling action which was found fault with by the ICC consequent to the tests done at the Cardiff University, England.
Jacqueline Alderson of the University of Western Australia where Senanayake was sent for rehabilitation has written to the SLC stating “We are still processing all of the data as he is modelling it in multiple ways such that I can advise regarding the most conservative method for modelling data. I imagine we will send the reports over the weekend.
If you are seeking my advice concerning the venue for a retest then I would be very careful at this time to suggest any venue. Probably Loughborough or Brisbane I would imagine. I would not be keen to use Chennai at this time given their inexperience. I’m not convinced about Brisbane as yet either but I hear they tested Ajmal on Monday and have been practising using the new modelling procedures.
In short though, I think it would be very unwise to be sending ‘Sachi’ for retesting just yet as he is still too close to the limits and without knowing how the data is modelled it is impossible to even estimate what the ICC process will return.”
However it is learned that Senanayake at present is working with his remodelled action as per the changes recommended by Daryl Foster at the Max Academy. He feels that would help him to make a comeback to international cricket. At the moment he is working on all four varieties that he normally uses at international matches and with the adjusted action he does not feel any discomfort.
Senanayake, a pivotal part of the Lankan T20 World Cup winning combination in Bangladesh was reported by the ICC match officials during the Sri Lanka-England ODI series in England and was subsequently sent to the Cardiff University for testing. After the tests proved that his arm bend exceeded the permitted 15 degrees he was banned by the ICC in taking part in international matches.
The original testing levels which was reported to be at 36 – 40 degrees now has been brought to border levels (Sachithra went through three rounds of tests at this facility), but, the experts at the Western Australian University feel that more work has to be done with the bowler before he is exposed to any further tests.