School over country?

Three junior cricketers allowed to join U19 national team late in order to play big matches

8 March 2023 09:58 pm - 5 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Three junior cricketers, who are part of the national Under 19 squad scheduled to travel to the United Arab Emirates for a tri-nation tournament next week, have been given permission to join the team late owing to their involvement in their respective school big matches.

The three players, Sineth Jayawardena from Royal College Colombo, Malsha Tharupathi of Richmond College Galle and Mahinda College's Dinura Kalupahana have been given special dispensation to travel separately, three days after the tournament, which also involves the Afghanistan and Bangladesh junior teams, begins.

"We have allowed them to travel on a later date because of their big matches and it is important for them to play those games," Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley de Silva told the Daily Mirror.

When asked why they were allowed to potentially compromise on their national duty in the name of playing a school match, de Silva argued that they were only given permission since Sri Lanka Under 19 does not play its first match in the tournament until after the three players reach the UAE.

"Sri Lanka's first match is on March 20 and that's the only reason we allowed them to arrive late. If they would have missed any of the matches, we wouldn't have given them permission," de Silva said.

The 144th Battle of the Blues Royal-Thomian encounter will take place from March 16 to 18 while the 118th Battle of the Lovers, between Mahinda College and Richmond College, is scheduled for March 17 and 18.

Interestingly, in 1999, Jehan Mubarak, now the Sri Lanka Under 19 coach, and the late Thomian batsman Upekha Fernando missed the Royal-Thomian encounter that year, to represent Sri Lanka's junior team.

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Comments - 5

Ram Thursday, 09 March 2023 01:27 AM

There is merit in both arguments. We can argue further after their performances at the big matches and overseas

wsw Thursday, 09 March 2023 02:53 AM

Jealous souls at play, If it does not compromise their national duty obligations then I don't see any issues. Playing in a big match is a life time experience.

Jaffna Logic Thursday, 09 March 2023 04:21 AM

“United Arab Emirate, a giant in the annals of cricket where outside England the most aspects of cricket are happening”. What a joke, a barren desert land that no body knew of its existence when Sri Lanka was a cultured independent country is now behaving like a cricketing super power. If not for the oil , even that they didn’t know until the Americans told them that they have it deep below their feet, they would still be wandering the desert in their camels as nomadic tribes.

Kandy Thursday, 09 March 2023 10:20 AM

Should have given equal opportunity to the rest of the team. why favourations?

JSC Friday, 10 March 2023 12:32 PM

There are many talented players around where they were kept in bench, must give then chances rather run behind influences and $$$. hope they will have a proper selection criteria to grow sri lankan future cricket and players.

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School over country?

Three junior cricketers allowed to join U19 national team late in order to play big matches

Comments - 5

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