Lahiru Milantha leaves for the USA

By Bipin Dani

One more Sri Lankan cricketer has migrated to the USA. The 28-year-old wicket-keeper batsman Lahiru Milantha, who has played 66 First Class matches, reached North Carolina with his wife on Tuesday early morning. 

Milantha said, "I will be playing for the Morrisville Cardinals team in the Minor Cricket League (MiCL) this year.”

This is the first year of the League in the USA and all matches are played on weekends. 

"Half of the tournament is over", he said. 

Interestingly, Lahiru Milintha is the sixth Sri Lanka-born cricketer in this tournament. 

The other five Sri Lankans are Shehan Jayasuriya, Amila Aponso, Roy Silva, Gayan Fernando and Ravindu Gunasekera. 

Ravindu Gunasekara has played for the Canada national team also. He will be in Lahiru's team in the MiCL. Morrisville Cardinals' next match is on Saturday, 28th August against Orlando Galaxy. 

Jayasuriya, Aponso and now Lahiru are keen to settle in the USA and are ambitious to play for the USA national team in future. 

They, however, have to reside in the USA (ICC's mandatory requirement) for three years to be eligible to play for the USA.