OBSERVER-MOBITEL cricket contests will help players - Chairman, Sri
Lanka Cricket
by Leslie FERNANDO
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D. Somachandra de Silva - Chairman, Sri Lanka Cricket says
cricket contests help improve standard of game.
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CRICKET: Sri Lanka Cricket has come a long way and the encouragement
given to young cricketers will help them to perform better. The
competitions like the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and
Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contests will encourage the
young cricketers to work harder for the greater glory of the school and
the country, said D. Somachandra de Silva, the Presidential Advisor on
Cricket and Chairman, Sri Lanka Cricket. Dandeniya Somachandra de Silva,
popularly known as ‘DS’ - the best leg-spinner Sri Lanka produced, said
that the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest that has been
held for the past three decades is regarded as a national event of the
utmost importance in the school cricket calendar. This annual event with
its rich traditions recognises schoolboy cricketers, teams from across
the island who have performed with outstanding merit during the school
cricket season. As we all know school cricket is the nursery of our
national cricket.
Hence it is natural that those who are successful in gaining
recognition at this event are normally a short step away from national
recognition.Sri Lanka Cricket is most grateful to the Associated
Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and Observer and the sponsors Sri Lanka
Telecom-Mobitel for the yeomen services they have rendered for the
benefit of our national cricket. ‘DS’ praised schools cricket in the
country. Sri Lanka Cricket will give all support to young schoolboy
cricketers to come up to national level. He said that the Observer
Cricket Contests have brought to light rich talent. Six Observer Cricket
Contest winners were in the 1996 World Cup winning team and around 18
winners have played for Sri Lanka. Four winners have gone on to captain
the national team and eight winners have led Sri Lanka `A’ sides. Then
there are some who have captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 teams at Youth
World Cup Championships. So, the value of the competition is clearly
seen without a doubt.
Sponsors vital
The Sri Lanka cricket boss said that sponsors are vital for the
progress of sports in a country. ‘D.S.’ has played in three World Cup
tourneys-1975, 1979, 1983.
He also played as a professional cricketer in the Central Lancashire
League and in the Minor counties too. |
