The Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team, scheduled to leave for the Youth World Cup in South Africa tomorrow (11) has stirred controversy due to selection concerns. Despite facing criticism for their performance in the qualifiers, the team has been nominated for the World Cup without any changes.
Key points of contention include the inclusion of players associated with a vice-president’s sports club, three sons of cricket institute employees, and the son of a district association chairman in the southern province. The squad composition has been criticized for featuring only right-handed fast bowlers, overlooking talented left-handed players.
Jehan Mubarak serves as the coach of the team, and there are reports of pressure from the top cricket establishment to include specific players. Concerns have also been raised about the inadequate training facilities, hindering the team’s preparation for the tournament. Sanath Jayasuriya is expected to join the team at a later stage.
