SLSCA to seek permission to commence Under-19 cricket in March

The tournament committee of the SLSCA met over the weekend to decide ways of bringing schools cricket back to life after it was interrupted in the midst of the peak season in March last year.

by Reemus Fernando

Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association has decided to seek permission from the Ministry of Education to conduct a limited overs tournament in March for the Under-19 age category as the premier school sports association prepares to end the long hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The tournament committee of the SLSCA met over the weekend to decide ways of bringing the sport back to life after it was interrupted in the midst of the peak season in March last year.

“We have to set the right atmosphere to form a team for the 2022 ICC Youth World Cup for which we will have only months if it takes place according to schedule. So we decided to ask for permission to conduct a limited overs tournament for the Under-19 age category,” said J.A.K.S. Indrajith the secretary of the SLSCA.

The tournament committee is looking at the possibility of conducting the Under-19 tournament from March 20 to April 30, either side of April holidays.

“There will not be promotions or demotions for this tournament. This is just a warm up tournament to get junior cricketers back on track.”

The tournament will be vital for those seeking selections to Sri Lanka Under-19 pools with the next ICC Youth World Cup scheduled to be held in early 2022. Generally the ICC Youth World Cups are held in January and February.

The SLSCA’s plan is to limit the first round to just five matches for one team and conclude that round within 20 days. The top teams selected from the first round will play a knockout round. The final phase of the tournament will be played after New Year holidays.

Indrajith said that the SLSCA was looking at the possibility of conducting a girls’ Under-19 tournament as well.

The possibilities of starting the Under-15 and 17 tournaments will be looked into after reviewing the success of the Under-19 tournament.

“Generally the Under-15 and 17 tournaments start in the months of May and June. The success of the Under-19 tournament will help us start those tournaments as well. Students missed lot of time on their education last year. That is something that will be given consideration when starting sports activities in the junior category,” said Indrajith.

Schools cricket, like all other sports activities, came to a halt in March last year when the Under-19 tournament was reaching the final stage due to the pandemic. There were requests to conclude the stalled tournaments when the number of Covid 19 positive cases dropped as the interruption impacted teams seeking promotions to higher Divisions. Efforts by the SLSCA to recommence cricket last year found futile as the Ministry of Education did not grant permission to conduct sports events for school children.

However, the tournaments which were not concluded last year will not recommence. A number of annual Big Matches were also not held last year.