UAL To Boost Cricket In Outstations In Sri Lanka (24 Jul 1996)

24 July 1996

UAL to boost cricket in outstations and promote public interest

By SA`ADI THAWFEEQ

Union Assurance will continue their dual purpose policy of boosting cricket in the outstations as well as promoting interest in the game among the public when they hold a series of coaching camps and exhibition matches commencing later this month.

Their continuation is based on the success of a similar scheme conducted last year in Deberawewa and Badulla. Requests from several other districts for similar coaching camps and exhibition matches involving Sri Lanka cricketers have encouraged Union Assurance to continue their venture.

The areas covered this time are Wennappuwa, Kurunegala, Matale and Kegalle. A Union Assurance XI led by Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga and comprising national cricketers will take on a Puttalam/Gampaha Combined XI captained by Camilus Susantha in the opening match at Albert Peiris Stadium, Wennappuwa on July 27.

Further matches are scheduled for July 28 at the Welagedera Stadium, Kurunegala, October 12 at Aluwihara Stadium, Matale on October 12 and Kegalle esplanade on October 13.

These matches will be preceded by coaching camps conducted by Sri Lanka team coach Davenall Whatmore, who will be assisted by national coaches and players.

"Union Assurance`s involvement in cricket at the district level is a demonstration of its commitment to promote sports as well as other community activities in all parts of the island. We are pleased to announce that the proceeds of all the exhibition matches will be used for the development of cricket in the particular district,`` said Union Assurance chief executive H.A. Rehmanjee at a press conference held in connection with this scheme at the city office on Monday.

He said this scheme was inaugurated soon after the cricket tour of New Zealand in March 1995 when Ranatunga complained that there was poor spectator participation at local matches and the atmosphere was that of a match being played on foreign soil.

In a bid to create spectator interest, Union Assurance decided on this project where the national side was pitted against the district teams, thus giving the local lads in the district a life time opportunity to play against national players and mingle with them, whom otherwise, they had the opportunity to watch only on TV.

"Those attending the coaching clinic will be taught six creative skills, they will be able to obtain autographs of their heroes and also take away a little gift,`` said Whatmore.

Sri Lanka Cricket Board vice president and coaching committee chairman Thilanga Sumathipala thanked Union Assurance for progressing into an area for which he said, the Cricket Board had found difficulty in obtaining sponsors.

Sumathipala revealed that under 13 players involved in these coaching schemes would be included in a softball tournament to be conducted during the intervals of the two Test matches between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

"This way these youngsters will be able to get the feel of the atmosphere and the ground,`` he said.

The teams for Saturday`s match at Wennappuwa: Union Assurance XI: Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Romesh Kaluwitharana, Erik Upashantha, Nishantha Ranatunga, Duleep Samaraweera, Upul Chandana, Muthiah Muralitharan, Manjula Munasinghe, Sanath Jayasuriya, Asanka Gurusinha, Roger Wijesuriya.

Puttalam/Gampaha District Combined XI (from): Camilus Susantha (captain), Nuwan Sanahasa, Nuwan Priyankara, Saman Thithagala, Shehan Samarasinghe, Muditha Gunawardena, Duleepa Rasanga Perera, Roshan Pieris, Daminda Maliyaratne, Shiroman Priyantha, Keerthi Nelson, Damian Indrajith, Shantha Silva, Dammika Gunawardena.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)