Desert Cubs tour SL

Sajeewa JAYAKODY

The Desert Cubs Cricket Academy of United Arab Emirates arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-week tour to give maximum exposure to their budding cricketers and to promote Sri Lanka's sports tourism.

Over 70 school cricketers from three powerful cricket nations, in Asia - Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan will take part in the programme with the aim to give maximum benefit for their players as international cricket being played in Sri Lanka at the moment.

The Head Coach and the Chief Executive Officer of the Desert Cubs Cricket Academy (DCCA), Presley Polonowita said that the main reason to visit Sri Lanka is to give opportunity to children to play and witness quality cricket in Sri Lanka. “We have planned to give scholarships to Sri Lankan school players for training in DCCA as well as to promote sports tourism in Sri Lanka in the peaceful situation,” said Polonowita. Polonowita, former BRC player as well as Sri Lanka Youth player, who studied at St Anne's College, Kurunegala, has started this academy with 10 children, went onto say that he was planning to construct a sports village in Sri Lanka which included all facilities to its trainees.

“Earlier, we have visited England, Malaysia and some other countries but I hope Sri Lanka is the best country that we can get a good result.

Because in Sri Lanka, we see quality cricket being played,” Polonowita said. The matches are against Sri Lanka's school teams in five age categories – Under-11, Under-12, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 mainly in three districts - Kandy, Colombo and Galle from August 4 to 13.