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Juniors warming up for U-19 World Cup
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Sri Lanka Cricket officials are working round the clock in their efforts to ensure that all preparations are complete before the ICC under 19 world cup kicks off in Colombo in two weeks time.

The tournament will see sixteen teams compete in 44 games that will be played in five test venues in Colombo. Speaking to the Sunday Times Tournament Director Bandula Warnapura who is spearheading all operations expressed satisfaction at the preparations todate.”We are happy that all preparations are going on smoothly as planned”. The former Sri Lanka test captain is expecting most of the teams to arrive this week in order to prepare for the event.” Already Nepal is here, we expect four more teams on Tuesday and still more during the latter part of the week”.

According to Warnapura the pitches are being prepared and all the five venues are also geared up for the occasion.SSC, NCC, CCC, P Sara Stadium and the R Premadasa Stadium are the venues which will host the world cup. Meanwhile the teams and officials will be staying at the Taj Samudra and Galadari Hotels in Colombo. Two former test cricketers Jimmy Adams (West Indies) and Venkatesh Prasad (India) are also expected as Coaches of their respective teams.

One area of concern for Warnapura was the weather factor.” The weather is always a bit of a concern when you host tournaments like this. But going by the past records we have had good dry weather during January and February for the past 10 years and so I hope it will continue in that way”.
Sixteen umpires which will include three Sri Lankans selected by the ICC will officiate in the games.T H Wijewardene,Asoka de Silva and Peter Manuel will be the three Lankan umpires while Roshan Mahanama and Alan Hurst will officiate as the match referees.

The top 2 teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the Super League and will play-off against each other in quarter-finals. The bottom 2 teams from each of the four groups will qualify to play in the Plate Championship and will also play-off against each other in quarter finals.

The winners of the Super League quarter-finals will qualify for the Super League semi-finals. The losers of the Super League quarter-finals will progress to the Super League play-offs. The winners of the Plate Championship quarter-finals will qualify for the Plate Championship semi-finals. The losers of the Plate Championship quarter-finals will progress to the Plate Championship play-offs.

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