This tour is being organised by the veteran cricket umpire Mr. Errol Seneviratne who has been handling such tours since 1982. Mr. Seneviratne a World Class Umpire who first came into the limelight in 1965 and was the first Sri Lankan umpire to officiate in England.
``The main aim of this tour is to promote the game in the outstations and help the rural cricketer to gain the much needed exposure in this regard. Clubs like Seeduwa Cricket Club will gain the much needed experience from the tour'' said Mr. Seneviratne when contacted by the ``Daily News'' in an exclusive interview. Many prominent cricket aficionados like Anura Weerasinghe, Prasanna Ranatunga (brother of Arjuna). Lucien Merinnage and Malcolm Perera who have contacts with the Gampaha District Cricket Association and are Regional Secretaries to the BCCSL are involved in the promotion and implementation of the planning of this tour. Mr. Seneviratne also plans on bringing a team of Kent young cricketers later on in the year and probably a team of Kent Veterans including the famous Derrick Underwood.
The tour itinerary of Sussex University
September 6 Arrival at BIA, Katunayake
September 7 Morning Net practice at Air Force Grounds, Katunayake.
Discuss Tour Itinerary in the evening.
September 8 One day game against Seeduwa Negombo Team at Air Force
Grounds
September 9. One day against Gampaha District CA Under 19 at
Air Force Grounds, Katunayake
Sep 10 and 11th Two day game against Colombo Region Under 19 team
at Colombo
Sep 12 Rest day
Sep 13 One day game against Sri Lanka Cricket
Foundation XI at Colts Grounds, Colombo
Sep 14 One day game against Hatton National Bank (Mercantile
A Champions) at NCC grounds, Colombo
Sep 15 Drive to Kandy 72 miles from Colombo
Sep 16 One day Game against Kandy region Under 19 team at Asgiriya
Sep 17 One day game against Peradeniya University Team at University
Grounds, Peradeniya
Sep 18 Drive down South to Matara
Sep 19 Rest Day
Sep 20 and 21 Two day Game against Southern Region
at Uyanwatte Grounds, Matara
Sep 22 Drive back to Colombo
Sep 23 Rest Day
Sep 24 One day game against Colombo Regional Board Team in Colombo
Sep 25 Free Day
Sep 26 one-day game vs. Ragama young cricketers
Sep 27 Mid night flight to London
Brief Player Profiles
Paul O' Sullivan (Capt)
Left arm medium fast bowler and superb slip fielder. Has played for Irish schools and plays club cricket for Ditchling CC.
Charlie Austin
Right arm fast medium bowler and middle order batsmen. Has played under 19 for West of England B and plays club cricket for Ditchling and the MCC.
Viny Burke
Right arm medium fast bowler often seen playing in the famous Gunnersbury Park.
Paul Brindle
Right hand middle order batsman and left arm spin bowler who will also be keeping wicket occasionally. Played regularly as a schoolboy for Sussex up till the Under 19 stage.
Olly Wills
Right hand opening of middle order batsman and medium fast bowler. Has played for Oxfordshire
Piri Ramazanoglu
Left handed batsman and an occasional left arm spinner.
Guy Grandjean
Right hand middle order batsman and wicketkeeper who has played for Norfolk.
Sam Patel
Right arm fast medium bowler who plays quality league cricket for Lewes CC and previously for Brighton University.
Tim Daniels
Right hand batsman and wicket keeper who is currently playing for Sussex Under 19's.
Ali Salman
Right hand batsman who has been one of the premier batsman at the University during the past two years. Has played for Pakistan Under 17's and plays for Lahore Gymkana in Pakistan.
Mohammed Ali Sheikh
Right hand batsman who plays for Lahore Gymkana in Pakistan and has scored heavily in the University Championship this year.
Olly Burns
Right hand opening batsman who plays for Dittchling CC.
Andy Winestone
Right arm off spinner and batsman who has played for Somerset 2nd's and plays club cricket for Lewes.
Hugo Thurston
Left hand batsman who bowls left arm chinamen.
Rufus Thurston
Right arm medium fast bowler and bowler who played for Oxfordshire and has recently played for Gloucestershire 2nd XI.
Tom Dennison
Right arm fast medium bowler who has played for Oxfordshire.
Andy Hawkins
Right hand batsman from Somerset.