MCA Cricket Academy under 19 skipper Adithya Hettiarachchi receiving cricket gear from Chance Sports chairman Lasantha Amarasinghe while MCA President Nalin Wickramasinghe looks on. (Picture by Gayan Pushpika)
Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) headed by President Nalin Wickramasinghe is expected to make historical event when Mercantile Cricket Academy two teams, under 15 and under 19 take part in inaugural International Council of Cricket Academies Global Academy Cricket Championship scheduled to be played in Nottingham,England.
This UK tour enters Sri Lanka Cricket Academy history as first Sri Lankan Academy teams to embark in UK, said MCA chief Nalin Wickramasinghe.
There are 24 teams from six countries including Sri Lanka in four age categories under 13,15,17 and 19 will play in a subtle group on League basis while all matches will be played at Workshop College, Nottingham from July 19 to 25. Two Mercantile Academy teams will leave on July 16.
Chrishantha Obeysekera the founder of Mercantile Cricket Academy who was the President of MCA formed MCA Academy in 2002 and this is the first time MCA Academy teams going to UK and I am really happy with the progress of this Academy, said founder President Obeysekera.
“I wanted to see this progress with more juniors excel at MCA Academy. This is our objective from the start while I can remember first three students the sons of former cricketers Roger Wijesuriya, Gream Labrooy and Basil Perera who came under head coach Sarath Perera who did tremendous job to promote this Academy. We wanted to see National players from this Academy while Avishka Fernando is one of the products of this Academy”, added Chris Obeysekara. Presently Academy head coach is Namal Seneviratne and his team is doing a god job to promote MCA Academy.
The MCA present President Nalin Wickramasinghe pointed out this UK tour become a reality as a result of successful discussions with Presley Polonnowita who is the head of Desert Cricket Academy in UAE. He is the main person to conduct their inaugural International Council of Cricket Academies Global Academy Cricket Championship. Not only this UK tournament they are going to conduct another tournament in next December in Sri Lanka while teams from USA, UAE, UK and India will take part with our Academy teams. This is going to be good for Sri Lanka Tourism as well, added MCA head.
Adithya Hettiarachchi of Ananda College will lead the MCA Academy under 19 team while Abheeth Paranawidana of S.Thomas Mt Lavinia will lead the under 15 side. Chance Sports sponsored cricket gear to the teams while its Chairman and MD Lasantha Amarasinghe handed over the bags to the players at the press conference at MCA board room on Tuesday.
Former Nalanda skipper and opening bowler Punyakantha Abeygunasekera who is MCA cricket development Secretary is the head coach for this two teams in the absence of head coach Namal Seneviratne. President Nalin Wickramasinghe, Vice President Shirosha Gunatilleka who is the chairman of MCA cricket development committee, Wilmot Jayasinghe MCA General Manager, Tournament Committee member Anil Halugoda and Assistant coach Dinuka Godakanda will accompanied the teams.
Dhammika Ratnaweera
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