Asoka Vidyalaya’s problem: Talented players leaving to play for reputed schools
View(s):Asoka Vidyalaya, Maradana a school where so many Sri Lanka national players had their earlier education are highly worried about the their cricketers leaving the school to play for reputed schools with better facilities. This action had effected the improvement of cricket in this establishment.
Asoka Vidyalaya squad (absent Malinda Dissanayake)
Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Chandrika Hathurusinghe, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Ashan Priyanjan and Dimuth Karunaratne to name a few all had their primary education at Asoka Vidyalaya. If these cricketers remained and played cricket for this school throughout their school cricket careers Asoka Vidyalaya would have been recognised as a leading cricket playing school in the island. That would have prevented talented and outstanding cricketers leaving the school to play for recognised schools with better facilities. This is one of the reasons for this school’s failure in producing any outstanding cricketer of national standard for a long time.
G.R. Upul Karunaratne, the Head Coach, a former Gurukula Vidyalaya cricketer who took over coaching two years ago revealed to the Sunday Times that the biggest problem the school is facing every year is at least one or two senior in form cricketers leave the school to play for recognised schools in higher Divisions. He said that no one could blame the cricketers as everyone’s desire is to play for a well recognised school and to gain recognition. He also said that he is not sure how many boys who represented this year will remain to play next year. Though the school is located in Maradana the cricketers will have to travel all the way to Koswatte, Battaramulla for practices. The only facility at the grounds is the indoor net where they practice as the ground is over grown with weeds. The coach also said that the team is in a better position than last year and are sure to come out with good performances in the remaining matches.
Malinda Dissanayake Captain
This season the Maradana school has so far played 10 matches in the Sri Lanka Schools Division II Segment with only two first innings victories and with one drawn game. In the junior divisions: Under 13, 15 and 17, Asoka juniors always do well. As from the present squad Shenal Chandrasekera, Kalana Perera, Ravindu Pramuditha and Pasan Gunatunga were selected to represent the District squad. It will be good for the school if these boys can take their alma mater to a higher level in cricket and it will be a good example as well for the juniors to follow, concluded Karunaratne.
This year Asoka Vidyalaya will be led by that superb all-rounder Malinda Dissanayake, a 4th year
Navin Ponnamperuma Vice Captain
coloursman. He has been the main stay in batting so far this season has scored over 400 runs and captured 30 wickets. Last season too Malinda fared well to score over 600 runs including a century and six half tons. A lot is expected from this talented cricketer this season too. Another 4th year coloursman Dilshan Ponnamperuma the deputy skipper – an elegant left handed batsman and a fine right arm leg spinner is an asset to the side rendering a good support to the skipper. Asoka Vidyalaya with a strong bowling attack and with promising batsmen are capable of upsetting any storng team as a good all-round side this season.
WHOs WHO:
Malinda Dissanayake: Skipper of the side. A 4th year coloursman, right handed bat and a right arm off spinner. Is in good touch so far in this season with over 600 runs including a century and six half centuries in ten matches. A fine slip fielder.
Navin Dilshan Ponnamperuma: 4th year coloursman. Deputy skipper of the side. Right hand middle order bat and a right arm leg spinner. Scored over 400 hundred runs and claimed over twenty wickets last season.
Shenal Chandrasekera
A fine fieldsman at any position.
Duleetha Manikmal: Right handed batsman and an off spinner. A 3rd year coloursman. Superb fielder in the slip region.
Ravindu Pramuditha: 3rd year coloursman. A stylish left hand middle order bat and an off spinner. Good slip fielder. Scored over 350 runs last season capturing over 30 wickets.
Dulitha Manikmal
Kalana Perera: A promising right handed opening bat and bowls off spinners. Faring well so far this season with the bat and a brilliant cover fielder. 3rd year coloursman.
Shenal Chandrasekera: 2nd year coloursman. Left handed opening bat. A promising right arm leg spinner. Had scored over 300 runs in the current season. A good fielder.
Mohomad Hifly: Spearheading the opening attack with left arm seamers. Troubling the batsmen with a menacing pace had captured over 30 wickets in eight matches. 2nd year coloursman.
Lakshan De Silva: 2nd year coloursman. Left hand bat and the reserve stumper.
Pasan Shavinda Gunatunga: Fresher. Wicket keeper of the side with nippy footwork. A right hand middle order bat. Scored over 250 runs and responsible for 25 victims behind the stumps.
Mohomad Hifly
Sahas Akmina: A fresher with lot of potential. Left hand top order batsman capable of scoring runs with ease.
Thanuka Hiran: Right handed bat and a right arm off spinner. Fields well in the cover region.
Ravindu Chaturanga: Fresher. A top class right arm leg spinner capturing over 20 wickets in 6 matches. Reliable field at any position. A right hand middle order batsman.
Sandaruwan Jayasinghe: Right arm opening bowler. Right hand lower order bat. Fresher.
Yomal Perera: Fresher. Right handed bat and a left arm chinaman bowler. A safe fielder.
Vibhusha Dhyshan: Fresher. Right hand bat and an off spinner. Good fielder in the out.
Master-in-charge: Jaliya Jayaratne. Head Coach: G.R. Upul Karunaratne
– Lakshman Ranasinghe
Pix by Ranjith Perera