Sri Lanka have confirmed their 15-man group for the men’s Under-19 World Cup, which starts on 15 January in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with two quick bowlers – Kugathas Mathulan and Sethmika Seneviratne – drawing the early attention.
Mathulan, 18, comes out of Jaffna’s schools circuit and is already being talked about for the way he whips in yorkers with that slingy action Lasith Malinga made famous. The whispers say one or two IPL sides, Chennai Super Kings among them, have been watching him, though nothing formal is on the table.
Seneviratne’s case is simpler: he takes wickets. Eight of them at 15.75 in last month’s Under-19 Asia Cup, including five against Nepal, have earned the seam-bowling all-rounder another chance. “He hits the seam, he hits the stumps; it’s not complicated,” a junior selector said earlier this week.
Middle-order batter Vimath Dinsara stays on as captain. He will be backed up by vice-captain Kavija Gamage, another steady presence in the middle. Sri Lanka sit in Group A with Ireland, Japan and defending champions Australia; they open against Japan on 17 January in Windhoek and, on paper at least, should progress.
Squad
Vimath Dinsara (capt), Kavija Gamage, Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Dulnith Sigera, Chamika Heentigala, Adam Hilmy, Chamarindu Nethsara, Sethmika Seneviratne, Kugathas Mathulan, Rasith Nimsara, Vigneshwaran Akash, Jeewantha Sriram, Senuja Wekunagoda, Malintha Silva.
The selectors have left space for two standby players, to be named after the final fitness checks next week – sensible given the travel and altitude involved. “Everyone’s fit now, but you know how it goes once the miles rack up,” the same selector added.
Expect Sri Lanka to lean on their pace pair early, with spin coming in later rounds when pitches tire. It is a straightforward plan, yet at this level simplicity often works best.
