Akalanka Ganegama

Akalanka Ganegama is a fast bowler who, with some work, may well prove a useful, quick-scoring ODI allrounder. Keen to learn, from men such as Chaminda Vaas and Glenn McGrath no less, Ganegama was introduced to cricket by former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Russel Hamer when he attended his private coaching classes. He soon made his mark at Susamyawardena College, bagging nine wickets in the match against Ananda College. The performance secured a scholarship to study and play for Ananda College, one of the country's leading Buddhist institutions.

Further success followed when he was picked for the U-19 World Cup hosted by Sri Lanka in 2000 and for the tour of England by Sri Lanka U-19, where he excelled by taking a ten-wicket match haul. He was selected for national honours soon after, touring Sharjah for the Gold Cup in 2000-01 and dismissing Shahid Afridi and Imran Farhat on his ODI debut.

A groin injury then saw him miss seven months of cricket. He returned to the Sri Lanka 'A' team and has been a regular since touring New Zealand. His best performance for NCC was taking seven wickets in an innings against CCC where he obtained most of his wickets bowling inswing and reverse swing. He has benefited immensely from fast bowling coaches Rumesh Ratnayake, Champaka Ramanayake and Anusha Samaranayake and present 'A' team coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
Sa'adi Thawfeeq July 2007