In 1999 Maldives Cricket embarked on an ambitious junior/youth development programme, “Cricket for the 2000 and Beyond”.
In the 13 plus years that has elapsed since then many new talent has entered the Maldives cricketing universe. Most of the early starters are now important members of the senior national team. Each year a new crop of junior players start their own journeys towards cricket stardom. Last week 23 young players, all under 14 years of age, of the YDP programme boarded a plane to Sri Lanka to test the skills learned over the past 5 years. Under the watchful eyes of cricket development coach, Nilantha Cooray, these players will play with school teams in Colombo and Moratuwa. CBM EXCO member Madih Ismail and General Secretary Ali Niyaz are managing the team.
In the first match of the tour, the young ones were beaten by the champion international school in Colombo, the Stafford International School. SIS won the toss and made 142 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs. In reply, the Maldivian boys made 92 in 20 overs. Team captain Thushar top scored with 29 runs. The boys turned in around in the second match, beating Lyzius International School by 8 wickets. Aziyan and Thushar put on impressive performance to achieve the victory. LIS won the toss and made 93 in 19 overs. Mafaz took 4 wickets for the Maldives U14s. In reply, the U14s started badly loosing two quick wickets. But it all changed when Azyan came into bat with just 15 runs 2 wickets & 6 overs. He together with Thushar scored the required 93 runs with 4 overs to spare. Azyan top scored with 29 & thushar 20 runs.
Maldives Under 14 team
Ali Imman Ahmed
Abdulla Rasheed
Ibrahim Afy
Hussain Mafaaz
Yalsan Mohamed
Isaaq Easa
Aiham Ali Hussain
Yaqoob Salman
Mohamed Ivan Ali
Mohamed Afsah Musthafa
Yoosuf Sajiu Ali
Ahusan Mohamed
Ziyaan Hassan
Abdulla Naisam Ismail
Ali Ilam Ishaau
Abdulla Fayyah Faisal
Ibrahim Raeef
Azin Mohamed Rafeeg
Hassan Hood Ahmed
Tushar Sunil Jashnam C
Yoosuf Azyan Faruhath
Mohamed Ishaau
Miruza Mohamed
Team Coach Nilantha Cooray
Team Manager Madih Ismail
The end of 2013 sees a flurry of cricket activities for the junior players. The Maldives U16 team will depart to Sri Lanka on 5 December for some practice matches and to take part in the Invitational International Cricket Tournament. The team will play. Teams from India and Malaysia apart from Sri Lankan teams are taking part in this tournament. During the month of December, in all 54 Maldivian young cricketers will be in Sri Lanka playing a game they love, applying the skills they have learned over the years and gaining the valuable match practice. The two tours have been made possible by great support from parents, Sri Lankan airlines and the Maldives Olympic Committee.
