Sri Lanka Men To Participate In Indoor Cricket World Cup
The World Indoor Cricket Federation together with Cricket Australia Indoor Cricket will conduct the Indoor Cricket World Cup Championships 2022 at the Casey Stadium in Melbourne, Victoria from 08th to 15th October.
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Singapore & India are participating. The Men’s Open Championship is held for the 11th instance while the Women’s Open Championship is being organised for the 10th occassion. In addition the Under 22 Women’s & Men’s Championships will also be worked off during the 08 day action packed event involving 08 nations.
Australia are the overwhelming favourites to defend all 04 titles. Australia have won the Open Men’s title since the inaugural Indoor Cricket World Cup held in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England in 1995. Australia have not been defeated in the Open Women’s final since winning the first title in the 02nd Indoor Cricket World Cup held in Melbourne, Victoria during 1998.
Team Sri Lanka tour party consists of 15 players & 03 officials. Kolitha Hapuaarachchi ( Captain ) – player / coach – Rumesh Perera ( Vice Captain ), Malshan Rodrigo, Nilantha Wijekoon, Sheehan Wijethunge, Andy Solomons, Kamal Kuruppu, Shewon Fonseka, Dasun Randika, Chandima Abeykoon, Sanath De Silva, Nilochana Perera, Angelo Samuel, Nalaka De Silva, Chandika Wathukarage. Asela Pathirana – Coach – former captain, Jalitha Perera ( Manager ) – former Masters player, Hiran De Mel ( World Indoor Cricket Federation Delegate for Sri Lanka ) – former player / umpire / manager / commentator.
The accommodation for the entire team during their stay in Australia is sponsored by AUSTGROW – owned by Cedric Anthony. He was instrumental in introducing this sport to Sri Lanka at the beginning of the millennium. His younger sibling Dhakshitha Anthony is the Head of Austasia Sports Complex, Thalawathugoda. Indoor Cricket is based there with the Ceylon Indoor Cricket Association also functioning at the premises. It was also the only venue to hold Indoor Cricket Internationals since 2002, Sri Lanka vs Australia. In 2004, Sri Lanka hosted the 05th Indoor Cricket World Cup in Thalawathugoda. The home team were Runners Up giving Australia a huge scare. Later a Four Nation Tournament involving Australia, England, South Africa & Sri Lanka was also played there.
Craig Slocombe – former player & current coach is assisting the Sri Lanka team prepare for the challenge, down under. He was Sri Lanka’s first Indoor Cricket Coach in 2002 & was consultant when the only Indoor Cricket Arena Net facility was constructed at the Austasia Complex in 2001.
[huge_it_gallery id=”1109″]