Two prospects from the North also in the fray
Sri Lanka Junior National selectors had named a squad of thirty one under 19 players in preparation for the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh Under 19 tour.
Charith Asalanka, the Richmond College all-rounder has been named to lead the Sri Lanka under 19 team replacing former skipper Chamika Karunaratne of Royal College, Colombo.
Junior coach Roger Wijesuriya at the nets
It is interesting to note that two youths from the northern districts hailing from St. John’s College, Jaffna were included in the squad.
As sports in the northern peninsula took a back seat during the inter strife and now as the life in the troubled areas are back to normal sportsmen and women started to show their prowess in their respective sports disciplines.
When contacted by the Sunday Times the national coach of the Under 19 squad Roger Wijesuriya said the inclusion of Paramanathan Thuvarakaseelan and Sebamalapillai Jeni Fleming, two top order left-handed batsmen had shown lot of promise in the Zonal tournament matches and in the recent tour of England by the under 19 team. Fleming fared well with the bat in most of the friendly games played over there. Fleming who had his earlier education at St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota moved to Jaffna owing to his father’s official transfer.
These two lads were included in the earlier squads and the selectors had been watching their performances closely. They were not fortunate enough to be accommodated in the touring squads as only fifteen players are eligible to make a tour. But being this an in-bound tour with more matches on the card every member may get a chance to show their talent.
Speaking further the Junior National coach said as the SLC’s coaching network is spread all over the island every talented schoolboy will be recommended by the provincial and zonal coaches to the national selectors for consideration and this bears evidence that majority of the squad members are from outstation schools. On conclusion Wijesuriya said that the under 19 team is the cradle of the national selection and every member will be closely watched by the national selectors.
The junior national squad:
Charith Asalanka – Capt. (Richmond College), Avishka Fernando (St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa), Kaveen Bandara (DSS Colombo), Sahan Arachchige (Ananda), Lasith Lakshan (St. Thomas’ Matara), Chenutha Wickremasinghe (St. Thomas’, Mt. Lavinia), Akil Inham (DSS Colombo), Kusal Lakthilina (St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa), Shalindu Ushan (Isipatana), Wanindu Hasaranga (Richmond), Nushan Weerasinghe (Trinity), Shammu Ashan (Ananda), Thanuka Dabare (Lumbini MV), Ramesh Nimantha (St. Servatius, Matara), Kamindu Mendis (Richmond), Vishard Randika (Isipathana), Pasindu Isira (Air Force), Aravinda Akurugoda (St. Joseph’s), Ravindu Thilekaratne (NCC), Damith Silva (Maliyadeva, Kurunagala), Nishan Peiris (St. Peter’s, Negombo), Duvindu Thilekaratne (Trinity), Lahiru Kumara (Trinity), Asitha Fernando (St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya), Keshan Wijeratne (Maliyadeva), Chamika Karunaratne (Royal), Malinga Amarasinghe (Nalanda), Himesh Ramanayake (Royal, Colombo), Thilan Nimesh (Prince of Wales, Moratuwa), Paramanathan Thuvarakaseelan and Sebamalapillai Jeni Fleming (both from St. John’s, Jaffna)
The Bangladesh Under 19 cricketers will be arriving on January 15th and are scheduled to play two three day matches and five limited over matches.