Sri Lanka under 19 team will lock horns with the touring Bangladesh under 19 squad in five ODIs and two 3-days games which starts on 18th January and it was officially announced during a media briefing held on Friday evening at Hilton, Colombo.
This tour will be the best foundation for the next ICC Youth World Cup in 2016 as it will start on January 22nd in Bangladesh and both nations will test the skill level of their future stars.
Sri Lanka Cricket, Head of Cricket Operations, Carlton Bernadus addressing the media shared his views on the upcoming home series’, “I welcome the Bangladesh touring party on behalf of Sri Lanka Cricket. This series is all about building up for the next Youth World Cup which will be held in Bangladesh. We have few more tours before the big tournament such as travelling to UAE and play Pakistan in October; India will be coming to Sri Lanka in November while we will once again play few ODI matches prior to the World Cup with Bangladesh in their conditions. This is a superb learning curve for all the players. “
“ We have named a pool of 32 players for this Bangladesh series and out of those, 23 players are eligible to play the World Cup while other 9 players are not. We have selected those 9 players considering their performances in the school season. “ Bernadus said.
Bangladesh team manager, Saiful Islam expressed his views exclusively to www.thepapare.com, “We are pleased to be here and this is a golden opportunity to our players because Sri Lanka is a very good team and I hope this will be a competitive tour for us.”
Bangladesh skipper Mehedy Hassan made his comments regarding this tour, “We have four players who played the Youth World Cup, We believe we can win this series and the upcoming World Cup in our home conditions. “
“ I thank the SLC for providing us all the facilities and this will be a very good chance for us to prove ourselves as a team. “Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka said.
Sri Lanka team manager, Shane Fernando on his first experience in the under 19 age-level was very confident on his team, “We have done great preparations prior to this series and we have the legend, Roy Dias as our batting coach. We are ready to win. “
“Cricket has gone to a better step now; we like to give maximum opportunity to every player in the squad as this will be an ideal preparation series for the World Cup. We have decided to have a rotation policy going on to accommodate all the talented youngsters. These are the players to carry the national flag in the future.” Sri Lanka head coach, Roger Wijesuriya said.
Bangladesh U19 Tour of Sri Lanka 2015 Fixtures
18th Jan – 1st ODI at Colts
20th Jan – 2nd ODI at Colts
22nd Jan – 3rd ODI at Colts
24th Jan – 4th ODI at R. Premadasa
25th Jan – 5th ODI at SSC
28th-30th Jan – 1st unofficial Test at Dambulla
2nd-4th Feb – 2nd unofficial Test at Pallekelle
Sri Lanka squad for the first three ODIs
Charith Asalanka (Captain) – Richmond College, Avishka Fernando (Vice Captain) – St. Sebastian’s College, Lasith Lakshan – St. Thomas College, Matara, Kaveen Bandara – D.S Senanayake College, Sahan Arachchige – Ananda College, Vishad Randika – Isipathana College, Wanidu Hasaranga – Richmond College, Chamika Karunaratne – Royal College, Damith Silva – Maliyadeva College, Nushan Weerasinghe – Trinity College, Asitha Fernando – St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya, Lahiru Kumara – Trinity College, Keshan Wijeratne – Maliyadewa College, Nishan Peiris – St. Peter’s College Negombo, Pasindu Isira – Air Force SC, Sammu Ashan – Ananda College, Duvindu Thillakeratne – Trinity College.
Bangladesh squad
Mehedy Hassan Miraz (Captain), Mohammed Saif, Joyraj Sheik, Munim Shahrier, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shaif Uddin, Nahid Hassan, Mohammed Abdul Halim, Prosenjit Das, Shahanur Rehman, Mehede Hassan, Sanjit Saha, Saleh Ahmed Shawon Gazi, Shafiul Hayet, Jaker Ali Anik, Rifat Pradhan, Sifat Islam Meem.
