The report of the Committee appointed by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam to improve the standard of School cricket and steps to be taken to promote the game in the schools was handed over to the Minister by the members of the committee at the Education Ministry Isurupaya Battaramulla yesterday.
Former test cricketers Sidath Wettimuny, Roger Wijesuriya, Mahela Jayawardene former Sri Lanka player Jayantha Seneviratne and Ex Sri Lanka Under 19 Coach Carlton Barnadus served on the committee along with officials of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association. Former test cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Muttiah Muralitharan also pledged their support to make this venture a success. The Minister agreed to implement the proposals submitted by the committee.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CRICKET NETWORK Draft
• Ministry of Education will work together with Schools Cricket Association and its Provincial setup to deliver the cricket management system to their affiliates. Implementation of the cricket management system throughout Sri Lanka will differ.
• A support mechanism will be provided for community cricket including email logging of issues or problems, in addition to a telephone support number.
• Ministry of Education owns the system in perpetuity, which delivers the certainty of a long term approach, along with flexibility to ensure ongoing development and integration with future solutions is possible
• The system will substantially reduce workloads for volunteers by streamlining data capture requirements for School Cricket Development programs, Census and School Coaching Accreditation.
• Enhance talent identification systems for coaches, umpires and players
• Create consistent national benchmarks for areas such as Coaches, Master in Charge evaluations, player registration, umpire evaluation, venue / pitch assessments and player behavior
• Increase collective strength through a coordinated approach to delivery, training and support, resulting in savings to School cricket
• Increase knowledge and understanding of our participants and customers by capturing more demographic data
• Improve quality and quantity of experiences, engagement and communication with cricket supporters, participants and customers at all age levels
This document is designed to be regularly refined and readjusted in the light of changing circumstances over the course of the period 2017-19. Failure to readjust in this way would be a failure to meet the defined Strategic Objectives.
NOTE: It is understood that the Ministry of Education through a detailed Schools Cricket Business Plan 2017-19 will have implemented a thorough assessment of financial resources available prior to ratification of both the Schools Cricket Strategic Plan 2017 and the Schools Cricket Operational Plan 2017-19.
Strategic Priorities – To be Implemented in 4 Stages as per the Structure and Resources
The Ministry of Education in conjunction with a Steering Committee has identified the areas of improvement for Schools Cricket Operational Plan upon which to build cricket over the next two years (2017-2019).
Revamping of the Schools Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 & Under 19 Cricket Tournaments to create a pathway to the National level.
Develop excellent training / match facilities, Sports Medicine Unit’s in all parts of Sri Lanka that will attract School participants.
To ensure that the infrastructure developed [turf wickets, matting wickets, concrete wickets, nets, indoors] throughout the country are properly maintained to the required standards.
Provide cricket equipment, bowling machines, cricket balls, score boards, site screens etc….. to School participants in all parts of the country.
Allocations / Funds to be provided to Schools by way of Coaches, Curators, Umpires and Scorers and building facilities within Schools for training through an MOU signed with the Ministry of Education [MOE].
Provide scholarships to deserving School cricketers and School Coaches to be trained effectively.
National Junior Selection Panel & Criteria for each of the Nine Provinces including Talent Scouts as and when appointed.
Arrange home and away International competition for Age Group Teams.
Develop / outsource resource personal to deliver training programs for grounds-men /curators, Leadership Programs, Player Mentoring, Anti-doping, Anti-corruption, COC / Code of Ethics Programs for players and School Administrators, Cricket Skill Training aids [CD’s], Computer skills training as resources for schools in all three languages / Players to be briefed on how to handle the Print and Electronic Media.
Develop a Schools Cricket web portal
Develop different age group Players Training Program based upon a system of continuous improvement, including a strong and viable Community and Provincial system for selected athletes. To ensure that School Coaches are trained effectively and evaluated to operate within the Schools frame work in each of the Provinces. To ensure that resource personal that are outsourced, such as Physical Instructors / Trainers, Physiotherapist and Nutritionist are trained effectively and evaluated to operate within the Schools frame work in each of the Provinces.
Develop partnerships with key agencies to assist in the promotion of cricket at all age levels
Ensure that cricket has a strong and sustainable financial base and an Administrative base [Business Center]
