The Murali Cup offers a forum for aspiring young cricketers to learn more about the game. The tournament is played in typically tough sub-continental conditions between schoolboys from a diverse mixture of social and cricketing backgrounds. Specially invited schools from throughout Sri Lanka, including unprivileged schools from the north and east, compete against schools from overseas.

Away from the competition, players are privy to hands-on masterclasses with the island’s leading international cricketers and lectures on the game by special guest speakers. The educational aspect to the tournament is enhanced by Roger Knight, former Secretary of the MCC, who is the tournament ambassador promoting the Spirit of Cricket ethos.

A community element provides schoolboy cricketers with a special insight and appreciation for village life at the Foundation’s Seenigama village where they also play their cricket. Schools are encouraged to generate funds for the Foundation of Goodness’ latest project, a sports academy in the war-torn north west of Sri Lanka, as well as interact hands-on with community aid programmes and activity schemes in the village during the tournament.

Summary

The Murali Cup is an Under 18 annual tournament to be played on the 9th-19th July 2012 along Sri Lanka’s south-west coast. The break-up of teams includes five international schools and three Sri Lankan schools playing five matches each during a 10 day period. Internationals sides will be invited from an open pool of schools from England, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and South Africa. The three Sri Lankan participants include the Seenigama FoG Academy XI, as well as a side awarded invitation by the Mahela Foundation in recognition of outstanding cricket development, and another FoG school is invited from the north-east of the island.

Format

10 days and 9 nights

Each team plays 5 matches culminating in a Murali Cup final and a Murali Plate final out of 2 tournament pools.

An 8 team tournament

5 match days sees 40 over matches played at the same time at 4 different venues. The Murali Cup consists of 20 tournament matches in total.

2 pools of 4 teams

3 pool matches per team with the top 2 teams going through to Murali Cup semi-finals then finals or 3rd and 4th place Cup play-off. The bottom 2 pool teams go through to the Murali Plate semi-finals then play a Plate final or 3rd and 4th place Plate play-off.