Mobitel to broadband Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel yesterday stepped in as the title sponsor of Sri Lanka's premier school cricket awards show - the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest, organised by Sri Lanka's English newspaper with the largest circulation - the Sunday Observer.

As the much sought-after event in the schools cricket arena celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, the Sunday Observer would join hands with Sri Lanka's fastest growing mobile telephone network - Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, to present event on a grand scale.

The 'connection' with the Mobitel would 'broadband' the schoolboy cricketer of the year contest. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has already given its blessings for the mega event which would be conducted on a national scale this year. Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, Arjuna Ranatunga was a happy man to see the schoolboy cricketer of the year show going great guns.

Having won the school cricket plum twice - in 1980 and 1982, for his outstanding contribution as a versatile schoolboy cricketer from Ananda, Ranatunga said it would be the dream of any schoolboy cricketer to be crowned the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the year.

Sri Lanka's World Cup winning captain said the SLC would support the Sunday Observer and the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) in their endeavour to promote school cricket, giving the due recognition and appreciation for tomorrow's cricketing heroes.

Besides the new association of the SLC, the contest, as usual, would have the blessings of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) and the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association. The hosts would also plan to get two advisory committee members from the Sri Lanka Cricket Players Association, in addition to the special representative from the SLC - former Sri Lanka Test leg spinner D. Somachandra de Silva.

Chief Marketing Officer of the Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, Nalin Perera said they are pleased to step in as the sponsor of Sri Lanka's oldest and most respected schools awards show.

"This was the show even during our school days and it is an honour for any cricketer to win this prestigious award. We are glad to be a part of the contest, which is an inspiration, motivation and recognition for our budding cricketers", he said.

General Manager of the ANCL, Abhaya Amaradasa said they were not merely looking for a sponsor but a good corporate citizen on a long-term basis to boost the show on a national scale. "All our corporate social responsible projects such as Sarasaviya Film Festival, Tour de Lanka, Ama Dahara Vesak Zone and Mihintale Poson Aaloka Pooja have been of national scale. I am glad to see Mobitel stepping to be a part of Sri Lanka's oldest cricket awards show," he said.

He also paid a special tribute to the former sponsor of the contest - Bata Shoe Company. "It was a wonderful experience," he added. As usual, the Most Popular Cricketer All-Island contest and Outstation contest would be picked by readers voting through coupons to be appeared in the Sunday Observer, Daily News, Dinamina and Thinakaran newspapers from next Sunday (March 2).

Three lucky winners selected from the voters' on a weekly basis, would be presented with special gift packs and Mobitel SMART pre-paid mobile connection from Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel. The new sponsor of the show - SLT Mobitel has opened a new chapter in the contest's three-decade old history by introducing a special segment - the Most Popular school cricket team - All-Island and Outstation contest, in which the winners would be picked through Short Message Service (SMS) and Internet Voting.

However, the rich traditions of the contest would be continued as all other winners, including the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best All-rounder and the Best Team, would be picked by a special panel of judges, which includes the umpires, schools association officials and reputed former Sri Lanka cricketers.

Besides the main awards presentation scheduled for August, the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest would also have two regional events in Central and Southern Provinces. Schoolboy cricketers from the two provinces would also be felicitated at the two regional events, which have been introduced for the first time, which leads to the mega event at the BMICH.

The popular school cricket awards show has been the stepping stone for outstanding schoolboy cricketers to the big arena. Former Sri Lanka Test players - Ranjan Madugalle, Arjuna Ranatunga, Asanka Gurusinha, Roshan Mahanama, Marvan Atapattu and the world's highest wicket taker in Test cricket - Muttiah Muralitharan are amongst the schoolboy cricketer of the year award winners during its 30-year-old history. More details about the 30th OBSERVER-MOBITEL SCHOOLBOY CRICKETER OF THE YEAR CONTEST would appear in next issue of the Sunday Observer on March 2, along with the voting coupons for the most popular contest. It's your turn to identify tomorrow's cricketing heroes and vote for them!