Former Sri Lanka Youth fast bowler Shehan Samaratunga has set up his own cricket academy in Wennappuwa and conducted their annual cricket festival among its students recently.
They conducted this tournament on December 22, 2021 with about 55 students participating in three age categories at the Albert F. Peiris Stadium.
The age categories were under-17, 15 and 13 with two teams in each group.
“A total of about 80 young cricketers follow the coaching classes and some of them could not attend this tournament as it was on a Wednesday,” said Samaratunga.
The Colts team won the Under-15 title while the Junior team won the Under-13 prize and the Under-17 team won the Senior trophy.
Samaratunga played for Maris Stella College, Negombo before being called up to play for the Sri Lanka under-19 team.
“I played for Tamil Union and got the opportunity to play semi-league cricket in Surrey and New Castle. It was while in England that I got the opportunity to follow coaching courses conducted by the ECB and now I am a qualified level II coach,” said Samaratunga.
With this knowledge and history of his past, Samaratunga is expecting to attract many young and talented cricketers who will be vying to raise their standards. (TBR)
