CCC School of Cricket to take part in Pepsi Cup Cricket Tourney

CRICKET: The popular Pepsi Cup Cricket Tournament will be held for the twenty first successive year from May 22 to 31, 2007 in Bangalore, India. The Organisers, the famous Imtiaz Ahamed Cricket Academy led by Ranji Trophy and Junior National player of India, Imtiaz Ahamed have exclusively invited CCC School of Cricket to participate in this prestigious tournament.

CCC School of Cricket, under the guidance of veteran coach Nelson Mendis has participated in the Tournament during the last five years.

It will be remembered that CCC School of Cricket brought honour to the country by winning the coveted under 12 championship last year. It was the first time that a Sri Lankan Cricket Coaching Academy or School won a championship on foreign soil. Apart from the Championship, the CCC Juniors also carried away the Man of the series, Man of the Final, Best Batsman and Best Bowler's awards on offer last year.

This year, too the Tournament has drawn over 36 teams from major cricket centres in India, Viz New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mysore, CCC will be the only foreign team participating this year.

Unlike the past CCC will be sending only their under 13 team this year. The team will be led by all rounder Minhaj Jalill who plays for Thurstan College, Under 13 team. Top order right hand batsman and right arm off spin bowler.

Jalill has also represented Colombo District North and Western Province teams in the Under 13 Championship conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket. He is also in the spinners junior squad trained by Ashley Mallet and Ruwan Kalpage. A promising youngster Jalill is expected to lead the team from the front utilising his experience and talents. He also toured Bangalore last year too.

His deputy Ramidu Lakshan, who is also a good off spinner from Thurstan College has performed well this season. He has a deep off break and a nice smooth action. He is popularly nick - named "Murali" because of similar action to his hero's.

Ramidu is also a top order left hand batsman who recently enlisted a school record partnership of 187 runs for the second wicket with a colleague with 87 runs being his share.

Lakshan too was a member of the champion team last year.

The team has been preparing for the tour by playing practice games in Kurunegala, Moratuwa and Anuradhapura. According to Head Coach, Nelson Mendis, the team is well balanced with about six dependable batsmen, three all-rounders and five reliable bowlers. The team's strong point is their fielding with each player doing his bit.

During the Tour, the team is also expected to play four practice games against Imtiaz Ahamed Cricket Academy, Delhi Public School, Macsports Cricket Academy and Frank Anthony Public School.

The touring team will be Minhaj Jalill Captain (Thurstan), Ramindu Lakshan (Vice Captain - Thurstan), Lahiru Jayakody (Nalanda), Sachinda Karunaratne (Nalanda) Imal Liyanage (Thurstan), Pathum, Wickremasinghe (Carey), Uvin Atukorale (Ananda), Devind Pathmanathan (Royal), Visal Perera (CIS), Shammi Seneviratne (St. Joseph's) Irfaan Aziz (Thurstan), Chamud Sathyapala (Carey), Pumudu Munasinghe (Royal), and Thimira Jayasinghe (Thurstan).

The team will be accompanied by Nelson Mendis (Manager & Head Coach), Fareez Jalill (Asst. Manager). Upali Kumarasinghe (Tour Coordinator), and Manoj Millawithanachchi (Asst. Coach) as Tour officials.