Rising Spin Bowler, Tharindu Kaushal

Tharindu Kaushal is a very talented young cricketer whose extra ordinary skill was observed very early on during his school career which led to him being awarded the MCC cricket scholarship via the Foundation of Goodness Sports Academy for four years, following which he continued to receive sponsorship, equipment and support from Kingsgrove Cricket Club in Australia who have been long time supporters of the Foundation of Goodness.

From the start, the Foundation of Goodness recognized that Tharindu Kaushal had very special talent to offer as an off spinner as well as being a sound batsman equally good in his fielding. This was further demonstrated by the fact that he achieved the incredible double of securing 100 wickets and 1,000 runs in one season as a school boy cricketer and won the 2012 best outstation schoolboy cricketer of the year award.

Therefore, we were delighted but not at all surprised when he was picked to represent the Sri Lankan National Under 19 team both at the Asia Cup and the World Cup where he was awarded the best bowler in the Asia Cup in 2011. Since then he has performed outstandingly representing his club NCC in the premier division having played for Sri Lanka ‘A’ Team regularly and thus far has captured 133 wickets in 23 first class matches. He was also included in the Sri Lanka test squad against the touring teams from Bangladesh and New Zealand though he did not make his debut.

His consistent performance in the last 2 years earned him a place against New Zealand in the Test series in December 2014 where he made his debut at the Boxing Day match. He has tremendous potential to become a prodigious off spinner for Sri Lanka if he continues to work in the same dedicated manner that has brought similar results right through his career as of now.

"I first met the Foundation of Goodness through my school, when I was nominated as a potential candidate for the MCC Scholarship, and ever since then the Foundation of Goodness supported me throughout my school cricket career, and beyond. They helped me a lot, and I am very happy that I have been able to develop my game with their guidance and grateful for all the assistance they have given me along the way. My dream is to continue to play for Sri Lanka and bring honour to my country," said Kaushal.

Foundation of Goodness is delighted to have identified him and nurtured his exceptional talent in guiding him towards his desired goals with the right kind of values and yet another classic example of the untapped rural talent emerging given the opportunity, training and facilities. We wish him all the very best in his career.

27th January 2015