SLC’s talent drive in Polonnaruwa unearths 185 potential players

Sri Lanka Cricket Assistant Treasurer Sujeeva Godaliyadda stresses a point to Youth and Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe. National Sports Council Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga is also present

The Talent Search Drive in progress at Polonnaruwa district

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) successfully concluded the Talent Search Drive which was conducted in the Polonnaruwa District, under the National Pathway program of the SLC to unearth players with cricketing talent.

The program, launched under the guidance and direction of SLC President Shammi Silva and the Executive Committee of SLC, commenced on 18 September from the Thamankaduwa Divisional Secretariat, and was successfully completed on 24 September, covering every Divisional Secretariat in the district.

During the district-wide search drive, 185 talented players (170 boys and 15 girls) representing the age groups of U13, 15, 17, 19, and 23 have been unearthed.

Among the selected are talented batters, bowlers, all-rounders, and wicket-keepers. The selected players will be further trained by directing them to performance centres established to cover the seven Divisional Secretariats of the District. The selected squad will be further pruned down and the most talented girls and boys will be placed in schools in the area that play hard ball cricket.

Apart from Thamankaduwa, the program was conducted in Welikanda, Dimbulagala, Lankapura, Hingurakgoda, Madirigiriya, and Elahera Divisional Secretariats.

The program was conducted in collaboration with the North Central Provincial Cricket Association and the Polonnaruwa District Cricket Association with the supervision of SLC’s District and Provincial coaches and provincial talent scouts. The inaugural session of the program, which was conducted at the Royal College ground, Polonnaruwa, was attended by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, National Sports Council Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga and SLC Assistant Treasurer Sujeeva Godaliyadda. This program will be implemented across the country.