Mathews tipped to lead Lanka in u-19 world cup
 

BY SA'ADI Thawfeeq

JOSEPHIAN all-rounder Angelo Mathews is tipped to lead Sri Lanka in the forthcoming Under 19 World Cup tournament which is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in February next year.

Mathews, an outstanding all-rounder has been identified by the national selectors as the player with the best credentials to captain the side for the important event.

He led the Sri Lanka under 19 team on their tour to England this year and has been retained as captain for next month's Afro-Asia under 19 tournament in India.

The national selectors named a 14-member team for the tournament which takes place at Visakhapatnam from November 17-25.

Chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma said that the squad of 14 players and six reserves named for the tournament would form the nucleus of Sri Lanka's World Cup squad next year.

"We have to submit the names of 30 players by December 5 and prune it down to the final 14 by January 5. It is an ICC requirement," said Kaluperuma.

He said that in addition to the 20 already picked for the Indian tournament his committee would include another ten players to make up the initial 30 based on talent and form.

"We have identified certain players as future prospects, but it all depends on their form at the time of selection," said Kaluperuma.

"We picked the 14 to India taking into consideration performances based on the five practice matches and performances in the under 17 schools tournament among other things," he said.

Kaluperuma said if the picked 14 players perform to potential his committee would probably think of retaining the same team for another one-day under 19 tourney, which takes place in Bangladesh soon after the Afro-Asian tournament.

"We want to give the players some continuity leading up to the World Cup and depending on how they perform suitable changes will be made," he said.

Host India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are the other countries participating in this nine-day tournament.

SRI LANKA UNDER 19 TEAM FOR AFRO-ASIAN TOURNAMENT: Angelo Mathews, captain (St. Joseph's, Colombo), Sameera Soysa, vice-captain (Maliyadeva, Kurunegala), Sachitra Serasinghe (Nalanda), Dimuth Karunaratne (St. Joseph's, Colombo), Rishan Kavinda (Karanadeniya MMV), Ashan Peiris (S. Thomas' ML), Hans Fernando (St. Peter's), Dilan Cooray (St. Sebastian's), Shalika Karunanayake (Maliyadeva, Kurunegala), Sachitra Pathirana (Trinity), N.L.T.C. Perera (St. Thomas', Kotte), Chathupama Gunasinghe (Richmond, Galle), Rajeeva Weerasinghe (St. Joseph's, Colombo).

Reserves: Pramuddha Perera (St. Peter's), Malinda Pushpakumara (Lumbini MV), Chathura Herath (Ananda), Charles Fernando (D.S. Senanayake), N.R. Perera (Galagedera MMV), Umesh Karunaratne (Thurstan).

THE DRAW (all matches at Visakhapatnam):

Nov. 17: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Zimbabwe v Pakistan

Nov. 19: Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Bangladesh v India

Nov. 20: Sri Lanka v India, Zimbabwe v Bangladesh

Nov. 21: Zimbabwe v India, Bangladesh v Pakistan

Nov. 23: Pakistan v India, Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka

Nov. 25: Final