In a huge and earnest effort to resuscitate the ailing junior cricket system in the island, Sri Lanka Cricket and the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association are striving to streamline the process in a joint effort.
On June 15, 2012 a set of SLC officials, which included President Upali Dharmadasa, Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga, Director Cricket Operations Ashley de Silva, Manager Junior Cricket Development Carlton Bernadus, Acting CEO Ajith Jayasekera and the Chairman of the National Cricket Selection Committee Asantha de Mel met a Group of SLSCA officials which included President L.M.D. Dharmasena, Vice President Sarathchandra Silva, Secretary Dilshan de Silva and others to discuss the modalities of how to revamp the existing Junior Cricket system in the island.
The need for a change to the system was in the air for some time now and the recent performance of the Sri Lanka team at the Under 19 World Cup has compounded the issue. However it must be said that some of the officials foresaw the impending disasters and were working on the subject for the past year or more.The changes to the structure will begin from the Under 13 level and go up to the Under 19 level. Through the new format the SLSCA and the SLC will have a stake in the sustenance and maintenance of the game’s standards.
According to SLC sources, the buck will begin at the Under 13 level during the months of November and December, when the bigger boys take a break for their O’ Level examinations. Firstly, the existing Under 13 cricket tournament will be scrapped and a one-day tournament will be introduced with each school playing a maximum of 10 matches per season.
