SL Under 19s off to the UAE for Asia Cup amidst high hopes

Sri Lanka under 19 cricket team leaves the island today to play the U-19 Asia Cup in the UAE from the 23rd to 31st of December 2021. According to several reports the same team will play at the ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 in the West Indies. Lankan juniors will be led by Josephian star Dunith Wellalage with former National player Avishka Gunawardene as head coach. They are going into the Asia cup with high morale after two back-to-back series wins against England and reigning youth world champions Bangladesh. The 09th edition of the Under-19 Asia Cup, organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will serve as a precursor before the U19 World Cup. The first edition of the competition was held 42 years ago in 1989 in Bangladesh. India has won the Asia Under-19 Cup 07 times, once sharing the title with Pakistan in 2012 after a tie. Afghanistan became the only other country to win the title when they beat Pakistan by 185 runs in 2017. Eight teams are playing in the tournament with Sri Lanka slotted in group B alongside Bangladesh, Kuwait, and Nepal. Sri Lanka Under 19 Squad for Asia Cup 2021 : Dunith Wellalage (Captain – St. Joseph’s College, Colombo) Raveen De Silva (Nalanda College, Colombo) Sadeesh Jayawardena (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo) Pawan Pathiraja (Trinity College, Kandy) Chamindu Wickramasinghe (St. Anthony’s College, Kandy) Vinuja Ranpul (Nalanda College, Colombo) Sadisha Rajapaksa (Royal College, Colombo) Shevon Daniel (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo) Yasiru Rodrigo (S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia) Wanuja Sahan (St. Peter’s College, Colombo) Treveen Mathews (St. Anthony’s College, Kandy) Matheesha Pathirana (Trinity College, Kandy) Malsha Tharupathi (Richmond College, Galle) Anjala Bandara (St Anthony’s College, Kandy) Sakuna Liyanage (Lumbini College, Colombo) Ranuda Somaratne (Trinity College, Kandy) Abhishek Liyanarachchi (D.S Senanayake College) Under 19 Asia Cup 2021 schedule (Sri Lanka) Dec 24 – Sri Lanka vs Kuwait Group B - Sharjah Cricket Stadium 11:00 IST Dec 26 – Sri Lanka vs Nepal Group B - Sharjah Cricket Stadium 11:00 IST Dec 28 – Bangladesh U19 vs Sri Lanka U19 Group B - Sharjah Cricket Stadium 11:00 IST Dec 30 – 1st Semi-Final ICC Academy Ground, Dubai 11:00 IST Dec 30 – 2nd Semi-Final Sharjah Cricket Stadium 11:00 IST Dec 31 – Final Dubai International Cricket Stadium 11:00 IST