Newly appointed Sri Lanka women’s cricket coach Hashan Tillekaratne said his main target is to produce the best women’s team in Asia as he got down to business with the 40-member national pool at the Dambulla International Stadium.
Tillekaratne said they are currently eyeing the World Cup qualifying round in December as well as the Commonwealth Games.
“We have to go forward step by step. Our first task is to become the best in Asia and we got 13 new players in the pool presently training. I am sure of players from the Development squad entering the National team,” said Tillekaratne.
“Our challenge will come mostly from India and they have built up their own system and we need to do the same here. We have to give confidence to the players talents and make each of them understand their responsibility. Their fitness levels are also important and only then can we achieve our goals”, said Tillekaratne.
“We have a plan to develop women’s cricket at rural level. Rural cricketers have to come through a system and first they have to play at district level and then move to National level with more experience. I am very happy that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has already started a talent search at rural level and several of the pool players are from the rural areas.”
Interestingly, Tillekaratne’s wife Apsari is SLC’s main talent hunter in the rural areas.