As Mobitel Managing Director Walter McKenzie put it, 'its a great opportunity to support a women's event, after supporting men's sports all the while and, if Sri Lanka's women are able to emulate their male counterparts in cricket, it will be good to know that we have been associated with this sport at ground level'.
Run-up
The Andra Pradesh team's tour of Sri Lanka will serve as run-up to our team's particiaption in the Women's Cricket World Cup to be held in India from December 5 to 29.
The country will be represented by the Sri Lanka Women's Cricket XI in what will be our first outing in a World Cup. 'Japan's opting out of the tournament gave up this opportunity and we will do our best, said the coach of the team Guy de Alwis, former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper-batsman.
The women are strong in their bowling and fielding and most of all they have will to win, says Guy who has found in them 'terrific talent' in just the one and a half months he has coached them.
The ages of the players range from 18 to 24 years and have been chosen from a league tournament conducted among the six clubs which are engaged in women's cricket. Included in the team is a schoolgirl, Rose Fernando, who plays for Samudra Ladies. 'Our only stumbling block is finances and this is what we have to get over if we are to produce the winning combination', says Guy.
Twelve teams
Twelve teams are down to play in the World Cup, and have been divided into two groups. England, South Africa, Pakistan, Denmark, Australia and Ireland are in group A while Sri Lanka are in Group B along with New Zealand, Canada, India, West Indies and the Netherlands.
The Andra Pradesh team are a said to be a formidable side who have become All-India champions. They will arrive on October 25 and leave on the 31. Their first match will be on the 27 at the Moors vs. Young Ladies SC. On October 28 they will play Samudra CC at the Albert Peiris Stadium at Wennappuwa and a Combined Team at the Colts CC at which Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake will be the chief guest.
A press conference was held in this regard at the Trans Asia Hotel on Tuesday afternoon at which the president of the Women's Cricket Association Mrs. Gwen Herath, Mobitel Managing Director Walter McKenzie, General Manager Trans Asia Rufus Perera and secretary of the WCA Mrs. M.C. Munaweera addressed the gathering. (MD)