Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Sri Lanka’s premier cricket club will be captained by Kaushal Silva for the coming season. They have received an added boost with Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC) coming forward to sponsor them for a yet another term. The SSC cricketing line-up is as strong as ever with National players such as Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavithana, Thilina Kandamby, skipper Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Lokuarachchi yet there again to do service for them.
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| SSC cricket team (Seated from Left to Right) : Thilan Samaraweera, Samantha Dodanwela (Chairman SSC Cricket), Mahela Jayawardena, Nick Nicklo (CEO HSBC), Kaushal Silva (Capt), Tommy Ellawela (President SSC), Thilina Kandamby, Tharanga Gunasekera (Head of Marketing, Group Communications and Corporate Sustainability HSBC), Tharanga Paranavitana, Avishka Gunawardena. Standing (from Left to Right): Vimukthi Deshapriya, Gayan Maneeshan, Dasun Shanaka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Chathupama Gunasinghe, Charith Jayampathi, Sachitra Senanayake, Kapila Weerasinghe (Assistant Coach), Upul Bandara Jayasena, Chaminda Bandara, Bhanuka Rajapakse. |
Also adding strength to the SSC team are Sri Lanka ‘A’ cricketers – Sachithra Senanayake and Bhanuka Rajapakse.
The others youngsters who will strengthen the SSC team are Charith Jayampathi, Upul Bandara, Dasun Shanaka, Chaminda Bandara, Chathupama Gunasinghe and wicket-keeper Gayan Manishan. SSC has a proud record in World Cup cricket as well. In the ten World Cup Tournaments played so far, the national team has been captained by SSC Cricketers namely Anura Tennekoon (on two occasions), Duleep Mendis (on two occasions), Arjuna Ranatunga (on two occasions) and Mahela Jayawardena (Once).
Samantha Dodanwela, Chairman SSC Cricket said in an interview that Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC) has come forward to sponsor the SSC team for the coming year, and thanked HSBC for all the support rendered during the last two seasons and said that he is looking forward for a successful 2011 season. He also went on to say: “SSC were triple champions in 2009, bagging the 50 Overs, the League and the Twenty/20 tournaments. It was the first time in the history of Sri Lanka Cricket; a Club had won all three major tournaments conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket during a single calendar year. With HSBC’s involvement, SSC will be going flat out to do well in the coming season,” said Dodanwela who turned out for Trinity, and SSC for many years. He was also a Sri Lankan poolist.
Their quest for honours will start with the 50 Over League at the end of this month which will be followed by the Inter-Club League.
Tharanga Gunasekera, Head of Marketing, Group Communications and Corporate sustainability of HSBC when contacted said: “Cricket no doubt is an immensely popular sport that is followed by millions in Sri Lanka and worldwide. It is also a sport that we compete very well internationally. In this context we are delighted to support the premier cricket team SSC for two years running.
We hope this sponsorship will enable the club and the country to secure new talent and compete in the fiercely competitive global arena.” During 2009/10 season SSC became joint Champions in 50 overs and ended up third in the league, as two of their important games were washed out due to rain. SSC also took part in the Singapore Pay-pal T-20 tournament and defended the Championship which they achieved in 2009 and have confirmed their participation next year as well. This was achieved without the services of seven regular players who were on duty with the national team. |
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