Cricket at Mahanama improving with Rusiru's vision

Priyan DE SILVA -Matara Sports Corr.

Rusiru de Silva chairman of the Mahanama College Cricket Development Committee is on a mission to uplift the game at his alma mater. Rusiru is an umpire of repute and handles public relations for the Association of Cricket Umpires of Sri Lanaka (ACUSL) too.

"Cricket is becoming the game at Mahanama now. The number of budding youngsters who are turning up for practices has increased. Hence we have increased the number of junior coaches to five. Former St Thomas' coach Shiraz Samsudeen has taken up duties as head coach. The under 17 team coached by him has won the three matches they have played to date.

They defeated Sri Jayawardenapura MV, St John's College Nugegoda and Royal College Colombo in the ongoing schools division one cricket tournament. Coaching camps were held with the assistance of national level coaches for all age groups recently. The cricketers have the use of a fully equipped gym to enhance their physical training. Team selection and the appointment of captains will be on merit .

Duleeka Tissakuttige is a member of the under 19 national school squad together with Nayana Prabath who is in the under 17 squad. We will hold the Mahanama cricket carnival and awards night soon to reward our cricketers for their dedication to the game soon. School leavers can represent The Old Mahanamian's Sports Club at club level cricket in the future. It is our dream to see a Mahanamian play for Sri Lanka in the near future" he disclosed.