Colombo, Dec 27, Wed – The 8th Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup is set to kick off in Sri Lanka, with the opening ceremony scheduled at the Colombo Oval on Thursday at 3 PM. The tournament will run from December 29 to January 6, concluding with the final at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) grounds.
Ten teams from around the globe will compete in this 35-over match series, making it the second time Sri Lanka hosts this prestigious event. The matches will be held at various grounds, including Thurstan Grounds, Nawala Land Reform Commission Ground, Free Trade Zone Ground Katunayake, Army Artillery Ground Panagoda, Air Force Grounds Katunayake, Mercantile Cricket Association Ground, NCC grounds, and Sinhalese Sports Club grounds.
Sri Lanka’s Lawyers’ Cricket team, captained by Ershan Ariyaratnam, has a notable history, finishing as runners-up in the 2011, 2017, and 2019 editions. The Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup has previously been hosted in various countries, including India, England, West Indies, Australia, and New Zealand.
The participating countries are India, India ‘B,’ England, Pakistan, Pakistan ‘B,’ Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka ‘B,’ Bangladesh, Bangladesh ‘B,’ and Commonwealth. The teams are divided into two groups, with Group A comprising India, England, Bangladesh, Pakistan ‘B,’ and Sri Lanka ‘B,’ while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India ‘B,’ Bangladesh ‘B,’ and Commonwealth.
Ershan Ariyaratnam, a top-order batsman and captain of the Sri Lanka Lawyers’ Cricket Team, has participated in six World Cups, showcasing his experience and skill on the field. The vice-captain, a former Royal College and University of Colombo cricketer, brings additional expertise to the team.
Adding to the team’s prowess is Gayan Sirisoma, a seasoned player with remarkable achievements in Sri Lanka’s first-class cricket. As a slow left-arm bowler, Sirisoma boasts an impressive record of 785 wickets in 143 matches with an average of 19.35. Serving as the player cum coach of the team, he holds a Level III coaching accreditation from the England Cricket Board (ECB).
Wishwa Wijesuriya, an all-rounder, contributes to the team’s versatility. As a State Counsel in the Attorney General’s Department, Wijesuriya brings his cricket experience from Ananda College, the Under-19 Sri Lanka National Squad, and his time as a first-class cricketer for Tamil Union.
Sri Lanka Lawyers’ cricket squad:
1 Ershan Ariaratnam (captain), 2 Kasun Hettiarachchi (vice captain), 3 Thusith Paliwatta, 4 Yohan Jinasena, 5 Asela Patabendi, 6 Pavithra Bolapage, 7 Randeepa Wijesuriya, 8 Tharindu Peiris, 9 Kulunu Rodrigo, 10 Wishwa Wijesuriya, 11 Thusitha Ranathunga, 12 Shanmugampillai Jetharshan, 13 Gihan Ratnayake, 14 Mohamed Shamir, 15 Sachithra Tennakoon, 16 Tharmakulasingam Anjanan, 17 Sisuru Samarasinghe, 18 Akila Jayasundara, 19 Gayan Sirisoma.
