A record number of 38 teams lock horns
The 11th Under 14 International Invitation Cricket Tournament for the coveted Nelson Mendis Challenge Trophy organised by the CCC School of Cricket got under way last Thursday.
A record number of 38 teams lock horns in this year’s edition including three teams from India and a team each from the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives.
The tournament will be conducted in a league basis in the Preliminary rounds with six groups. Four groups consisting six teams each, while two groups will have seven teams. The winner and the first runner-up of each group will play in the Super Twelve Round divided into four groups. The two group leaders of each group will meet each other at the semi-finals For the first time these youngsters will get a chance to play on turf wickets as matches are billed to play in twelve venues.
Veteran coach Nelson Mendis briefing at a media conference held last Monday stated that several talented cricketers who participated in earlier tournaments have graduated to the National Junior cricket teams and many of them have represented Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Sri Lanka Under 19 teams. Women’s cricketer Maduri Samuddhika, Dilshan Munaweera, Kusal Janith Perera, Ramith Rambukwella and Ashan Priyanjan are all former students of the CCC School of Cricket and have so far achieved their dreams in donning the national blazer.
Mendis, a coach of rare breed who can spot the talent of a cricketer at the first sight revealed the purpose of staging this tournament annually was to guide the budding youngsters to face competitiveness, to groom them to be true sportsmen, to face international opposition and at this age of 14 years they are at the juncture of their careers. He also said the popularity of the tournament can be gauged with the leap and bounce of the number of outstation teams (15) taking part.
A strict disciplinarian Mendis requested every team taking part to the play the game of the gentlemen to the best spirit of sportsmanship and maintain the highest traditions of the game and to lend the visiting teams the best hospitality which Sri Lanka is well known all over the world. He also requested the mangers and the coaches of the teams to be punctual at the matches considering the prevailing weather conditions.
The Chairman, Committee of Management paid a special tribute to Singer Sri Lanka for being the main sponsor right through out and thank all the other host of co-sponsors and also the Sri Lanka Cricket for providing 212 high quality cricket balls for the matches.
– Lakshman Ranasinghe