By M.H.Yakeem
Air Pilot Johann Peiris to lead the Sri-Lanka 60+ plus Cricket team at the World Cup
All rounder , Johann Peiris has been selected to lead the Sri-Lankan Cricket team for the first ever 60+ World Cup tournament to be held on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia from the 3 – 16 September with the participation of 12 teams.
Veterans Cricket Australia will host this inaugural 60+ World Cup revealed Rod Rice, the President of Queensland Veterans who is also the tournament liaison official.
Peiris, who is a pilot by profession has played Cricket in Sri-Lanka and had the distinction of Captaining the St. Thomas College team at the centenary big match against Royal College in 1979. At this inaugural 60+ World Cup tournament, Sri-Lanka will also include players living in Australia, New Zealand and USA. The team will comprise 5 players from Sri-Lanka including Johann Peiris, 11 from Australia, 3 from New Zealand and 1 from USA. The other 4 players from Sri-Lanka are Thilan Wijesinghe, who has played for Ananda College and Captained the Sri-Lanka A team at National level and could play a pivotal role in this tournament. Mahes De Zoysa, who also played for Ananda College as a Wicket keeper/ Batsmen in 1972, is a capable batter, who has played County League Cricket in England for many years. Ajith Naranpanawe, has played for Dharmaraja College , Kandy and captained the College 1st XI team. Mahendra Arthanayake, has played for Harischandra MV, Negombo and Maris Stella, Negombo, an opening batter , where the Sri-Lanka team will be depending on him for a good start. All are members of Colombo Masters.
The 12 teams participating at this tournament are Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, Wales, Rest of the World, Canada, USA and West Indies. England has dropped out as it would clash with the finals of the English County competition.
Johann Peiris ( Captain ), Mahes De Zoysa, Thilan Wijesinghe, Mahendra Arthanayake, Ajith Narampanawe ( Colombo ), Gary Gunasekera ( Vice- Captain – Melbourne), Dr. Sittampalam Ragavan , Andy Bhahirathan, Wasantha Hettiarachchi Nadarajah Gowripalam ( Sydney), Lal Wijesiriwardena ,
Neil Karunasekera ( Canberra), Brian Goonesekera, Suren Surendran , Sumedha Eratne ( Auckland), George Seneviratne( USA), Keith Carlyle Jansz, Shantha Gunasekera- Manager, Prasanna Kariyawasam- Secretary, Senerath A. Seneviratne- Admin, ( Australia ).
The inaugural 50+ World Cup was held in Sydney in 2019. The second edition in Cape town in 2021 had to cancelled halfway due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Sri-Lanka participated in both editions .
