Lankan selectors present proposal to elevate present structure

The Lankan selectors, led by former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, have forwarded a proposal on developing the cricket structures and standards in local cricket for the perusal of the SLC administrators.

In this proposal the national selectors have urged the authorities to review the prevalent tournaments and convert them into ones that ensure competitiveness.

They have stated that the premier tournament should cover the biggest possible area so that all available talent is crosschecked, but also puts a lot of stress on this being a lean and mean one which consists only of a few competitive teams.

Nevertheless, the selectors have also delved into the school structure and the cricket played there and have said that around 4000 students take part in the local Under 19 tournament and the SLC should drawup a programme so that this section of cricketers also be looked after once they leave school. They have recommended that the authorities identify 120 talented cricketers from this lot and provide them with a retainer of Rs.20,000/- as a long-term plan.

This move, cricket insiders think, will lure more talented cricketers especially from the outstations into the game. Now at present most of the school- leaving cricketers give up the game for want of necessary backing.

The selectors have reiterated that the SLC could use their expertise and provide this segment with proper coaching infrastructure, technical support by way of trainers, physios, fast and spin bowling coaches, batting and fielding coaches, this giving the young lads the necessary technical support so that they can elevate themselves to the upper grades.

They have also stressed upon the importance of having at least two Under 19 away and home international engagements, at least two ‘A’ tours in the same manner as above. They have also mentioned that this programme could also have an Under 21 Development Squad Programme on the same basis as above.

Finally the selectors have also taken up the situation in the North and East and said that the SLC should invest in turf wickets and other facilities in these areas so that the huge talent there could be harnessed.

When asked about the programme, SLC S ecretary Nishantha Ranatunga said that most of the cricketers who were privy to this proposal were impressed and the SLC is considering taking it up quite seriously at the Exco.

Meanwhile it was also learned that the SLC has failed in their bid to get a release of the Lankan cricketers who are benched at the IPL.

Two weeks ago the SLC made a request to the BCCI to get a release of the Lankan cricketers who are not engaged in matches at the IPL so that they could prepare themselves for the forthcoming Champions Trophy tournament in England.

However the BCCI had turned down the request claiming that the Lankan cricketers were engaged and were in the IPL match plans.