Sri Lanka under-19 team led by Sineth Jayawardena left for South Africa to take part in the ICC under-19 World Cup. Head coach
Jehan Mubarak the former Sri Lanka cricketer said we were not up to expectations during last Asia Cup and even we lost to UAE and Bangladesh which is a good eye opener for Sri Lanka under-19 team.
I think our players have good potential and skills. But the way we lost to teams like UAE and Bangladesh at Asia Cup we realized to have a good mind set before the World Cup. Former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara talked to the team while motivator Bhatiya Arthanayake had good motivation session with the team. Our Coaching consaltant Mahela Jayawardena also had very productive discussions with the team. SLC overall cricket consaltant Sanath Jayasuriya will join the team. We played few practice matches against Sri Lanka Emerging team said Head coach Mubarak. We will reach South Africa today and focus on few training sessions in South Africa to adjust to conditions.
We will play two practice matches against India and Bangladesh to get match exposure. We knew our group of this World Cup is not tough but we never underestimate any opponent. We are going to take match by match and our first hurdle is to reach super eight round and then reach semi finals said Jehan.
We as a team is confident to play this World Cup and hope to do our best. Under-19 team also had an issue with two travel reserves Manula Kularatne and Dinuka Tennakoon being down with dengue and will join the team only after they recover. Jayasundara is the only travel reserve with the team. We have good support staff while Manager Jayantha Seneviratne and specialist coaches fast bowling coach Chamila Gamage, spin bowling coach Sachith Pathirana, fielding coach Gayan Wijekoon, Assistant coach Sampath Perera and physiotherapist and trainer with the team to get success and Sri Lanka Cricket give maximum support to get all success, said Mubarak. (DR-CDN)
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