Giving exposure to players is as important as winning – Emerging Team Head Coach

Wednesday, 4 June 2025 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Emerging Team to the West Indies

We hope to put all our domestic experience together and win – Skipper Lakshan

By Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka Emerging Team’s maiden tour of the Caribbean is twofold. As much as trying to win matches, giving exposure to the 18 players in the squad will be the priority of its Head Coach Sachith Pathirana and the rest of the coaching staff.

“The selectors have picked a good side. The side was picked in the midst of the ongoing Major Club T20 tournament. I think we have got a well-balanced unit of 8 batsmen, 2 wicket-keepers, 3 all-rounders and 5 bowlers,” said Pathirana on the eve of the team’s departure to the Caribbean on Monday.

“All our matches are scheduled to be played at Antigua which we know from past experience will suit spin. But we have picked a squad capable of adjusting to any kind of situations or conditions that we may experience. Like trying to win all the matches we are trying to give as much exposure to the 18 players in the squad because this is the feeder to the national team. As much as winning matches it is imperative we give these players plenty of exposure as possible. We are going to the West Indies with that intention.”

Sri Lanka Emerging Team is due to take on the West Indies Academy side in two 4-day unofficial tests and three 50-over one-day games. All the matches will take place in Antigua but in two different grounds.

“We have got a relatively young side but all of them have performed well in the domestic sphere and have a lot of experience. We hope we can bring all that experience together and win the matches,” said Sri Lanka Emerging Team Captain Dhananjaya Lakshan.

National selector Ajantha Mendis will accompany the team as tour selector.

West Indies have yet to name their squads for the two series.

The Sri Lanka Emerging squad:

Dhananjaya Lakshan (Captain), Janishka Perera, Shevon Daniel, Ravindu Rasantha, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Nipun Dhananjaya, Anjala Bandara, Sohan de Livera, Sahan Kosala, Ravindu Fernando, Chamindu Wijesinghe, Dulaj Samuditha, Garuka Sanketh, Sithum Dissanayaka, Dilum Sudeera, Traveen Mathews, Ashian Daniel, Melan Hasanka.

The tour schedule

7-10 June: 1st Four-Day game at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

14-17 June: 2nd Four-Day game Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

21 June: 1st 50-over game at Sir Vivian Richard Stadium, North Sound

24 June: 2nd 50-over game at Sir Vivian Richard Stadium, North Sound

26 June: 3rd 50-over game at Sir Vivian Richard Stadium, North Sound

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