Both tours vital for players

Sri Lanka 'A' team is currently making a vital tour to the Caribbean Islands. It will be a challenging task for both the up and coming players as well as the experienced ones who will be battling for places in the national side.

Former ace Sri Lanka quick bowler, Ashantha de Mel and his selection team have made some crucial decisions in picking the Sri Lanka national team to New Zealand and the Sri Lanka 'A' team to the West Indies. Both teams are equally important for us and the outcome of these two tours would have a big impact on Sri Lanka cricket in the coming year.

Having made a sad first round exit at the recent ICC Champions trophy tournament in India, Sri Lanka will have to bounce back and win in the Kiwiland if they are to regain their lost confidence before the 2007 World Cup tournament. Success in New Zealand is definitely going to be a morale booster for Mahela Jayawardene and his men.

On the other hand, the tour of the Caribbean by our second string cricketers too would be of great importance. The next ICC World Cup tournament is due in the West Indies early next year and it would be interesting to see how our 'A' team performs there. The experience and the exposure that our 'A' team gains in the Caribbean is going to be a decisive factor when Sri Lanka finalises its pool for the World Cup.

Though critics rushed to their own conclusions so early on issues such as the omission of spinner Malinga Bandara from the tour party to New Zealand, it is a far-reaching decision taken by the national selectors.

The quick and bouncy wickets in New Zealand was not going to do any favour to Bandara with his leg breaks. On the other hand, champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is the automatic first choice when Sri Lanka goes in with one spinner and three fast bowlers.

In the circumstances, the inclusion of a talented spinner like Bandara in the Sri Lanka squad would be of no use. However Bandara has been included in the one-day squad to New Zealand.

In contrast, taking him to the land of calypso music would do no good for Bandara. The Caribbean wickets would be slightly similar to the ones in the subcontinent and would assist slow bowlers. On the other hand, these wickets would host the 2007 World Cup matches in three months time.

Investing on a player like Bandara under 2007 World Cup home conditions would be a huge advantage. If he comes good, that would not only give him tremendous encouragement but also to the Sri Lanka team.

Chairman of selectors De Mel knows what is he talking about. Having captured the first Test wicket for Sri Lanka - that of England opener Geoff Cook, in our inaugural Test at the Sara Stadium in 1982, De Mel turned out to be one of the best fast bowlers that Sri Lanka has ever produced.

Now that the domestic Premier League tournament has been put off due to inclement weather, those who did not get a chance to make it to either the national team or the 'A' team, could give it another try. Once the Premier League tournament of the Sri Lanka Cricket resumes mid next month, our club players would get yet another opportunity to excel and catch the attention of the selectors before the World Cup.

It is heartening to see the interest shown by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in felicitating our national cricketers at the Temple Trees on Monday evening. Despite his busy schedules, the sports-loving President has always made it a point to give that much needed boost and encouragement to Sri Lanka sportsmen and women.

President Rajapaksa, through the Sports Ministry, has also been instrumental in offering Rs. 3.3 million for air passage for the Sri Lanka contingent for the PASPEC Games (for the disabled in Malaysia).

The highest in the land decided to make such a move as gratitude for our brave security forces. Most members of the strong 111-member Sri Lanka contingent for the Kuala Lumpur Games are security forces personnel who have become disabled in action.

A special word of thanks should go to Dr. Hans Wijesuriya and his Dialog Telekom team for making their 'future today'. Dialog Telekom has pumped in as many as Rs. 3.3 million as the principal sponsor of the Sri Lanka contingent. The mileage and the 'returns' that Dialog would get from this sponsorship deal would be minimal.

But Dr. Wijesuriya has not thought what they would get in return, but the social responsibility of his leading mobile communication company as a true corporate citizen.

At a time our security forces are rending a priceless service to protect our motherland; they too need recognition and appreciation from all quarters.