Teens selected for Sri Lanka adventure
TWO PROMISING Durban High School (DHS) cricketers are getting ready for an island adventure to Sri Lanka.
Next month, 15-year-olds Mohammad Ismail and Sholin Naicker will fly to the island nation with some of the best Under-16 players from Durban as part of the Kookaburra Cricket Invitational Tour.
The proud cricketing nation, which produced legends like Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya, will welcome the South African contingent for a week of training, friendly matches and sightseeing.
The duo booked their ticket on the tour after consistent performances at the Kookaburra U16 Cricket Festival held in the city recently.
“When I found out that I had been picked, I was over the moon,” said Mohammad of Overport. “I come from a cricket-loving family, so everyone was really happy for me.”
Sholin, who plays with Mohammad for DHS’S U16 team, felt the trip presented an excellent opportunity to experience a new country.
“There is a lot of pressure to do well and meet expectations. I have done some research on the places we are staying at. They look beautiful.”
For Mohammad, it’s a chance to work on his game and push for higher honours.
He said: “I made the Under-13 Durban and Districts team a few years ago. Now I hope to make a return and break into the provincial team.”
The boys are to visit Sigiriya, Kandy, Wadduwa and Colombo, where they will be immersed in Sri Lanka’s rich cricket culture and gain knowledge from local coaches.
“We are both all-rounders, so we can work on batting and bowling on slower pitches. I’ve spent time developing my off- and leg-cutter deliveries,” Mohammad said. “If I can perfect them on those pitches, it will be good for me when I return to action on our surfaces.”
Sholin, an off-spinner who lives in Chatsworth, also hopes to learn more about cricket on the tour. “I think I can work a lot on my bowling variations,” he said. “It is important for me to pay attention to my pace, line and length.”
Only a few weeks remain before they leave. Their main focus now is to practise as much as possible.