The Sri Lankan U-19 captain Nipun Dananjaya, leading his team into, what would be the final window of opportunity prior to the U19 World Cup, has set his sights in becoming the best fielding side in the tournament.
“If we achieve that, we can win this tournament easily,” Dananjaya told the Daily News, ahead of the team’s departure yesterday for the West Indies-Sri Lanka- England tri-series to be held in the Caribbean.
The captain defended, that the team was armed with individual powers. “We have our individual powers. Some play in the first, second and third power plays, respectively. Some play against the spinners and fast bowlers. While we play in the batting positions, we need to gain that confidence,” Dananjaya said. He accepted the speedsters of hosts West Indies and England are good.
“We need to improve our back foot play and become skilled in that. The main aim would be to get more singles in the series,” Dananjaya said talking about his team’s game plan. The team’s road to the final match practice (the tri-series) was topsy-turvy with US visa denial to five-players threatening to upset the apple cart. Nevertheless, coach Hashan Tillakaratne did not give in much to the recent off-field saga.
“Not really, it’s a superb opportunity for the youngsters to show their true potential,” he said that as a matter-of-fact. Swiftly switching to performance gears, he admitted, that the show against the Bangladeshi’s was not good enough.“I must say, we didn’t have a very good Bangladesh tour,” said Tillakaratne. “Fielding was a little lethargic and not up to the required standards. We have discussed this and rectified our mistakes.”
“There are quite a few players coming through. Nipun has been batting really well. I must mention, we were down-and-out on the third day. But, he managed to bat five-sessions and save the test. It showed character. Paranavithana, Rashantha de Silva, Wijesinghe, Sonal Dinusha all are batting and performing well. Just that, we need to perform as one unit,” he explained. Racing against time, it was ultimately the British High Commission that emerged as the saviour, sorting and settling the visa matter.
The visa issue has forced the team to take wings in two-batches; one via USA and second via UK.
The Squad: Nipun Dhananjaya (Captain – St. Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa), Kamil Mishara (Royal Colombo), Navod Paranavithana (Mahinda Galle), Ravindu de Silva (S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia), Sonal Dinusha (Mahanama Colombo), Ahan Wickramasinghe (Royal Colombo), Lakshan Gamage (St. Joseph’s Colombo), Chamindu Wickramasinghe (St. Anthony’s Katugastota), Amshi De Silva (Richmond Galle), Naveen Fernando (Maris Stella Negombo), Yasiru Rodrigo (S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia), Chamindu Wijesinghe (Nalanda Colombo), Ashen Daniel (St. Joseph’s Colombo), Dilum Sudeera (Richmond Galle), Kavindu Nadeeshan (Dharmasoka Ambalangoda)
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