Any little boy will begin playing cricket with a softball and once he has learnt the correct technique will switch on to play the game, very reluctantly, with a hard ball. Interestingly, there are many clubs that play softball cricket in Kompannaweediya (Slave Island, Colombo 2) and around Colombo as well.
This tournament has attracted 24 teams from Kompannaweediya and 24 other teams will be from outside the Colombo 2 area like Jaffna, Point Pedro, Kalutara and Panadura.
This tournament is certain to attract more interest in this form of the game throughout Sri Lanka in the near future. Although there is no national team in softball, there have been club teams that have travelled to India to play in tournaments there.
A total of 48 teams will battle it out in the AROPEC Challenge Trophy softball cricket tournament that will be held at the Hyde Park in Colombo-2. It will be held in two categories with the first for teams from Kompannaweediya and the other for teams from outside Colombo 2.
The first will be played from December 13 to 15 while the second part will be played from December 20 to 22 and finish off with the final.
The format to be applied is that each team will comprise of eleven players but each inning will comprise of five overs. The sides will be divided into five groups and the two top finishers will go on to play in the knock-out stage until the finalists are found.
According to the organisers, the winning team will be rewarded with Rs. 200,000 and the runners-up Rs. 100,000 as they addressed a media briefing held at the Nawaloka Hospital Auditorium on Tuesday (3) night.
Awards will also be presented to the man of the series, man of the final, best batsman, best bowler, best fielder and the best wicket-keeper.
The main organizer is Global Sports Innovation Private Limited and the addition of a few co-sponsors. The main man behind it is MI Anas a former MMC member and an ardent soccer player.
The teams from Kompannaweediya are: YMMA, Young Union, Sunny Stars, Young Gold Star, Tholebbe Garden, Silver Hawks, Smasher Juniors, SI eleven ‘B’, Que Pammeneriums, Harping XI, MCG, SI XI ‘A’, Rising Stars, K-Eksath, Ashes XI, Legend Hunters, Kew Brothers, Colombo City Centre, Black Warriors, Green Channel, 87 Boys, Railway Rangers, Arunulis CC and Singapore Lions.
Teams from outside Kompannaweediya are: Sham Lanka SC, NJC CC, Black Squad, Black Eagles CC, Maradana Samagi CC, Mahawelia Cargo, Peliyagoda Legends Á, Super Fashion CC, Puttalam World Lions, Udatalawinna Reliance SC, Venus Bolegana CC, White Walkers, Care Auto CC, Nawaloka Hospital, Colombo Youth SC, Hunupitiya Eksath CC, Rajagiriya Super United, Bonipana Super Kings, GG Cricket Club and Peliyagoda Legends CC.
