Sarawak making waves in junior cricket tournaments

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KUCHING: For a state that is in the cricket wilderness, Sarawak junior cricketers are starting to make a name for themselves at the national youth cricket scene.

YOUNG GUNS: The Sarawak U-15 team with Mahyan (third left) and other officials at the 4th KAF International Cricket Tournament 2010.

YOUNG GUNS: The Sarawak U-15 team with Mahyan (third left) and other officials at the 4th KAF International Cricket Tournament 2010.

The state Under-15 cricket squad made an indelible impression with their mature performance at the recent 4th KAF International Youth Tournament held in Kuala Lumpur.

“The U-15 team made Sarawak proud at the tournament. The team performed way beyond expectations by beating teams from Australia and from Peninsular Malaysia.

“They also fought to secure draws with established teams from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” said Sarawak Cricket Association (SCA) president Awang Mahyan Awang Mohamed.

Sarawak made their mark by winning five games, drew two and lost three tests in the tournament organised by Kuala Lumpur Cricket Association with the support of KAF Investment Bank.

Despite the good results, Mahyan said that the team needed a new training field for the sport and more match exposure for the cricketers to go up another level.

“For the state that was in the cricket wilderness, it was a great leap for us to achieve this results.

“We need new training fields and to some extend, a new headquarters for us to chart the course of cricket development for the state,” he said.

Mahyan disclose that the association has brought the matter to Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation (KPSU) for its consideration and deliberation.

“The land originally given to us to built the SCA headquarters and the cricket field at Petra Jaya was taken over to make way for paintball sport venue.

“However, we are happy to note that the new location is not far from the pre-       vious site,” informed Mahyan.