Ratnayake Arachchige Prabath Nissanka

Profile:

Prabath Nissanka is the latest Sri Lankan speed merchant to roll out of the BCCSL Bowling Academy. Tall, lean and quietly spoken the 21-year-old right arm fast bowler has been plagued by injuries during the last two years, but upon a full recovery he has been whisked into the squad for the Champions Trophy in Sharjah. Born and breed in the southern fishing town of Matara he was sent to the MRF Fast Bowling Academy in Chennai in 1999 and then selected for the A team which toured South Africa in October 1999. He quietly impressed, taking nine wickets and one five-wicket haul, before spearheading the Sri Lankan attack in the Youth World Cup in January 2000. However, tendonitis in both knees then disrupted his blossoming career. He played against Zimbabwe A in May 2000 and toured England with the Under 19 team during the same summer, but was rarely fully fit. Finally, in the latter part of 2001, he has emerged fitter and stronger after 18 frustrated months in the gym. During a carefully planned recovery phase he soon impressed with his pace, once cracking Sanath Jayasuriya on the helmet during net practice. He has now moved to Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club in Colombo and works as a banking assistant at Hatton National Bank.