Under the BCCSL’s National Development Plan, which was finalised recently, the fundamental and the most important component was the establishment of the NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE. According to Duleep Mendis, the Director-Development, the Centre’s activities will cover the entire gamut of cricket development. The organisational plan of the Centre is structured under :CIFA. 1. Cricket Technology 2. Infrastructure Development. 3. Provision of Finance 4. Training of Cricket Administrators.

CRICKET TECHNOLOGY

There will be a coaching programmes for young cricketers throughout the island. Sri Lanka is fortunate to have at the moment, a bank of qualified coaches who have been trained by the BCCSL, and certified at 4 levels. The Manager Coaching, of the Board, will head this division. The scheme is based on 5 Provincial segments and each segment will be in charge of a paid Provincial Coach who will be from Grade 111 or 1V. The Provincial segments will be divided into District segments and will be in charge of District Coaches who will be from Grades 1 and II In addition, there will be specialised coaches in batting, pace bowling, spin bowling, fielding and wicket keeping. They will visit the districts and provinces and hold regular 3 day or 7 day workshops. Such coaches will train promising youngsters whom the district coaches have identified. Furthermore, there will be coaching programmes for umpires , scorers, curators, radio and television commentators.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Here the base will be the schools and the clubs in the districts. It is intended to replace matting pitches with turf pitches wherever possible, provide better score boards and pavilion facilities and all other requirements for the proper functioning of the coaching system.

FINANCE

The biggest constraint to an upsurge in the development of cricket in the outstations has been the lack of proper financing. This is seen by the development of metropolitan Colombo and its environs progressing way ahead of the other areas. The Development Centre intends to negate this situation with generous inputs of finances for identified programmes in the provinces, districts, clubs and schools.

ADMINISTRATION

It is intended to develop a bank of professional cricket administrators to service the entire spectrum of cricket development.

The development network is divided into 5 Provincial segments, with slight variations from the government’s provincial and district structure. They are :

Western Province - Colombo, Gampaha Chilaw, Puttalam, and Ratnapura
Southern Province - Galle,Matara and Hambantota
Central Province - Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle
North Central Province - Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa Kurunegala, and Matale.
Uva - Badulla, Amparai and Moneragala.

The Northern and Eastern Provinces cannot be organised at the moment as it was found that conditions are not conducive to the playing of cricket. But as soon as the situation improves, the Development Centre will move its organisation into the two provinces.

Th Development Centre intends to hold annual Tournaments at Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 levels.

Duleep Mendis, an icon of Sri Lanka Cricket, has been appointed the Director Development by the Board and is in overall charge of the Centre and cricket development of Sri Lanka. . A well-appointed office is housed at the Board Head Quarters.

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