Sri Lanka has Talent – Raw Speedsters to be trained and unleashed
Seated from left: Chandrashekhar Singh Chauhan (Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Sri Lanka), Thushara Perera (Group Director - Marketing, Derana TV/Derana FM), Jinesh Hegde (Airtel Lanka, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director) and Anusha Samaranayake (former Sri Lanka National Bowling Coach) with the Airtel Fastest top 14 pace bowlers
Even though there is a pack of fast bowlers in the Sri Lanka pool, there’s no genuine match winner like Lasith Malinga.
“So, there’s a void to break into in the National side”, former National Coaching Department’s Bowling Coach Anusha Samaranayake told budding fast bowlers, who were found through a programme conducted by Airtel.
At a press briefing held at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday, it was revealed that 14 young fast bowlers have been harnessed by this programme started in January this year..
Players have been categorised as Men, Women and Under-19, from more than 19,000 entrants across the country. Those selected have been invited by the Premier Cricket Clubs in Colombo, which is a huge pathway to the fringe players, who come from rural areas.
“We found rookie fast bowlers from every nook and corner of the country, and I have seen the national fast bowlers for the past 15 years. I guarantee, you can play for the National side,” said Samaranayake.
“Only thing, you have to change to the next level. We are there to transfer you to the next level,” he added.
“Currently, the players have been given the opportunity to play in the elite Colombo Clubs and also take part in the Max Cricket Academy, to bowl to National batsmen at the nets, which is a huge break for this raw talent,” Samaranayake explained.
Airtel partnered TV Derana in this programme, as a National duty to unearth Sri Lanka’s hidden talent. The first trial was held in the Jaffna peninsula, followed by camps in Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Matara, Badulla, Ruwanwella, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Kandy, Horana and the last camp in Colombo.
Those who qualified at the first trial, underwent a three-day training stint in Colombo, under the guidance of Sri Lanka’s most economical bowler Chaminda Vaas.
Vaas has identified the raw talent, who possess a well-built physique, body language and economical action, to prevent the bowlers from injuries. Former Test captain Hashan Tillekeratne has helped them improve their batting skills, while Upul Chandana, one of Sri Lanka’s best fielders, gave valuable inputs to be fine fielders.
Former National Cricketers Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Bandula Warnapura, Ravindra Pushapakumara, Sajeewa de Silva, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chamila Gamage also shared their experience with the budding players during this programme.
Women: Vishmi Dewmini, Malsha Madushani, Methma Hettiarachchi, Shayeni Senaratne
Under-19: Eshan Malinga, Mohommed Akhil, Maleesha Duran, Janith Madushanka, Chiran Theekshana
Men: Mohamed Fahim, Rasanjana Aravindu, Chandula Sudampathi, Arun Prakash, Malindu Shehan