Getting a chance to play for the National cricket team is a dream come true for me due to my dedication said Sri Lanka cricket team’s new fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka who hails from Hungama in the Hambantota district.
The 21 year old left arm medium paceman is the latest addition to the team. He got his T- 20 Cap in the first Asia Cup match against Afghanistan which was played on August 27
Dilshan Madushanka studied at Hungama Vijayabahu MV and was picked for the National under 19 side for the 2020 world cup. Mamjula Karunaratne the former provincial cricket coach of Hambantota spotted this young cricketer from the Hungama Vijayabahu MV.
I saw this young boy bowling for the first time at his school .I invited him to come for practices at Hambantota Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium where we had talent search training camp under SLC observation.As a provincial coach my duty is to find cricketers and give them proper training to reach a higher level
Actually first day Dilshsn Madushanka was not willing to come for practices at Hambantota. I spoke to his college coaches. He had lot of difficulties not even the boots pair to bowl and I was keen to find them, added Manjula.
The turning point of his cricket career was the unexpected incident during the 2020 National under 19 cricket training at Hambantota for the Pakistan cricket series. I invited Dilshan Madushanka to come to Hambantota as a net bowler during the Sri Lanka under 19 team against Pakistan. Chaminda Vaas the legendary fast bowler was the National under 19 team fast bowling coach. Vaas spotted him and invited him to come to Colombo said Karunaratne.
Madushanka was at Hungama Vijayabahu MV where they had only junior cricket under 13 and under 15.
He first played for National under 19 as a left arm.medium paceman. He took five wicket haul against Nigeria in the plate quarterfinal game. He made his first class debut at Colts CC where he is playing club cricket up to date.
“My father is a fisherman and has a a small shop which is run by my mother. We had limited facilities at my school not even the turf wicket. However after I met Chaminda Vaas I wanted to continue playing cricket and wanted to come up. I was first drafted to National test squad but had was a reserve However I had good exposure with National cricket training under Mickey Arthur and now under Chris Silverwood. I was named for the test squad for the South African series in 2021. Then for West indies limited over cricket squad in same year and Bangladesh test series but all the time I was a reserve.
Madushanka was an active member of the SLC Blues team at the recently concluded SLC invitational T 20 cricket tournament and later he was named for the Asian cup cricket squad.
He got first National cap against Afghanistan and had best figures of 2 for 36 at the last super four match against Afghanistan in Sharjah. He took his maiden wicket of Afif Hossain at the Bangladesh match at Dubai.
As a left arm paceman he could be next Chaminda Vaas and has good future having lot of potential.
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