Former captain and legendary batsman Mahela Jayawardene, during a crisis management meeting at Temple Trees with country’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 21, said that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has not done anything in developing school cricket in last 15 years.
The meeting took place after government’s announcement to build an international cricket stadium at Homagama, with an approximate budget of $40 million. Obviously, Mahela’s claim has started a new debate in Sri Lanka cricket fraternity. Many have backed Mahela’s claim, many other have opined against it.
In response, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), through it 2019 expenditure for the school cricket, has claimed that the board has made every possible efforts to uplift the standard of the junior cricket by allocating funds!
The expenditure sheet for 2019, which in the possession of Cricket Age, shows that the SLC last year provided side concrete wickets, bowling machines, pitch covers, mattings, cricket material bags, turf mechanical rollers, hand tractors, manual rollers, boundary ropes that cost SLC a total sum of Rs. 232,100,000.
The document also reads that the SLC has been supporting Sri Lanka Cricket School Association (SLSCA) by providing cricket balls to play school cricket tournaments every year. In 2019 itself, SLC spent over Rs. 9 million to procure cricket balls for U19 School cricket tournament and another 2.5 million for international matches. Total number of 7680 grade 1 balls were ordered and distributed among 225 schools, who plays in the division 1,2,3 of Under19 tournament. In addition, Rs. 6.5 million was granted to SLSCA in assistance to hire scorers for U19 School tournament. Administration Grant of Rs. 3 million was also given to SLSCA in managing their day to day activities at their office at SLC premises.
As per the document, last year, SLC also Conducted workshops to enhance cricket knowledge of match referees affiliated to the school cricket. Provincial and District cricket tournaments were also conducted for U19 and U15 age categories, with all expenses to stage these tournaments were incurred by the SLC.
The document reads that 6 Contracted coordinators from SLC are assisting junior cricket selection activities covering the whole Island. A monthly service fee of Rs. 25,000 is being directly paid to each coordinator.
Last year, SLC also financially assisted to conduct girls schools big matches – overall 10 matches – and each school was given Rs. 50,000 (total Rs. 1 million) to stage the matches. In addition, cricket equipment worth Rs. 100,000 each (total Rs. 2 million) for all participating schools given during the big matches.
At international level, Australia and Pakistan toured Island to play series against Sri Lanka U19. ACC U19 Asia Cup was also hosted by the SLC in 2019. In addition, Sri Lanka U19 travelled Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa for the World Cup. Each of the U19 overseas tours and home series cost SLC Millions, as per the expediture sheet.
