THE RIGHT WAY: Sarath shows the right way with the right technique to hit the ball during a training session at SK Tabuan Hilir yesterday.
KUCHING: The support of the state government and corporate bodies are needed to develop the sport of cricket in the state.
Malay Cricket Association of Malaysia (PKMM) chief coach Sarath Jayawardana thinks that Sarawak have the potential to become a force in the sport if the state is equipped with quality facilities.
“The response is very encouraging but Sarawak still lack good facilities,” he said during a training session at SK Tabuan Hilir yesterday.
Sarath was invited by the of Sarawak Cricket Association (SCA) for the week from March 7 to 14 to train Sarawak school players.
They are preparing for the coming inter-state Malaysia Schools Sports Council (MSSM) tournament in Penang from March 23 – 31.
A total of 19 players from Sarawak will compete in the coming MSSM Cricket Championship.
He is also tasked to train the state’s cricket shadow team in which the team also took part in the training session yesterday.
With his vast knowledge and experience, the former Sri Lankan international player Sarath was
also Malaysia’s cricket coach for 15 years.
He hoped that PKMM and SCA maintain their co-operation and contact in the development of Sarawak cricket.
“I am impressed with the efforts made by SCA in the development of the sport of cricket here in the state. I hope to see more young talents emerge from Sarawak in the future,” he said.
In another development SCA Secretary Gordon Chung Pei Nan revealed that PKMM will send a coach every three months to train players here.