by Dhammika Ratnaweera

The Sri Lanka Under 19 cricket team, led by Dhammika Niroshan will leave for Pakistan today, to play five one-day matches. Niroshan, the Devananda College all-rounder, toured Australia with the U-19 team.

He is the sole player with overseas exposure.

Jeewan Mendis from S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia will be his deputy. Mendis, a talented left hand batsman and leg-spinner, performed well during the last inter school cricket season.

The team was selected from a pool of 24, said Owen Mattau, the Under 19 coach.

Bandula Warnapura and Lal Thamel will go as manager and physio respectively, while Rev. Brother Anthony Francis from Maris Stella College Negombo will join the tour party as the Sri Lanka schools representative.

The tour will start with a one-day game in Karachi on November 18, followed by four one-dayers in Rawalpindi on November 21, Shikhapura on November 24 and Lahore on November 26 and 27.

The team: Dhammika Niroshan (Devananda — Capt.), Jeewan Mendis (S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia — V. Capt.), Upul Tharanga (Dharmasoka), Charith Sylvester Fernando (De Mazenod), Sumalka Perera (St. Sebastians’), Sahan Wijeratne (St. Sebastians’), Mevan Dunusinghe (Nalanda), Amila Wettasinghe (Kalutara MV), Dhammika Prasad (De Mazenod), Nadula de S. Wijeratne (St. Peters’), Faviz Maharoof (Wesley), Prasad Ranawaka (St. Anthony’s Kandy), N. C. Kamasaru (St. Thomas’ Matara), Lasith Fernando (St. Sebastians’), O. Mattau (Coach), Lal Thamel (Physio), Bandula Warnapura (Manager), Rev. Brother Anthony Francis (SLSCA representative).