Lasantha and Susantha to lead Sri Lankan Masters teams
The Masters' Indoor Cricket World Cup 2008 will be held in
Christchurch, New Zealand from 24th October to 4th November. There will
be two teams representing the Men's category for over 35s and over 40s.
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The Sri Lankan Masters team : Seated (from left): Mangala
Dharmapriya, Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, Bevan Ranasinghe (V. Capt
40s), Lasantha Perera (Capt 40s), Susantha de Mel (Capt
35s), Nishantha Saranasekara (V. Capt 35s), S. Thavayogaraja,
Thiran Thenabadu. Standing (from left): Chandrawansha
Abeyrathna (Physio), Nalliah Devarajan, Durand Dawson, Riaz
Farouk, Nishantha Mendis, Sanjaya Attanayake, Najith Perera,
Chamika Srimal, Asitha Costa, Priyantha Samaradiwakara,
Rukshan Dias, Chrishantha Dias. |
This prestigious Tournament is one of the three main local
tournaments in the men's category of the annual calendar of CICA held at
Austasia International Sports Complex. It is open to the age group of
above 35 Men's and Women's. The world cup is conducted once every two
years.
Former Vice Captain of the Masters Indoor Cricket World Cup 2005 and
Most Valuable Player of the local Masters Tournament last year, Lasantha
Perera has been selected to Captain the over 40s with Bevan Ranasinghe
as the Vice Captain whilst Susantha De Mel has been selected to Captain
the over 35s with Nishantha Saranasekera as the Vice Captain.
The strong Sri Lankan team, which comprises of 19 players have been
selected to represent this prestigious tournament while five of them
have retained their places from the previous Masters' World Cup Team,
which toured South Africa in 2005.
The likes of Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, Lasantha Perera, Bevan Ranasinghe,
Mangala Dharmapriya and S. Thawayogarajah were a part of the team which
were placed in the previous World Cup. These players will add the much
needed experience to the Lankans.
The hard work put in by the players for the past couple of months at
their gruelling practice sessions at Austasia International Sports
Complex, will pay dividend, says Roshani Raju, CEO Austasia and Member
of the Governing Body of CICA. There's always a tremendous build-up for
a 'World' event and it is without a doubt an opportunity of a lifetime
for those involved.
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The Sri Lankan Beach Volleyball team left the island
recently to participate in the inaugural Beach Games which
is now in progress in Bali, Indonesia. Pictured here is the
Sri Lankan squad and officials along with the Minister of
Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge. |
Austasia and CICA have more than 5 world cups to our credit. Current
Royal Coach Nalliah Deverajan will strengthen the bowling side along
with Bevan Ranasinghe, Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, Thiran Thenabadu, S.
Thawayogaraja, Mangala Dharmapriya, Nishantha Mendis and Chrishantha
Dias for the over 40's Team captained by Lasantha Perera.
The over 35 team will have the strengths of Captain Susantha De Mel,
Nishantha Saranasekara, Asitha Costa, Riaz Farouk, Priyantha
Samaradiwakara, Rukshan Dias, Chamika Srimal, Durand Dawson, Sanjaya
Attanayake and Najith Perera, to complete the touring party with talent
from some of the finest indoor cricket teams of the previous tournaments
held at Austasia.
The teams leave today to Christchurch hoping to maintain the
dominance by Sri Lankans in this short version of cricket. Australia,
New Zealand, South Africa and England along with the mighty Lankans will
put their best strike forward for the next couple of weeks thereafter to
create an impression among the Indoor Cricket world. |
