Sri Lanka Blind Cricketers team led by W.A. Chandana Deshapriya left the island for Dubai to compete in the 5th Blind Cricket World Cup – 2018 on Friday. The Championship which starts today will come to an end January 25. This World Cup is organized by the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council. According to the organizers the final of the Championship will be played in Pakistan.
This year’s Championship will see the participation of Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. This is also the first time a Nepali team has entered the championship. Sri Lanka Participating in the 2nd World Cup produced excellent performances when they defeated the high riding England for the first time in the history of Blind Cricket.
During this Championship match against England a Sri Lankan Player who was awarded the ‘Man of the Match Award’.
Sri Lankan Blind Cricketers was ranked as the third at the 20/20 Blind Cricket tournament held in India in the year 2012. During the 4th World Cup held in South Africa in 2014 Lanka’s P. Saman Kumara became the Best Bowler of the championship.
Suranga Sampath set a New Record scoring centuries in consecutive innings also in India in 20/20 Blind Cricket International Tournament in 2017. Considering the above records Sri Lankan Blind Cricketers team is on a high standard and is expected to do perform well during this tournament in Dubai.
The Squad: W.A. Chandana Deshapriya (Captain), Pethum Saman Kumara, P.D. Kavindu Sahan Kumara, D. Chaminda, K. Silva, M.B.D.N. Mathugama (Sri Lanka Army), Nuwan Sudesh (University), W. D. Sarath Bandara (Railway), K.G. Upul Sanjeeva (Teacher), A.M. Saman Thushara (Student), B.L. Ruwan Wasantha, H.M.Suranga Sampath (Mercantile Sector), Chandana Kumara Suriyaarachchi, Dimuthu Perera (Business), J.A. Prinyantha Kumara (Sugar Corporation) and D.M.D.M. Damith Sandaruwan