Sri Lanka Under-19 squad left the island yesterday to take part in the Under-19 World Cup which will begin in UAE on Valentine’s Day. Captained by Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka’s Under-19 cricketers took wings to United Arab Emirates yesterday to take part in the ICC Youth World Cup that gets underway on Valentine’s Day. Sri Lanka are pooled alongside New Zealand, West Indies and UAE in Group ‘D’. The Sri Lankans will take on Kiwis in the curtain-raiser of the competition. Sri Lanka will play two warm-up games against India and Namibia.
Sri Lanka squad contains one survivor from the 2012 Under-19 World Cup in Australia in Anuk Fernando. The left-handed all-rounder played only two matches in the last edition, but has since assumed an important role for the side with his left-arm seam and his batting down the order.
Hashan Ramanayake, Harsha Rajapaksha and Hashan Vimarshana have replaced three members of the squad for the Asia Cup, where Sri Lanka lost to Afghanistan in their group, but recovered to make the semi-finals. They then lost to eventual champions India.
The team is coached by Naveed Nawaz.
Sri Lanka Under-19 squad: Kusal Mendis (capt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Minod Bhanuka, Hashan Dumindu, Kavindu Kulasekara, Priyamal Perera, Thilaksha Malshan Sumanasiri, Hashan Ramanayake, Binura Fernando, Anuk Fernando, Hashan Vimarshana, A.K. Tyronne, Lakshan Jayasinghe, Ramesh Mendis and Harsha Rajapaksha.