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Sri Lanka U19 players Duvindu Ranatunga and Garuka Sanketh with consultant coach Mahela Jayawardene during practices
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka are due to host the next ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup in 2024 and the country’s Under 19 head coach Jehan Mubarak said preparations for this junior mega event will begin with the three-nation Under19 fifty-over tournament in Abu Dhabi.
The Sri Lanka U19 team led by all-rounder Shevon Daniel left for Abu Dhabi yesterday to participate in the Tri-Nation Under19 tournament that also involves Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka will also make use of the tour to play a two-match U19 fifty-over series with Afghanistan.
“The selectors have emphasized on giving players who are likely to play in the 2024 World Cup an opportunity because Sri Lanka are hosting it. We are preparing the players for this World Cup from the Abu Dhabi tournament,” said Mubarak prior to the team’s departure.
“We have in our squad players who will be part of the 2024 Under19 World Cup and also players who are playing their final year at Under 19 level. Looking at the future and now we have got a good group of players. We have appointed Shevon Daniel as the captain. He is an experienced cricketer having played in the under 15 and under 19 World Cup tournaments. He has also played in the LPL and for SSC in domestic tournaments. His experience will be of immense value to this young team.”
Speaking further Mubarak, a former Sri Lanka cricketer said: “This type of tournament for the schoolboy cricketers is good competition especially as they are playing outside Sri Lanka. It is a great opportunity for Under 19 players to play under lights. Sometime next year there can be under 15 and under 19 World Cup tournaments that can have night matches, so this experience of playing under lights will be of great benefit to the players. We have to play a few day/night matches during the Abu Dhabi tournament and we have practiced in the night to prepare for these matches and are up for the challenge.”
“We cannot underrate the under 19 teams of Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Especially Afghanistan, who are the hosts of this tournament and are familiar with the wickets and conditions in Abu Dhabi as it is their home training ground. We have to bring our A game into play if we are to beat them,” Mubarak said.
Sri Lanka begin the tri-nation tournament with a day game against Bangladesh on 20 March at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The rest of their matches will be day-night affairs at the Tolerance Oval.
Sri Lanka U19 head coach Jehan Mubarak (right) drives home a point to Sri Lanka U19 player Dinura Kalupahana
