Eight teams in inaugural over 40 T20 cricket tourney

by Ranjan Anandappa

CRICKET: Eight teams will participate at the inaugural over 40 T20 invitation cricket tournament conducted by Lanka Cavaliers scheduled to take place on June 5 and 6 at the Colts and BRC grounds at Havelock Park.

The opening ceremony will be held on June 5 at the Colts grounds at 8.45 am. Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Michael Tissera will be the chief guest and give away the awards.

Colts, Olcott XI, Quadrangular XI, MCA-Veterans, Moratuwa, Kandy, Kurunegala and an Umpires XI will make the 8 teams which will be played on a knock-out basis.

The Olcott XI will comprise players from schools like Ananda, Nalanda, Mahinda, Dharmapala, Dharmaraja etc. founded by Henry Steele Olcott while the Quadrangular XI will form the side with players from St.Benedict’s, St.Joseph’s, St.Peter’s and St. Anthony’s Katugastota.

The winners will receive a sum of Rs. 50,000.00 and the Lanka Cavaliers Trophy and the runners-up will be presented with a cash award of Rs. 25,000.00 and the Lanka Cavalier Trophy. Cash prizes and trophies will be also awarded to the Best Batsman, Best Bowler and the Man of the Final of the tournament.

The organisers have made it compulsory that the eight teams should field two players of the age of over 50 years.

The Lanka Cavaliers was founded in 1997 with just six members by former Benedictine cricketer Basil Perera who later invited Sri Lanka’s first Test captain Bandula Warnapura, Jayantha Seneviratne, Mervyn Fernando, Damien Fernando and Gerry Woutersz. Lanka Cavaliers also conducts coaching programs in rural areas for the betterment of the outstation cricketers with the concept of ‘giving something back in return to the game’ of their knowledge and experience gained.

There are many sponsors who have assisted Lanka Cavaliers, but the former Hartley College cricketer and the Managing Director of East-West Marketing K. Mathivanan has been the driving force of the club.

Daya Sirisena (Treasurer), K. Mathivanan (Co-Sponsor), Jayantha Seneviratne (President), Basil Perera (Chairman Tournament Committee), Upali Warnapura (General Secretary) and Roshan Iddamalgoda (Tournament Secretary) were present at media briefing held in connection with the tournament at the Colombo Colts Cricket Club pavilion.