• Sri Lanka U-19 skipper talks about bittersweet World Cup campaign in the Caribbean and much more 

INTERVIEWED BY Indrajith Subasinghe and Gayashan Withanarachchi TEAM OF ICC U-19 WORLD CUP 2022 (In batting order; including a 12th player)

1. Haseebullah Khan (Keeper / Pakistan)
2. Teague Wyllie (Australia)
3. Dewald Brevis (South Africa)
4. Yash Dhull (Captain, India)
5. Tom Prest (England)
6. Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka)
7. Raj Bawa (India)
8. Vicky Ostwal (India)
9. Ripon Mondol (Bangladesh)
10. Awais Ali (Pakistan)
11. Josh Boyden (England)
12. Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)

*The team had been chosen by a selection panel including commentators Samuel Badree, Natalie Germanos, ICC Match Referee Graeme Labrooy, and journalist Sandipan Banerjee ========= Sri Lanka Under-19 Captain, St. Joseph’s College – Colombo schoolboy Dunith Nethmika Wellalage, 19, has been praised for his leadership credentials as well as his all-round performances in the recent past.  He led the country to the commendable sixth position in the 14th International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup which ended on Saturday (5) in the West Indies with India clinching their fifth World Cup title.  Sri Lanka had beaten Bangladesh and England in white-ball formats at home before they embarked on the U-19 Asia Cup in the UAE in December, where they beat Pakistan in the semi-finals before emerging runners-up to India U-19.  Wellalage led from the front when they beat Scotland, Australia, and the West Indies consecutively to top their World Cup group stages before they unexpectedly lost to Afghanistan in the quarter-finals by just four runs. In the Super League Play-off Semi-finals, Sri Lanka beat strong South Africa too. In the World Cup, Wellalage, the left-arm orthodox spinner, took two five-wicket hauls, against Scotland and Australia, before scoring 52 against the Aussies, 40 against Pakistan, and a match-winning 113 against South Africa, coming into bat in the middle-order. Wellalage hit the most number of runs for Sri Lanka in the tournament with 264 whilst also taking the tournament’s highest wicket tally of 17. Wellalage’s stand-out all-round performance earned him the attention of the cricket world and him being listed in the highly demanding Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 player auction list and a place in the world’s best U-19 side that was picked by the ICC after the World Cup were mere proof for that. Here are excerpts from an interview The Morning Sports did with Wellalage following Sri Lanka’s notable World Cup campaign:  Tell us about your preparation for the World Cup.  I worked extremely hard. I always went for a target. We planned match by match. I trained hard during school time too. I did my practises daily without taking at least a single day’s break. I wanted not just me, but my country to come on top. We beat Bangladesh 5-0 and England 3-2 before becoming runners-up in the Asia Cup. Though we ended up sixth in the World Cup, I thought we could have gone further up in the tournament. Anyway, I am happy about our performances as a team. I am happy to have this kind of team and this kind of coaching staff. How did your coaching staff support you? There are no words to explain their support. Everybody gave me wonderful support. Our Manager Mr. Mahinda Halangoda, Head Coach Avishka Gunawardene Sir, Spin Bowling Coach Sachith Pathirana Sir, Fast Bowling Coach Chamila Gamage Sir, Fielding Coach Upul Chandana Sir, Trainer Buddhika Sir, and Physio Priyantha Sir were there with us like our own fathers. For the World Cup, Mahela Jayawardene Sir came and it was a great strength and honour for us. We learnt a lot for our future. Talk to us further on their commitment. Mahela Sir instructed us to lift our game from beyond the U-19 standard. Avishka Sir was a real father figure. He never gave us extra pressure. He changes very small things and gains very big results. He is capable of that. He always puts in a wonderful effort. It’s a real fortune to work under him.  What did really happen in the quarter-finals against Afghanistan? There was no problem in our bowling and fielding that day. But we erred in our running between the wickets. There were four crucial run-outs. That cost us the game by four runs. What is the secret behind your all-round success in the tournament? How did you manage such pressure? In the middle, I think of only one thing – my team’s victory. Nothing else. When you have only that in your mind, results come automatically. That’s why I scored runs and took wickets.  What is your view on entering the IPL auction this time?  Getting there as an U-19 player itself is an achievement. But my real victory and my real target is making my country win. If I go for the IPL, that’s because I could do well for my country. That’s why winning for my country is so important. How did you get into the game of cricket?  My father Suranga Wellalage had captained Prince of Wales’ – Moratuwa in cricket. When I was small, I damaged my father’s trophies. One day I thought I also should bring home similar trophies to compensate for the damaged ones. That’s how I started loving the game. I have an enormous love and respect for this game. I never skipped practises. That’s why I think I could play in a World Cup. Tell us about your family.  My mother is Harshani Kanchana. I have two younger brothers. The first is Pulina who was the island’s first from age 11 to 17 in cricket. My second brother Chamath plays for St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. My father guides me all the time in my cricket. I am really lucky to have such a family who is there at the time of my defeat as well as my victory.  Who are your favourite players? Since I was small, I liked Kusal Mendis (an old boy of Prince of Wales’) and Avishka Fernando (from St. Sebastian’s). I went to St. Sebastian’s earlier. The two schools play their annual Big Match among them. I had seen them all the way in playing in the Big Match, the U-19, and national team. They are so talented at the world level too. I had a desire to play at least one match with them. I developed myself by observing their game. From other countries, I like the Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Can popularity and riches ruin a player’s career? I don’t think about the popularity. I came this far because of many individuals. My first coach was Suranga Perera, then Mohan sir, then Roger Wijesuriya sir who I met at St. Joseph’s, Dilan Ramanayake, Lahiru Sir, Kavindu Sir, my first club Lankans, Colts, my teachers, the reverend fathers of my schools, and many others in this country who have helped me. My father’s advice is the same – always remember how success has come your way and who helped you on the way. Then you need to commit fully to the game. I always make sure that I don’t do anything that brings disrepute to this game.