by Staff Correspondent

The Sri Lankan Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has promised to develop cricket in mainland America, where the sport is yet to spread its wings. While welcoming the touring USA Global Cricket Academy (USAGCA) contingent in Colombo, Jayasekera said Sri Lanka can help USA Cricket with the expertise of Sri Lankan coaches and trainers. He also mentioned, “Elite players can serve as sports ambassadors in USA.”

A 50-member USAGCA group, including 30 Under-23 cricketers (Groups of under 13 and Under-17 cricketers), more than 10 officials, two USA National selectors, which includes the Chairman of USA National selection committee and a few professional trainers and coaches from India, are currently on board for this 18-day competition – training tour of Sri Lanka.

The group landed in the Island nation on December 19 and they will stay there till January 4. The USA youngsters will play as many as 20 matches at different international venues against the local teams of Sri Lanka. They will also participate in coaching sessions in between.

For the Sri Lankan Sports Minister this tour of USAGCA is an opportunity to expand cordial relations among two nations’ cricket authorities and players. He gave them the assurance of organizing cricket tournaments in Sri Lanka and the USA.

Welcoming the initiative of touring Sri Lanka, Jayasekera wrote a letter to the Academy. In his letter he first acknowledged the presence of a cricket culture in America. Though he admitted that cricket in USA is not as popular as other sports like baseball or American football. But he feels, with the growing population of immigrants in America, the game will popularise further.

For USAGCA President Ashok Patel, this tour is, “Primarily focused on learning and gaining some experience, while playing at the best venues and against highly competitive and talented local teams”.

He further added, “Our main goal is to provide more playing and learning opportunities to our talented players to hone their skills. Our interest is very clear; to give our players many additional games besides their original tight schedule for this tour.”

Meanwhile the USA Cricket Association (USACA) is currently under suspension of International Cricket Council (ICC) and ICC Americas is looking after American cricket.

USAGCA Cricketers for the 2015-16 tour of Sri Lanka :

Sahaj Patel, Sukhdip Singh, Kishan Das, Jasdeep Singh, Guaranshu Sharma, Chetram Persaud, Sagar Patel, Rohan Gupta, Sam Kalpesh, Jay Pathak, Kushal Ganji, Karanjit Singh, Petamber Persuad, Rohit Nagendra, Chandandeep Singh, Brian Ajodhi, Aditya Patel, Pradeep Ravi, Daoud Mohamed, Sanjay Jonathan, Jwal Shelat, Sathyanarayana Venkatesan, Rishab Mohan, Atul Iyer, Santosh Reddy, Aamir Salim, Mohd Raafi Reza, Aman Patel, Shashank Vittaladevaram, Ajay Immadi.
https://www.cricwizz.com/blog/2015/12/21/sri-lanka-promises-to-develop-usa-cricket/