Sri Lanka aim to promote cricket in northern areas

Former Sri Lankan legspinner Somachandra de Silva has been appointed cricket advisor to the president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, to develop and spread the game in the country's war-hit north and north-eastern regions. The move was part of the president's initiative to try and increase the representation of players of Tamil-speaking origin in the national team.

de Silva, who played 12 Tests for Sri Lanka and captained in two of them, was appointed on the basis of his experience in coaching school teams in Sri Lanka and England. Rajapakse was keen on tapping into the talent at the school level in these parts, where no first-class cricket is played.

The Sri Lankan side currently has one player of Tamil origin in offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who recently broke the world record for most wickets in Tests. A vast majority of the players hail from the southern and central parts of the country and the same regions regularly host international games. However, it's not quite the case in the northern areas, where players lack the facilities, grounds and encouragement needed to develop their cricket, following a civil war in the country between the country's two indigenous groups for more than two decades.

"The president is aware Sri Lanka will soon have to have replacements for star performers like Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas if it is to retain its top position," AHM Azwer, a Tamil commentator and a presidential advisor on media, told the IANS news service. "Muthiah Muralitharan is in top form now, but he may be able to play only for two more years."

"The president wants a Sri Lankan Tamil particularly to be in the national team. There is none in the present team. Muralitharan is after all a Tamil of Indian origin."

Rajapakse is keen on building a stadium of international standards in the northern town of Jaffna, where cricket is reported to be quite popular. His interest in the game is well known, after he recently inaugurated the new pavilion at the Galle International Stadium, a ground ravaged by the tsunami of December 2004.

"The people of Jaffna are cricket crazy," Azwer said. "They can make excellent fast bowlers because they are hardworking. Jaffna lads have learnt to work and play under harsh climatic conditions. Such an orientation will be useful in today's highly competitive game."