U-19 Cricket: Sri Lanka to launch 2017 with a tour of South Africa

The Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket tournament to South Africa which was originally scheduled for June 2017, now has been brought from January 10 to February 10, 2017 with the added flavour of a Tri-nation ODI which also involves Zimbabwe. 

Besides, after the completion of the South African leg of the tour, the Lankan teenagers will shift to Zimbabwe for a few more ODI games. 

However there is a certain degree of uncertainty as far as the composition of the contingent is concerned. 

According to informed sources there is some doubt whether the tournament is going to an under 18 one or a fully fledged under 19 affair. 

It is learnt the Asia Cup Under 19 tournament which is already drawn up would mainly be an Under-18 affair thus leaving room for the development of players who will face the ICC Under-19 World Cup tournament in New Zealand from 12 January to 4 February 2018. 

However it is said that there is a school of thought, facing the strong South African Under-19 outfit with an Under-18 team would be rather lopsided even if it is for the purpose of developing cricket. 

For the Asia Cup tournament there is a general agreement that all teams will be Under-18. 

The argument is there are certain cricketers like Sammu Ashan, Avishka Fernando, Pethum Nissanka and Mishen Silva who are still in school and playing cricket but who do not fit into the under 18 frame could benefit from a fully fledged Under-19 tournament. 

Ironically there some are glitches in the Asia Cup line-up too. 

It was said that ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis of Richmond College would lead Sri Lanka and Ashen Bandara from St. Aloysius College Galle would act as his vice captain. 

Then it was said there was a squad of 19 cricketers which also included the names of Jehan Daniel, 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. 

Now the cutoff date for the naming of the final squad of fifteen is long past. 

According to selection sources they have already finalised the final fifteen and handed it over to the SLC authorities and no one knows the reason for the delay in announcing the list of players who will be seen in action from December 10 to 22. 

The rumour that is bandied about is that there is a move to omit one name which is already listed and insert another by an interfering individual who is very powerful within the system.