SLC takes significant steps to win ICC Under-19 World Cup

From left: SLC High Performance Centre Manager Ruwan Kalpage, Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and SLC Vice President (Schools) Thilak Waththuhewa, SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, and SLC National Cricket Operations Head Chinthaka Edirimanne

• We are still looking for a Jayasuriya, Kaluwitharana, Malinga, Murali or Vaas – Kalpage
• SLC pumps Rs. 125 m annually to encourage 3-day school cricket

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken significant steps for the country to win their maiden ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup by extending the school Big Match days as well as the knockout stage matches of the Under-19 Divisions I and II (Tier A and B) tournaments.

As part of this initiative 56 schools have been identified by SLC to play their annual Big Matches over 3 days instead of the customary two which they have been playing in the past. Previously, only three schools played their Big Matches over three days, while the others were limited to two days. However, with this new concept 28 Big Matches will now be played as three-day encounters marking a new era for school cricket starting from the ongoing season. The first match that took place was between Thurstan and Isipathana last week.

As an extra day’s cricket would incur additional expenditure to the schools, SLC has pledged financial grants to the 56 schools of Rs. 2.5 million each for the third day of the match.

“This initiative carried out in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association aims to provide young cricketers with greater match exposure, enhance their skill development and create a smoother transition to first-class and international cricket,” said SLC High Performance Centre (HPC) Manager Ruwan Kalpage. “Our main focus is to get into the first four of the Under-19 World Cup. Sri Lanka Cricket has supported me in getting the best staff for the Under-19 cricketers where a Head Coach will be appointed soon. Other than that, we have Dilruwan Perera as the Spin Bowling Coach, Omesh Wijesiriwardena as the Fast Bowling Coach, Samanth Jayantha as the Batting Coach and Kaushalya Gajasinghe from the coach education unit performing the role as Fielding Coach as well.”

“I definitely think that we can perform well not only in this upcoming Under-19 World Cup but going forward you will see some good results coming from the Under-19. Having said that, we can’t say we haven’t produced players from Under-19 to national level. Dunith Wellalage is a good example. I believe in the system. If we have a proper system, definitely there will be players coming through. Playing school cricket over three days is also part of this program. We are hoping to change the school system with the help of SLSCA and ensure the players who come out of school are good citizens who will represent the country. “We reviewed three past Under-19 World Cups 2024, 2022 and 2020 and we identified where we had gone wrong. We are still looking for a Sanath Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana in batting and in bowling for a Lasith Malinga, Muralitharan or Chaminda Vaas.”

Sri Lanka boasts of a vibrant school cricket system with over 6,800 matches played annually across the age groups of Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19. SLC funds these tournaments as part of its commitment to nurturing the next generation of cricketers. 

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said that most of the schools were not that keen in playing 3-day matches probably due to the fact that they had financial constraints.

“The initiative was taken by the SLC President Shammi Silva which was supported by the Executive Committee. They insisted that the school’s Big Matches should be played over three days and if they are not prepared to do that the players would not be considered to represent the country moving forward. The main purpose was for the players to get used to playing the longer version of the game and to encourage other schools also to play 3-day cricket. Most of the subcontinent countries have been playing 3-day cricket at junior level. In time to come most of the schools will consider playing three day cricket provided they get approval from the Education Ministry.”

Speaking further De Silva stated: “To play 3-day school cricket we have allocated Rs. 125 million for a year. We have to spend at least Rs. 5 million for every big match. In addition we have been distributing cricket equipment to schools for which we have set aside Rs. 400-500 million a year. This is not only for the men’s but also for women’s school cricket for which we give Rs. 5 lakhs for their big matches. For women’s cricket we have set aside Rs. 25 million to SLSCA.” 

De Silva said that SLC had appointed a Head Coach for the Under-19 national team and that it will be made known by next week. “We still haven’t given him the appointment letter. It will be a local coach and we believe in giving exposure and the experience to the local coaches who are available and who are good enough to perform at that level.”