Sports

Of Sports Schools and schools sports

Published

6 years ago

2020/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

by Reemus Fernando

Continued from yesterday

Education and sports

Apart from Sports Schools (23) there are hundreds of other schools producing sportsmen and women to national level. For example there are 635 cricket playing (active) schools around the country. Of them 120 schools play cricket at Under-19 level where a vast majority of players are advanced level students. Cricket officials take an effort to get their players pass the O/L examination to retain them for the Under-19 team. But that interest is suddenly lost when the player enters A/L classes because ‘they are there to play cricket not to learn’. Many scholar athletes give up on education after passing the O/L exam. “That is not because they are weak students. But because they are not told about the importance of education,” says a former schools cricketer.

Over 50 first class cricketers lost their jobs at leading Companies (playing Mercantile Cricket) recently in the aftermath of the Covid 19 forced lock down because “they were there just to play cricket.” However some of these companies have not terminated the contracts of cricketers who also work in other departments while also making their cricket teams.

When the England Youth cricket team toured Sri Lanka in 2011 their back up staff had teachers to look after the education of players. Players who were not involved in matches were seen taking tuition in an area adjacent to the press box during their match at the Galle Stadium.

When Sri Lanka Cricket select a Youth team it is compulsory for them to accompany a schools representative appointed by the ministry of education. His duty is to represent the Education Ministry and is in charge of the players during the tour but has no ‘duty with regard to their education.’

When Sports Schools were started ‘teachers were assigned to work with scholar athletes who miss lessons due to training or competitions.’ Those teachers were paid extra for the tuition classes they conducted.’ That is hardly practiced at Sports Schools at present. Several International Schools which took sports seriously during the last two decades are doing a better job in this regard.

Hostels or stadiums

At schools level a hostel is as important as the stadium and other sports equipment to an athlete. The hostel facilities of Sports Schools are in almost dilapidated condition. A student obtaining sports scholarships should feel at home at hostels if he or she is to persevere in sports. The dormitory facilities of almost all Sports Schools need more room and speedy renovation.

It is incumbent upon Sports Ministry and the Ministry of Education to give serious thought to these considerations among other things and consult relevant officials who could provide inputs into making Sports Schools the nurseries of country’s future sportsmen and women.

Concluded.

All News Advertisement

Sports

Cape Verde break record as smallest nation to reach World Cup knockouts

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/27

Priyan

Cape Verde coach Pedro Brito celebrates after his side qualifed for the knockout stages of the World Cup [Aljazeera]

Tiny Cape Verde have become the history makers of World Cup 2026 by defying all odds to become the smallest country to earn a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.

Their improbable run through the group stage, with a third straight World Cup draw, was completed with a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday night to advance in the tournament.

Keeping goal for Cape Verde throughout has been Vozinha, 40, who has embodied the grit of his nation. “We are small, but we have big hearts and we are fighters,” said the goalkeeper, who last season played for Chaves in Portugal’s second tier.

The island nation off the western coast of Africa, which is making its debut on football’s grandest stage, already held 2010 champion Spain to a 0-0 draw – a shock in itself to begin their campaign.

They then came from behind to get a 2-2 result against Uruguay – the winners of the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

“The team was very eager to show this to the whole world,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said while draped in his country’s flag after the Saudi Arabia game.

“We are proud of having arrived at this stage. We have shown that we are a small country, but that we fight for the things that we want to achieve.”

Cape Verde’s three points put the team in second place behind Spain, which beat Uruguay on Friday night and won the group.

Cape Verde will play reigning World Cup champion Argentina in Miami on July 3.

[Aljazeera]

Latest News

India A stretch lead to 170 after Sai Sudharsan retires hurt

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/27

Priyan

Auqib Nabi bagged four wickets [SLC]

India suffered a potential injury scare ahead of the Test series in Sri Lanka, with their No.3 B Sai Sudarshan retiring hurt on 7 while playing for India A against Sri Lanka A during the third day of the first four-dayer in Galle. After scoring a century in the first innings, Sai Sudharsan retired hurt in the fourth over of India A’s second innings. By the end of the day’s play, however, India A had stretched their lead to 170.

Chhattisgarh opener Aayush Pandey and Devdutt Padikkal were unbeaten on 20 each at stumps.

India A had claimed a first-innings lead of 122 after dismissing Sri Lanka A for 330 in their first innings. Resuming from an overnight 113 for 2, they were guided by half-centuries from captain Sahan Arachchige (72) and Ashen Bandara (70). Nuwandi Fernando, who had passed his own fifty on day two, had his innings cut short on 84 on day three.

For India A, Auqib Nabi, who was the top wicket taker in the previous Ranji Trophy season and was a net bowler during India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, was the pick of the bowlers, returning 4 for 58 in 19.4 overs. Sri Lanka A lost their last five wickets for 30 runs, with Nabi taking four of those.

Left-arm fingerspin-bowling allrounder Harsh Dubey and Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur picked up two wickets apiece. India A then closed out the day on 48 for 0.

Scores:
India A 48 for 0 in 17 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 20*, Ayush Pandey 20*) and 452 for 6 dec in 111.4 overs [Sai Sudarshan 132, Dhruv Jurel 141, Shaik Rasheed 63; Chamika Gunasekera 3-64, Dilum Sudeera 2-143] lead Sri Lanka A 330 in 101.4 overs (Nuwanidu Fernando 84, Ashen Bandara 70, Sahan Arachchige 72; Aaqib Nabi 4-58, YashThakur 2-51, Harsh Dubey 2-84) by 170 runs

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

T20 World Cup: Scotland miss out as eight teams secure automatic spots for 2028

Published

8 hours ago

2026/06/27

Priyan

Sri Lanka's win against Scotland completed the group of eight teams [Cricinfo]

Teams that finished in the top four of each group at the ongoing T20 World Cup have secured their spots for the next edition of the tournament in 2028. From Group 1, Australia, India, South Africa and Bangladesh have qualified. England, West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka join them from Group 2. Pakistan qualified as a result of being the tournament hosts; they finished fifth in the Group 2 table with just one win in five games.

Scotland missed out on a chance to directly qualify for the 12-team ICC event after losing to Sri Lanka on Friday.

The 10th spot will go to the next highest-ranked team on the T20I rankings table at the July 6, 2026 cut-off. As it stands, Ireland, ranked ninth, fill that spot. The remaining two places will be determined through a 10-team global qualifier, which will be supported by regional qualifiers.

Netherlands, ranked 14th, are likely to have to play in the qualifier to make the main event. So too Scotland (11th) and Ireland (9th) if they fall too far down the table.

The ICC also made a decision on the composition of teams at the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, to be held next year in Sri Lanka. The hosts will be joined by the top five teams on the T20I rankings at the same July 6 cut-off. As it stands, the teams at the tournament will be Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

[Cricinfo]