U-19 Cricket: Asia Cup from December 10 to 22 in Sri Lanka

First it was the office of the Asian Cricket Council being part and parcel of the Sri Lanka heritage with the shifting of its office to Maitland Place. 

Now from December 10 to 22 the entire gamut of the Asian fraternity would pad-up to be a part of the under 19 Asia Cup cricket tournament. 

It was first held in 2012 in Malaysia where the trophy was shared by India and Pakistan after the final was tied. The second edition was held in 2013/14 in UAE which was won by India. 

This year the teams will arrive from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh along with hosts Sri Lanka as far as the big guns are concerned. 

The other participants will be Afghanistan, Nepal, Singapore and Malaysia. 

The eight teams will be played in two groups with one segment playing their matches in Southern Sri Lanka while the other will conduct their matches in the Colombo region. 

However the semi-final and the final will be played under lights and in all probability it would be at Premadasa International Stadium. 

It is learned that the Lankan junior selectors have put out a list of 19 names for approval with Richmondite Kamindu Mendis down to lead the side with Ashen Bandara from St. Aloysius College Galle acting as the vice captain. 

The ambidextrous 18-year-old Mendis who also turns out for Galle Cricket Club made his List A debut on 30 November 2015 in the AIA Premier Limited Overs Tournament. 

In December 2015 he was named in the Sri Lanka squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. 

However the only two players who represented country at the last Under-19 World Cup tournament are skipper Mendis and fast bowler Jehan Daniel from St. Joseph’s College, Maradana. 

Some of the certainties besides the above mentioned are Vishwa Chathuranga, Lasith Croospulle, Vanitha Wanninayake, Randeer Ranasinghe, Ravindu Sanjana, H. Boyagoda, Krishan Sanjula, Thisara Rashmika, P. Jayawickrema, H. Bhuddika, T. Prasan, Raven Kelly, S. Abeywickrama, N. Fernando and D. Vimukthi.