Minister calls for report from SLC

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday called for a report to be submitted within one month from Sri Lanka Cricket, regarding the progress of the cricket clubs in the provinces and districts in a bid to include talented outstation cricketers into the national pool.

The minister was addressing the officials of Sri Lanka Cricket and national selecters at the Sports Ministry Auditorium yesterday.

He said that the programmes launched by Sri Lanka Cricket to unearth talented outstation players was inadequate and he had decided to give a chance to promising outstation cricketers through district cricket clubs.

Although Sri Lanka Cricket is spending Rs 250 million annually for district and provincial cricket clubs from which almost 1000 players are competing, but out of that not less than five players get an opportunity to represent the national team and he had decided to launch a programme to give more opportunities to talented rural cricketers. Once a report is received , he will appoint a committee which will look into the possibilities of giving more chances to outstation cricketers.

He said the school cricket standard also needs improvement. School cricketers played too many matches for a month, which has resulted in them sustaining injuries and preventing them from entering the national pool and he instructed SLC to draw up a programme to rectify these mistakes.

The Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Nishantha Ranatunga Vice President of SLC Asanga Seneviratne, CEO Ajith Jayasekara, Treasurer Nuski Mohamed and Chairman of National Selection Committee Asantha De Mel were present at the meeting.