The second leg of Asia 7’s series will kick off in Bangkok this weekend in Bangkok. The selection committee has made four changes from the first leg which was held in China. Sandun Herath, Lavanga Perera, Dulaj Perera and Hirantha Perera was replaced by the skipper Fazil Marija, Nigel Ratwatte, Dinusha Chathuranga and Jason Dissanayake.
Chairman of national selectors Michael Jayasekera said that they want to try all sixteen who are in the training squad and further mentioned that only Rochana Hettiarachi and Rehan Thyagarajah have not been tested as yet and they may get their opportunity in the Colombo leg. Jayasekara also spoke on Olympic qualifiers “Olympic qualifier is our main target, therefore, we will find the 12 players who are at their peak for the team to play in Hong Kong in November.”
Moreover, coach Mathew Turner stated that he was not happy finishing fourth in China. “We had a nice semifinal against China we slip through our hands and hopefully we have done some preparation” “Obviously fourth place is not acceptable for our standards as we have the ability to be the top three / top two”
Once again Kandy SC players dominate the squad with seven players, two from Havelock SC, two from CR&FC and one from Navy secured their places in the squad.
Final 12
Fazil Marija (captain), Srinath Sooriyabandara, Shehan Pathirana, Anurudda Wilwara, Richard Dharmapala, Nigel Ratwatte and Gayan Weeraratne (Kandy SC), Sudarshana Muthuthanthri and Danushka Ranjan(Havelock SC), Jason Dissanayake and Kanchana Ramanayake (CR and FC), Dinusha Chathuranga (Navy SC), Matt Turner (coach) and Rohan Chinthaka (Manager)
