President gives greenlight to DS’ proposals to develop school cricket

Chris DHAMBARAGE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has recommended and given the greenlight to proceed with the proposals made by former Sri Lanka leg spinner D. Somachandra de Silva on the development of school cricket in the country.

De Silva was appointed as the Advisor and Consultant to the President on Schools Cricket in January and within a short period of two months he has completed his task to the fullest satisfaction.

De Silva’s proposals have been highly commended by President Rajapaksa, Minister of Sports and Recreation Gamini Lokuge and Chairman Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Arjuna Ranatunga with all recommendations to be implemented within the next couple of months for the upliftment of junior cricket in the country.

De Silva said that junior cricket in the country has been neglected for the past ten to fifteen year’s and this is the main reason for the drop of standard in the schools cricket scene. The latest setback was the early exit of the Sri Lanka Under 19 team at the recent International Cricket Council (ICC) Youth World Cup held in Malaysia.

However De Silva predicted a bright and prosperous future for the schoolboy cricketers with the new recommendations which are aimed at winning the next ICC Under 19 World Cup in Kenya.

He said that the biggest setback has been the lack of infrastructure in the school cricket scene and was surprised as some of the schools in the rural areas are suffering even without the basic requirements to play the game.

De Silva had the opportunity of experiencing the difficulties the schools were facing when he visited the remote areas along with B. H. Perera Administration Manager of SLC and several other representatives from the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.

One of the key points in De Silva’s proposals is to ensure that every district has at least one quality cricket ground. In addition the ground will be improved radically with the insertion of turf wickets of three to four strips, provision of a turf practice area, pavilion and other facilities.

Another key factor is to ensure that every province has an indoor cricket stadium with four practice wickets and the appointment of a qualified curator at the provincial level entrusted with the task of maintaining the district turf wickets and the cricket grounds.

De Silva has strongly recommended that the SLC consider a payment of allowance to school cricket coaches and the masters in charge in less affluent schools to encourage such personnel during playing hours.

Meanwhile the schools in the rural areas will be provided with cricket equipment with the consultation of the SLC and the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.

De Silva said that a common crisis facing the junior cricketers is the selection of players for major tournaments here and abroad. To avoid this he has recommended the creation of a Junior School Cricket Selection Committee comprising of five members from the provinces and two more members representing the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.

This will certainly prevent and reduce any controversy on selection and will also assist in the identification of players who have performed well during the season. In addition the schools under 19 team will be included in the Inter Provincial one day tournament and should also allow them to play in the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy tournament.

De Silva further said that he has suggested few changes for the under 19, under 17 and under 15 tournaments which will come into effect from next years inter school cricket season.