Playing WC in SA will benefit U-19 Cricketers, says Aravinda

The move to host the Under 19 world cup championship from Sri Lanka to South Africa gives much needed exposure for Sri Lanka under 19 players. Our young players have to get that advantage said former Sri Lanka deputy skipper and Master Batsman Aravinda de Silva.

I think Sri Lankan players should play cricket on neutral wickests overseas and youngsters should realize the importance of this, said De Silva who was one time captain of the National team at the World Cup. Aravinda de Silva has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in recognition of his superb career that included a match-winning hundred in an ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final in 1996.

Before we played 1996 world cup we had Australian tour and had chance to play on Australian wickets which helped us to win the World Cup. During the domestic tournaments we couldn’t see good wickets here in Sri Lanka and this has to be changed . I think players like Dunith Wellalage should play on good wickets to develop his skills said Aravinda de Silva. Getting international exposure is more important for youngsters while wickets in South Africa, England, Australia give much needed practice for any player to progress.

We have good young players and they have to be looked after well, said de Silva who was a former D. S Senanayake Ccllege Colombo cricketer guided by principal late Dr. R.I.T Alles the mentor of most of the D.S cricketers. Aravinda de Silva the one time chairman of the National selection committee later became a member of the Cricket Technical Committee.

Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinghe and Hashan Tillekartatne directly entered the National team after leaving school but today school cricket standard is not enough to enter the National team. Meanwhile D.S. Senanayake Colombo Colombo will felicitate cricketing legend Aravinda de Silva the proud Senanayakian being inducted into ICC Hall of Fame on February 8 at the D.S Senanayake Vidyalaya R.I.T Alles Hall and the organizers are expected to issue a first day cover stamp on this day and this event will commence from December 8 at 9.15a.m.