By David Stephens

Captains of the Provincial teams explaining matters. Pic by Sanka Vidanagama

Spectators in the outstations will get the chance to witness the performances of Sri Lanka’s top cricketers in the outstations at the Provincial Cricket Tournament which got underway yesterday. The teams in the fray are: Basnahira North, Basnahira South, Ruhunu,Wayamba, Kandurata and the Combined XI comprising of B Division players as well as those who represented the country at the recent Under 19 World Cup.

The 50 over competition, which begins first, will conclude on February 21 and will be followed by a T20 championship from February 24 – March 7. Both these competitions will include all six participating teams. However a final four day tournament which will be played from March 18 -April 25 will not feature the Combined XI.

Speaking at the occasion, SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga revealed that the majority of the action in this year’s competition will be at outstation venues. This will provide many rural spectators with the opportunity of witnessing their nation’s finest cricketers vying for provincial glory in their own back yard.
The eight venues that will be utilized for this tournament are the Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala, The Galle International Stadium, the Colts Cricket Club, The Moratuwa Stadium, Nondescript Cricket Club, Moors, P. Sara Oval in Colombo and the new Pallakele Stadium in Kandy.

Team captains Kumar Sangakarra, Thilina Kandamby, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak and Hans Fernando were present at this media briefing.

Kandurata:- Kumar Sangakarra (Capt), Muttiah Muralitharan (V. Capt), Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Kanchana Gunawardena, Sanjaya Gangodawila, Jeewan Mendis, Tharanga Paranawitana, Kaushal Weeraratne, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Thilina Thushara, Nadeera Nawela, Chaminda Vidhanapathirana, Kanishka Elvitigala, Sekkuge Prasanna, Thilan Samaraweera, Sachith Pathirana, Suresh Niroshan

Wayamba:- Jehan Mubarak (Capt), Mahela Udawatte (V capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Jeewantha Kulatunga, Farveez Maharoof, Thisara Perera, Sameera Soysa, Ajantha Mendis, Shalika Karunanayaka, Isuru Udana, Rakitha Wimaladharma, Chanaka Welagedara, Rangana Herath, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Michael Van Dort, Madura Lakmal, Damith Hunukumbura, Kaushal Perera.

Basnahira North: - Thilina Kandamby (Capt), Angelo Mathews (V. capt), Chaminda Vaas, Amal Athulathmudali, Dilshan Munaweera, Gayan Wijekoon, Sachithra Serasinghe, Kaushal Silva, Muthu Pushpakumara, Shanuka Dissanayake, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Darshanapriya, Roshen Silva, Sohan Borelassa, Angelo Perera.
Basnahira South:- T.M Dilshan (Capt), Chamara Silva (V. capt), Malintha Warnapura, Milinda Siriwardana, Hasantha Fernando, Gihan Rupasinghe, Prasanna Jayawardene, Nuwan Zoysa, Malinga Bandara, Suranga Lakmal, Janaka Gunaratne, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Thirimanna, Amila Prasad, Chinthaka Perera, Dinuk Hettiarachchi, Yohan De Silva, Ruchira Perera.
Ruhuna:- Upul Tharanga (Capt), Dinesh Chandimal (V. capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Indika de Saram, T.M Sampath, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Kosala Kulasekara, Tharanga Lakshitha, Lasith Malinga, Sujeeva De Silva, N.G.H Cooray, Sachithra Senanayaka, Ashan Priyanjana, Gihan De Silva, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Lasith Fernando, Geeth Alwis, Umesh Karunaratne.
Combine XI:- Hans Fernando (Capt), Bhanuka Rajapaksha (V capt), Kithruwan Vidanage, Udara Jayasundara, Romesh Buddhika, W. A. Eranga, J. R. G Namal, Sanjaya Fernando, Imesh Udayanga, Malinga Pushpakumara, Andri Berenger, Charith Jayampathi, Lahiru Gamage, Arosh Janoda, Nilanka Premaratne, Danushka Gunathilake, Chathura Peiris, Ranesh Perera.